stupid yanks,,,

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 7th January 2009, 08:22 AM

Tear in my beer: GM reportedly kills off 2010 Pontiac G8 ST

by Chris Paukert on Jan 6th 2009 at 12:29PM

Click above for high-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 ST

Hold on to your Budweiser coozies: Details are scarce at the moment, but Pickuptruck.com is reporting that Pontiac has quietly euthanized plans to introduce the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST. The muscular G8-based trucklet was to signal the re-emergence of the unibody pickup in North America, a genre once populated with vehicles like the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero, along with smaller front-drive moppets like the Volkswagen Rabbit pickup and Dodge Rampage.

The Austrailian-built rear-drive G8 ST was to arrive with V8 power, a 74-inch cargo hold, and a 3500-pound towing capacity, making it less capable than full-size body-on-frame pickups like General Motors' own Silverado/GMC Sierra twins, with the predicted trade-off of markedly better handling and fuel economy.

The ST was to launch as a 2010 model later this year, and prices were rumored to start in the low $30k range. Although we are unsurprised to learn of the truck's cancellation (as GM is actively slimming down its portfolio and the baby muscle pickup was expected to serve as a small-volume niche model), we can't help but get a little misty-eyed at the loss of what promised to be a truly epic donut-making machine. G8 ST, we hardly knew ye...

**Sprint** · 7th January 2009, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

what promised to be a truly epic donut-making machine.

the yanks have only just figured out what Aussie boys have known for years!

**VladTepes** · 7th January 2009, 11:04 AM

unibody pickup ?

That's UTE in English !

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 7th January 2009, 11:11 AM

That's probably a good thing for Aussie industry or at least the people working at the GM-H assembly plants, as the rumour was that production of the Holden Ute was to migrate to the US and we'd be getting re-badged Pontiac built utes.

**Slunnie** · 7th January 2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by VladTepes

unibody pickup ?

That's UTE in English !

The Commodore though is one piece where most utes are a cab and then a tray or styleside. Mind you, they call a Hilux over there a Minitruck.

**stuee** · 7th January 2009, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

That's probably a good thing for Aussie industry or at least the people working at the GM-H assembly plants, as the rumour was that production of the Holden Ute was to migrate to the US and we'd be getting re-badged Pontiac built utes.

I've read opposite in wheels (though the gossip does seem to jump about each issue). Exports atm are whats keeping the commodore based models alive. Production is split almost 50:50 now between local and export production. With the low numbers to be sold in the US and the cost of sending more back here I don't think they could justify the cost of retooling a plant in the US or canada to do it in the numbers they were predicting to sell.

I wonder why a more economical, better handling, cheaper ute wouldnt go down well in the US atm?? Seems a bit odd to me. I doubt not even half of the full size pick up owners use them to their full capacity.

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 7th January 2009, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by stuee

<snip>... I wonder why a more economical, better handling, cheaper ute wouldnt go down well in the US atm?? Seems a bit odd to me. I doubt not even half of the full size pick up owners use them to their full capacity.

It probably has everything to do with the Auto Industry bail-out by the US Government. You can bet that there are requirements that the money be used to support US production/workers and importing a Aussie built ute would be counter to that agreement. Whether or not that part of the agreement has been disclosed to the public.

**stuee** · 7th January 2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

It probably has everything to do with the Auto Industry bail-out by the US Government. You can bet that there are requirements that the money be used to support US production/workers and importing a Aussie built ute would be counter to that agreement. Whether or not that part of the agreement has been disclosed to the public.

Didn't think of that. Would not surprise me at all. Even if it is counter productive to the aims of producing smaller more economical cars. Only in America.

**Quiggers** · 9th January 2009, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

It probably has everything to do with the Auto Industry bail-out by the US Government. You can bet that there are requirements that the money be used to support US production/workers and importing a Aussie built ute would be counter to that agreement. Whether or not that part of the agreement has been disclosed to the public.

Yes. Barack Obama said recently; "...we need to bring to bring the jobs back home..." which doesnt auger well for imports to the USA, like our Holdens. Americans are being encouraged to 'buy American' and there is much 'anti Chinese manufactured' sentiment.

Apparently 11,000 Commodores (Pontiac G8) are sitting there unsold, and that's a worry. While they are liked, getting finance is the issue.

Chrysler (USA) sales were down 50% in December 08, as opposed to 07 sales and Chrysler is currently closed, one wonders if it will reopen?

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 9th January 2009, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Quiggers

Yes. Barack Obama said recently; "...we need to bring to bring the jobs back home..."

and the world understood every word,,,,

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