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The big boys at Pontiac care so much about what the public thinks that after crafting one of most impressive-looking pick-ups we’ve seen in a while, they’re asking you to come up with a name for it.
Engineered with same design elements used for the Pontiac G8 sedan, this truck has Ponty enthusiasts hailing the come-back of the El Camino.
The Pontiac G8 sports truck is a far cry from Chevy’s 70s icon with its solid, aggressive profile that promises mad speeds and incredible handling.
Like the sedan, the truck is modeled on the Holden Commodore, also known as the Lumina SS Ute in its native Australia. According to Pontiac, the idea with this type of design is blend the looks and purposes of trucks and cars.
Although rides like the G8 truck have existed in markets in other countries, Pontiac feels that now is the time to introduce the American driver to the concept. It’s bound to be a success too.
Americans love a good truck, and what’s not to love about these sophisticated yet edgy lines? Its sporty aesthetics speaks of boldness, confidence and the ability to withstand whatever you throw at it.
The front end is identical to that of the G8 GT that’s on showroom floors as we speak. The truck has a longer wheelbase that the sedan and a roomy cargo bed that can be covered with soft tonneau cover also available. Adding to the sporty profile are the 18-rims snug inside the flared arches.
The truck’s rear-wheel-drive set-up is the same as that of the G8 sedan, and it’s reinforced to handle towing and heavy loads. You can be confident in the reinforced independent suspension too, whether you’re hauling building supplies to a site or moving furniture from house to house.
The fun continues under the hood with the kind of formidable engine specs that rival even top-of-the-line sports cars.
The Pontiac G8 is powered by a substantial 6L V8 engine that promises to deliver a monster figure of 361HP and do 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, putting it on par with Volkswagen R32, the new Porsche Cayenne and BMW’s Z4 Roadster.
The Pontiac G8 truck shows its versatility here: for a sports truck with such bold, heavy lines and able to tow up to 3500 pounds in trailer weight, this speaks volumes for the sophisticated engineering involved in the suspension set-up, handling and road-holding.
Try towing the same trailer with a Cayenne! The truck comes standard with Hydra-Matic 6L80 automatic ignition with mere split seconds between gear changes. No word on whether there’ll be a manual version for the stick-shift enthusiasts just yet, but it’s difficult to imagine enjoying that kind of power without a manual option.
Inside it’s comfort all the way with two four-way seats up front and all the little conveniences we’d expect from a new high-end quality ride.
Besides the Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, keyless remote start and driver information center to monitor the truck’s inner workings, the roomy storage space behind the seats is another pleasant surprise.
Pontiac is confident that this new design concept will be happily received in the States. With those kinds of performance figures and the aggressive, bold looks to match, it’s difficult not to agree.