Pontiac’s G8 comes from GM’s Australian Holden division, a company known for hugely entertaining, old school V-8-powered, rear-wheel drive sedans. One of our top three significant Chicago debuts. These days, GM seems to draw all the answers to its problems from its overseas divisions (Saturn’s Opel-derived revival being the most obvious).Despite its beefy, square-shouldered appearance, the G8 is not as large in person as the pictures you see here would indicate. In fact, the new G8 is actually smaller (but a bit heavier) than the outgoing Grand Prix, and substantially smaller than its main rear-drive competition: the Dodge Charger. The Pontiac gives up about 4 inches in overall body length and almost 6 inches in wheelbase to the Dodge--a difference that could have a detrimental effect on ride quality.
The twenty-one-inch wheels, lowered ride height, painted brake calipers, and leather-covered dash on the Chicago Show car are not production-spec, but otherwise, this G8 is what we'll see when the car goes on sale early next year