Date posted: 10-17-2007


DETROIT — Want the scorching V8-powered Pontiac G8 GT sedan coming in the first quarter next year? GM's performance division already will let you spec out the 361-horsepower G8 just the way you'd like.

As long as you want an automatic transmission, that is.

Yep, you read that right: The G8's probably the best thing to happen to Pontiac since John DeLorean bent the rules to make the GTO, but the first models shipped to these shores from Australia will have just two pedals, like it or leave it.

Early adopters, it appears, will have to be satisfied with slushboxes — six-speeders with GM's Drive Shift Control manual-shift function, at least. But if you can hold off, we're betting a manual transmission for the G8 GT will be along later in 2008, but perhaps not until the '09 model year.

Right now, Pontiac's G8 site says the automatic is the "standard" and only transmission offered for the G8 GT. And a Pontiac spokesperson tells Inside Line, "What we've said — and which is still the case — is that the six-speed manual won't be available at launch."

So Pontiac will not mention a manual option for the V8-powered variant of the G8 rear-drive sport sedan. Further complicating the issue, press information disseminated earlier this fall by GM's Powertrain Division clearly indicates the '08 G8 GT can be fitted with a combination of the 6.0-liter V8 and a six-speed manual transmission — effectively the Corvette combo until the 'Vette got a standard 6.2-liter V8 for '08.

But a powertrain spokesman says that information is a mistake, flatly adding, "There is no manual option for 2008."

Self-shifters thinking they might get a manual gearbox with the base-model G8 and its 256-hp, 3.6-liter dual-cam V6 also are out of luck. The only available transmission is GM's 6T70 six-speed automatic — despite the fact that the same engine (with direct-injection fueling) already is teamed with a six-speed manual transmission for the Cadillac CTS.

What this means to you: It's unfortunate, perhaps, that true believers will have to wait for what many will insist is the ultimate G8. But we'll gamble GM plans to bring it here sooner than later.

Designed for enthusiasts who are passionate about performance, the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan – arriving at dealerships in early 2008 – is the first North American application of GM’s new global rear-wheel-drive architecture. The V8-powered G8 GT SEMA Edition was displayed at the ’07 SEMA Show with a host of tuner-inspired custom touches, including a hot orange paint scheme with matching leather seat inserts, door panels and instrument panel pad.

Under the hood is the production 6.0L V-8, rated at 361 horsepower (268 kW) and 385 lb.-ft. of torque (520 Nm). A six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control backs the powerful small-block engine and complements a four-wheel independent suspension outfitted with unique 20-inch wheels and performance tires.

The G8 GT SEMA Edition car is equipped with production equipment that includes:

Standard ABS and traction control augmented by high-performance HSV brakes

Electronic stability control

Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system

Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows

OnStar with available Turn-by-Turn navigation

Power-adjustable front seats

Fog lamps

Quad polished stainless steel exhaust tips

Rear lip spoiler

Augmenting the SEMA Edition is a series of modifications, including:

Custom orange exterior paint

Orange-accented interior components, including seat inserts, door panels and instrument panel pad

Enhanced brake package with drilled and slotted rotors

Lowered performance suspension package

Twenty-inch wheels with performance tires

The G8 has a progressive styling package highlighted by strong Pontiac design cues, such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The car’s design accents Pontiac’s performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires and enhancing its athletic stance.

Distinctive elements include hood scoops and front fender vents, as well as projector-beam headlamps housed in crystal-clear lenses. At the rear, taillamps feature bright detail work surrounding the red lighting elements.

Orange-accented interior components, including seat inserts, door panels and instrument panel pad

So, You Need To Haul? Oh, You Need To Haul Something...
By Michael Stahl, Contributor Email
Date posted: 11-25-2007

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Well, it's practically official. Sometime after the 2008 Pontiac G8 goes on sale next year, a truck-style utility will join the G8 family as kind of a throwback to the Chevy El Camino. Only Pontiac will get this version of the Australian-built Holden Commodore SS, so GMC is out of luck.

We saw an article recently about the latest personal fashion statement — a wristwatch that doesn't actually tell the time. The most Zen-like of the bunch we saw was the one that simply had "NOW" stamped on its face. The idea here is that a thing becomes more exclusive by not doing the job expected of it.

And there, pretty much explained, is the 2007 Holden VE Ute.

