What a big surprise this is! Funny though how they say they wouldn't bring the concept back under another brand - like Chevrolet? This should have been the new El Camino from the start to take advantage of the all the history and name recognition. Does every Holden have to end up being a Pontiac? This also hint that the number of models Pontiac offers will be reduced as it evolves into a "niche brand". I wonder which will survive?
Pontiac kills the G8 ST sport truck for 2009
Jamie LaReau Automotive News January 6, 2009 - 1:41 pm ET UPDATED: 1/6/09 2:39 p.m. EST
DETROIT -- General Motors told dealers today it has decided to cancel a G8 sport truck that was scheduled to debut this fall.
The reason, in part, is GM's "continuing vehicle review" to make the company viable, said Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson. That includes turning Pontiac into a "niche brand" according to a plan GM presented to Congress late last year. "With Pontiac being more focused on sporty, fun-to-drive cars, we took a long look at the ST and it didn't fit with what our future vision of Pontiac would be," Hopson said. "At that point, we decided to not proceed with this vehicle."
Pontiac launched the G8 sedan in March 2008. The vehicle is built off the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform at GM's Australian unit, Holden.
When GM unveiled the G8 ST last spring at the New York auto show, no one at the company foresaw the national economic meltdown.
"The way the business is today, we want the dealers to focus on the great products we do have: the G6 sedan and the Vibe," Russ Clark, executive director of product marketing for Pontiac, Buick and GMC, said Monday during an interview with Automotive News.
"We want everyone focused on the volume products and the long-term viability of the company. We and the dealers only have so many resources to promote our products."
GM considers the G8 ST to be a low-volume niche product, and Clark said there are no plans to build it for another GM brand.
"What we want to do with Pontiac is what we did with Buick," Clark said. Buick went from having seven nameplates in 2005 to three now.
"We'll be bringing the entries down in Pontiac," Clark said. "It's six right now. It'll be less than six but more than one, so what it'll be ultimately? We're working on that now."
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
good move, can't sell classic El Caminos-how can they sell these especially in these times-SSR didn't fly either
I agree Ken. The SSR's were a sales flop. Old El Camino's get no respect in the market place. Everyone wants 4x4 truck now.
thats funny ! gas prices back down-lets buy a 4 x 4 ! I have a 1997 GMC extended cab for sale everyone asks is it 4 x 4 ? no its not, OK then. Three months ago you couldn't give one away !
I know a guy with a good Texas El Camino at $10,500-I think its still there-everyone says too bad its not a chevelle !
I have a neighbor, (next street over)who is glued to McGee in Goderich.. He just got a "deal" on a "new" SSR (black) around 45, and a "new" (Black) Saturn Vue, and a "new" Solstice turbo (black) and a "new" (black) 4 door truck... He specializes in "Old People" investments lol He was told the SSR will make him money??? He traded in his 55 Chevy conv. and his 64 Impala SS conv.
