New Pontiac G8 May Be Built In U.S. As Sales Rise

The Pontiac G8, which debuts early next year, will be the first vehicle sold in North America that uses General Motors' new rear-wheel-drive architecture.

"The G8 will meet the growing demand for rear-drive cars," said John Larson, Pontiac general manager.

The G8 will be offered only as a sedan and will be priced to compete with the Dodge Charger, also a rear-drive sedan.

The Chevrolet Camaro will be the second North American application of the rear-drive architecture. That car goes on sale in early 2009, followed six to 12 months later by the redesigned Chevrolet Impala.

The G8 will be assembled in Australia by GM's Holden subsidiary. But it could be built on this continent.


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rack - 2/14/2007 10:33:55 AM

+4 Boost

Growing demand for RWD???

The demand was always there. We were just force fed the FWD garbage from gm for and crysler.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/14/2007 9:20:21 PM

+1 Boost

That's the "upmarket" version. I'm sure the downscale models will have the usual depressing plastic fenders and grey hubcaps.

jt716 - 2/14/2007 6:48:02 PM

-1 Boost

Even Ford n their front wheel drive..

neutral - 2/14/2007 8:30:45 PM

+2 Boost

We all may belittle FWD, but we must remember that for John D. American, FWD is the trick. You're average person isn't racing their car around, they're going to and from work/school/etc. FWD is the most convenient means by which to do this. While I'm very excited about the G8 (and its RWD platform in general), I just find it funny that so many people on this site are so convinced that every vehicle should be RWD or AWD.

neutral - 2/14/2007 9:07:15 PM

+1 Boost

Isn't the pontiac GTO RWD? I know its the 6.0Liter from the vette so I assume it is. I also know that they should put Active Fuel Management on that car and upgrade its looks a bit. (That and bring the price down a little bit, most people dont want to pay 33K+ for a car they can only drive in the summer for 2 people)

neutral - 2/14/2007 9:08:05 PM

+1 Boost

Correction, most people dont wanna pay for a Pontiac that has the restrictions mentioned above.

woood - 2/16/2007 5:42:26 AM

+1 Boost

I say dont mess with the formula. Maintain development in Australia but keep assembly standards strict if it is going to be produced in the US. There should be non of those myths about monday cars and friday cars.