It's a pickup truck, only it doesn't have much payload. That's because this pickup is trying to imitate a sport sedan, and a sport sedan that also happens to be fast, sophisticated and highly acclaimed. And to wrap up the wrongness, this pickup is not only cheaper than its sport sedan sibling, it's also faster.

So That's What You Mean by "Out Back"?
The "coupe-utility" passenger car/pickup truck crossover was invented by Ford Australia in 1934, and then Holden followed with the first all-Australian design in 1951. But for the ute's transition to luxury-performance territory, we have to thank the Yanks.

Two examples of the first Ford ute (based on the 1932 Ford coupe) were shipped to Detroit in 1935. Henry Ford personally told his designers to do something similar to these "kangaroo chasers." It took them 20 years to get around to it, but the 1957 Ford Ranchero was far more luxurious and potent than any skinny-assed, six-cylinder Aussie ute of the next decade or two. Successful, too. So much so that Chevy created the El Camino to take it on.

The new Holden VE ute continues the coupelike evolution of the ute into a unified body that really began with Holden's VU-VZ generation, launched in 2001. Ford's rival Falcon utility still separates the cabin from the cargo bed.

Style is important, because many of the people who'll be buying the VE ute are tradesmen made good. With a fleet of Japanese pickups to do his dirty work for the employees, a $42,000 ute full of sport-sedan fixings is the boss' way of saying that he hasn't forgotten his roots.

Weighty Matters, or Are They?
Holden had a hard act to follow in the VU-VZ, which had blossomed into models that ranged from crude 1-ton V6s to four-wheel-drive crew cabs and even included a lowered SS sports powered by a 6.0-liter L76 V8, plus a bunch of iterations in between.

Only one of the four new Holden VE models — the steel-wheeled, 260-horsepower V6 Omega — is an obvious workhorse. The luxed-up SS V with a six-speed automatic as seen here is rated for a payload of 1,120 pounds.

Built on the long-wheelbase architecture of the Holden WM Statesman/Caprice, this ute's cabin is every inch as spacious as the sedan for its two occupants. Special thought has been given to storage space in the doors, behind the seats (a motorcycle helmet fits behind the driver) and even in a pair of telephone book-size compartments in the rear bulkhead.

Underneath, 77 percent of the ute's toughed-up structure is made from high-strength steel, a key to Holden's boast that the ute's torsional strength is within 10 percent of that of the VE Commodore sedan.

Suspension is fundamentally the same as the VE sedan's, with struts and a wishbone up front and a multilink independent rear arrangement. Comparing the SS V ute with the similar sedan, the truck's rear spring rates are 58 percent stiffer and there's a stiffer front antiroll bar.

Making Some Noise
The sedan-sourced interior brings firmly supportive yet adequately spacious seats, a mile of headroom and a widely adjustable driving position, including a height-adjustable seat cushion and a tilt-telescoping adjustable steering wheel.

The SS V's sporting theme goes a tad OTT with our example's bold, baboon's-ass interior, as a bright red color features in the almost illegible instrumentation and cheesy gauges.

Despite first impressions of a lower beltline than the sedan's, visibility is an issue in the ute. The windscreen is framed by thick A-pillars (the side curtain airbags are inside, something Aussies are just getting used to), the small windows behind the B-pillar aren't particularly useful for making safe lane changes and the tall tailgate makes one wish for a proximity sensor to register distances during parking. (You get one up front, when the low-hanging spoiler grinds onto a curb.)

All of which might encourage one to avoid obstacle-strewn construction sites and head for one's favorite roads.

Keep on Truckin'
We head for a lumpy, patched section of asphalt that shimmies through bushland outside Sydney. A well-sorted sedan will soak up the low-amplitude bumps and maintain its composure through the heavier hits; a crude pickup will bounce, shudder and struggle for traction out of the tight corners. The Holden ute is somewhere in between.

At cruise on the highway, the SS V ute is a real license-loser.

Oh, sure, there's performance available from this 362-hp V8. Testing indicates this ute will get to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and then cross the line in the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds, making this trick truck a tenth or two faster than an equivalent four-door.

Weight doesn't explain it, since this 3,981-pound ute actually pips the sedan's weight by 2 pounds.

As quick as this ute runs, you're encouraged to leave the six-speed automatic transmission in Sport mode. While the drivetrain feels lazy and indecisive in Normal, the Sport gets this pickup on the ball, and you hold gears almost to the V8's 6,000-rpm redline and then get throttle blips on downshifts. The overall gearing is generally tall, with the engine turning just 1,500 rpm at 62 mph.

