| At this year's Chicago Auto Show, Pontiac | | | | |
| (also maker of top of the line Pontiac | | | | Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage |
| catalytic converter) - confirming its | | | | frontal air bags for front passengers, with |
| commitment to style and performance - | | | | automatic passenger sensing system |
| introduced a show car version of the all-new, | | | | |
| rear-wheel drive performance, the G8 GT. | | | | Roof rail side-impact air bags for both |
| | | | seating rows |
| The G8 is the first North American | | | | |
| application of GM's new global | | | | OnStar |
| rear-wheel-drive architecture developed by | | | | |
| Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary. | | | | XM Satellite Radio |
| | | | |
| The G8 show car gave everyone a peek of the | | | | Power-adjustable front seats |
| highly anticipated production GT model, | | | | |
| including use of the 362-horsepower (270 kW) | | | | Fog lamps |
| 6.0L V-8 engine and optional six-speed manual | | | | |
| transmission. The show car also features some | | | | Chrome exhaust tips |
| unique items not found on the production | | | | |
| model, including twenty-inch "shadow chrome" | | | | Rear lip spoiler |
| wheels and performance tires, ride height | | | | |
| lowered approximately half-inch, | | | | A sport package will also be available for |
| high-performance brake rotors with painted | | | | both models and adds features such as |
| brake calipers, custom interior trim color, | | | | specific wheels - including 19-inch aluminum |
| including a leather-wrapped dash, exclusive | | | | wheels and performance tires on GT - a rear |
| exterior paint color: Phantom Grey, and the | | | | wing spoiler, leather shift knob, |
| concept of "modernized" Pontiac badge. | | | | leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy |
| | | | pedals. |
| Last week, the first prototype of the Pontiac | | | | |
| G8 rolled off General Motors' Australia unit, | | | | Production of the Pontiac G8 is scheduled to |
| GM Holden -- ahead of a full production start | | | | commence at the Holden plant in late 2007, |
| later in the year. The rear-wheel-drive | | | | bringing the production line to a maximum |
| performance sedan is headed for the United | | | | capacity rate of 620 cars per day. |
| States in early 2008. | | | | |
| | | | The G8 will be the first car sold in the U.S. |
| Production model details | | | | based on the Australia-developed new Zeta |
| | | | global GM architecture. This means that |
| The 2008 Pontiac G8 lineup will offer two | | | | Holden's Elizabeth plant is exporting to |
| models: G8 and G8 GT. Each will come with a | | | | every continent in the world, with the |
| host of standard performance, convenience and | | | | exception of Antarctica. |
| safety features, including: | | | | |
| | | | About GM Holden Ltd |
| Four-wheel independent suspension | | | | |
| | | | GM Holden Ltd or Holden is an Australian |
| Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction | | | | automaker based in Melbourne, Victoria, |
| control | | | | originally independent but now a subsidiary |
| | | | of General Motors (GM). The automotive marque |
| Electronic stability control | | | | is one of GM's "alpha" brands, taking charge |
| | | | of vehicle operations for General Motors in |
| 18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch wheels | | | | Australasia, and have partial ownership of GM |
| available with sport package) | | | | Daewoo in South Korea. |