2008 New York Auto Show: Pontiac

Pontiac unleashed a "torrent" of new, near-production-ready vehicles at the 2008 New York Auto Show. And that's an ironic choice of words considering the 2008 Torrent crossover SUV is on the chopping block. In any case, Pontiac wanted to show its re-commitment as the General Motors division that marches to a different drummer, offering fun vehicles with a focus on rear-wheel-drive performance.

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

2009 Pontiac Solstice coupe

Convertible versions of Pontiac's sporty Solstice will be joined in early calendar 2009 by a hardtop hatchback coupe. The two-passenger coupe shares the same basic platform and many styling cues with the convertible. Its powertrains are the same. Base versions will have a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. GXP models will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 260 horsepower. Each will be available with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.

The roof panel forward of the center B-pillar is removable and can be stored in the cargo area with an optional soft cover. The coupe's liftgate will have separate opening glass. Despite the hatchback design and inclusive of under-floor storage, Solstice coupes will still only have a total of 5.6 cubic feet of cargo space.

But the Solstice coupe won't be known for SUV-like versatility. Rather, its mission is to be an all-season runabout. Though pricing wasn't announced at the auto show, figure the coupes to be in roughly the same ballpark as their soft-top stablemates.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

Not content to rest on the launch of the G8 GT, with its 361-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 engine, GM engineers are packing some more punch into Pontiac's new flagship. Poised to take on the likes of the Dodge Charger SRT8, the 2009 G8 GXP will use a version of the Chevrolet Corvette's 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces an estimated 402 horsepower. Don't count on that being the final number, though, as GM tends to underestimate the real number of ponies. The GXP will come standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It also will be the first, and likely only, G8 model to offer a 6-speed manual. GM officials peg 0-60 mph acceleration time at 4.7 seconds.

Specific suspension tuning, unique trim bits, and 19-inch summer performance tires (all-season treads are optional) help further distinguish the GXP from its lesser siblings. Pricing should come closer to the G8 GXP's late-2008 street date.

2010 Pontiac G8 "Sport Truck"

2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

Pontiac has more plans for its Australian-built G8. Looking a bit further into the future is GM's plan to produce a pickup-truck version of this large car. The vehicle at the 2008 New York Auto Show is called the "Sport Truck" though that won't be the moniker it gets when it goes into production in late-calendar 2009. Pontiac will solicit the public's help in deciding what its name will be via a special page on its Web site.

CG Says...
If Pontiac wants to be GM's rear-drive performance-car division, making a pickup, even one based on a car, seems odd at first blush. Whatever name gets applied to the truck, there's no question it at least has the hardware to be more than just a hauler. It'll be interesting to see how the market responds.

The truck seats two and sports the same 361-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 engine as the G8 GT sedan. While the basic design is the same as the sedan, plenty of components are different to accommodate its truck characteristics.

The S port Truck is about six inches longer than the sedan overall and about four inches longer in wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear tires). More than 60 components are new and specific to the truck, giving it a beefier structure. As such, it has a maximum payload of 1,074 lb and can tow up to 3,500 lb. Not too bad for a vehicle that, when unloaded, is projected to run from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The pickup bed has 42.7 cubic feet of space, and inside the "cab" is an 8.5-cubic-foot storage compartment.