The (Speed) Building Industry
What'll lose your license, however, is that this ute builds inertia with deceptive quietness and comfort. Aside from the rather noisy but supremely grippy 19-inch Bridgestone RE050 tires, there's disappointingly little aural input from the V8 up front or the quad exhaust pipes out back.

And this is also just a damn fast and fine-handling car. Next to the VE Commodore, the ute shows an amazingly similar ability to soak up smaller bumps within its otherwise firm ride. Only in faster going do the firm steering and suspension lack the subtlety of balance and feedback that makes the sedan such a standout.

There's less roll during cornering than in the sedan, but you feel the consequences because the suspension is more easily flustered by heavy hits to the wheels. With a surprising amount of initial suspension compliance and tire grip from the rear — even in damp corners, where the stability control only rarely cuts in — the ute feels more like an especially heavy sedan than a flighty buckboard-style truck.

Time Traveller
Critics can point to the new VE ute's slight compromise in practicality with its unimpressive payload rating, but they'll generally be the same sort of folks who still think it's remarkable to see a stockbroker astride a Harley-Davidson.

Fact is, most Aussies believe the ute has been transformed in recent years into a two-door sport coupe with a unique ability to swallow several other lifestyles. And in filling this role, the 2007 Holden VE Ute is very NOW — totally functional in a fashion sort of way.

Holden Special Vehicles is celebrating its 20th anniversary today and honors the occasion with a special edition of it HSV ClubSport R8. At the 1987 Sydney Motor Show HSV was born when they revealed their very first VL Group A SS Commodore, or more commonly known as the Walkinshaw and hassince sold over 55,000 cars.

The 20th Anniversary ClubSport R8 is limited to 100 units and include some unique features such as a sandstorm color scheme, special sill plates, GTS black accenting, leather performance seats, chrome shadow wheels and black / gold finished brake calipers. The anniversary edition retains the 307 kW (411 hp) LS2 V8 engine, performance brake package and styling from the best selling 'regular' ClubSport R8.

"The company has had an outstanding 12 months, but in typical HSV style we're looking to the future and making sure we continue to produce products that Australians and the world love to drive," Managing Director Scott Grant said.



Press Release

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has unveiled two new models, including a special commemorative ClubSport R8 as part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney today. Managing Director Scott Grant said the release of a 20 th Anniversary ClubSport R8 celebrated the heritage of the luxury and performance car company.

"The birth of HSV and the reveal of the very first VL Group A SS Commodore commonly referred to as the `Walkinshaw' took place at the 1987 Sydney Motor Show. From those humble beginnings, HSV has gone on to produce over 55,000 vehicles and dominate the world of Motorsport," Scott Grant said. "It is only fitting that today we unveil a limited edition model to commemorate the company's 20th Anniversary," he said.

The 20th Anniversary ClubSport R8 is limited to a run of just 100, with a number of unique features including;

* Unique sandstorm colour scheme,
* Unique 20th Anniversary sill plates,
* GTS black accenting,
* Leather performance seats featuring the 20th Anniversary logo and;
* Chrome shadow wheels and brake callipers finished in black and gold.

The model retains the 307kW LS2 V8 engine, performance brake package and aggressive HSV styling that has contributed to the company recording twelve consecutive months of unsurpassed sales success in the company's 20 year history.

"The company has had an outstanding 12 months, but in typical HSV style we're looking to the future and making sure we continue to produce products that Australians and the world love to drive," Scott Grant said.

The 20thAnniversary ClubSport R8 goes on sale from October at HSV Dealerships across Australia and is priced from $65,990 (m).

Making it's world debut today at the Australian International Motor Show, the New Holden VE Commodore Sportwagon, adding a new model to the VE Commodore's family of vehicles.

The New Sportwagon aims to put the “excitement back into practicality”, but unfortunately when Holden's chairman Chris Gubbey strikes us with the line “turns practi-cal into practi-cool”, I kinda find myself wanting to look away. However the car does itself justice featuring a sleek and striking design.

The front end styling is drawn straight from the sedan with the backend sporting a silhouette type look to give that extra sporty touch.

The Vehicle on display at the Australian Motor Show is only a production concept which incorporates a V8 engine with Active fuel Management and E85 flex fuel capabilities, showcasing General Motors aims to highlight their capabilities in propulsion advances. As you can expect this concept model has extra eye candy features such as 20 inch alloy wheels,chrome window trim and a unique interior colour scheme. Other additional features can be found in the interior including a roof mounted DVD player for all those who have screaming kids in the back as well as bluetooth capabilities.

The VE Commodore Sportwagon will hit Holden showrooms early next year.

Press Release
Luxury, Flexibility and Choice Reflect Holden's Motor Show Line Up

GM Holden's sleek new VE Commodore Sportwagon made its world debut today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

The new family vehicle takes VE Commodore's award-winning sporty design and engineering advances and integrates them into a stylish and practical wagon.

The result is a desirable and functional addition to the VE range, offering a new level of comfort, safety and styling in a Holden wagon.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Chris Gubbey said, "The new VE Commodore Sportwagon puts the excitement back into practicality. This is a car for families with a 'get-up-and-go' attitude.

"The generous interior space, combined with sleeker, sportier styling, makes this a wagon that people will want to own as a year-round family car, or for family and business use.

"Holden's new VE Sportwagon turns practi-'cal' into practi-'cool'," said Gubbey.

The VE Commodore Sportwagon unveiled in Sydney today is a production-based concept vehicle. It is the first glimpse of the planned production model scheduled to hit Holden showrooms in the first half of 2008.

The vehicle draws on VE sedan at the front with a sleek and sporty silhouette at the back and is built on the same VE wheelbase. It is the third VE derivative after sedan and the newly released ute range.
Features

At the rear, Holden's designers have cleverly created a wider opening by positioning the tailgate hinge well forward into the roof line. This has created a more vertical opening movement for the tailgate and reduces opening space required around the car.

The higher cargo floor makes loading easier and a flexible cargo cover provides extra security for items stored in the back.

VE Sportwagon seats five adults in comfort and a 60:40 split in the rear seating row can be folded flat for storing larger items.

The motor show display model includes a roof mounted DVD player, Bluetooth capability, multi-function driver information display system and zone-based front and rear park assist systems - all currently standard on the VE Calais V-Series sedan. Features on the vehicle unique to the motor show include 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome window trim and unique interior colour combination.

VE Commodore Sportwagon's pricing, model line-up and powertrain combinations will be confirmed closer to the on-sale date, but expect to see a similar type of strategy to VE sedan, with entry level cars, sports models and luxury models ranging up to the luxurious VE Calais V-Series.

Leading safety technology features such as ESP® will be standard across the range.

Holden's Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Alan Batey, said, "Sportwagon breaks the mould for Holden wagons. It's got great style, performance and practicality for families, businesses or both.

"Customers will get a car that's equally at home as a working tool or a desirable family car - with all the storage advantages that come with a wagon.

"We've added important safety features such as ESP® as standard, and more luxury versions will be incorporated into the range to further increase its appeal to families.

"This is a vehicle that people will desire for its looks as well as its convenience over a sedan or an SUV," he said.
Technology

The concept model on display at the Australian International Motor Show also incorporates a V8 engine featuring Active Fuel Management (AFM) and E85 flex fuel capability. Active Fuel Management allows cylinders to turn off under light load conditions to improve fuel economy.

The engine on show runs the same spark ignition, with fuelling matched to the same equivalence ratio as Holden's current production V8 engine. It is designed to match the power and torque outputs of its petrol equivalent. The use of AFM and E85 technologies in this motor show vehicle aims to highlight General Motors' capabilities in new propulsion advances.

Chris Gubbey explains, "Showcasing an E85 fuel system in this vehicle makes a powerful statement about Holden and GM's commitment to developing alternative energy sources that reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products.

"It also demonstrates that drivers of alternative fuel vehicles don't have to sacrifice performance.

"Our sister brand Saab has led the way in promoting bio fuel technology to advance the public, political and commercial debate in this area. We want to add our voice to that debate whilst simultaneously looking at ways to further reduce fuel consumption in our existing engines."

The current VE sedan range of vehicles on sale in Australia are all E10 compatible with Holden's V6 engine built in Melbourne also converted to E24 in Commodores exported to Brazil.

In 2007 Holden added two new diesel engines to its product line up with the new 3.0 litre VCDi common rail turbo diesel for the Rodeo and Captiva's 2.0 litre common rail turbo diesel. This adds to the diesel options already offered in the Astra range.