2010 Pontiac G8 Sports Truck Officially Named the Pontiac G8 ST!

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Pontiac officially unveiled the G8 Sports Truck earlier this year, but at the same time announced that no official name had been picked. Well its been confirmed and I’m sorry to all you El Camino fans out there…but the G8 Sports Truck has been officially named the Pontiac G8 ST.

After GM unveiled the G8 Sports Truck earlier this year the automaker announced a contest to name the vehicle and after more than 18,000 submissions the G8 ST name was chosen.

The 2010 G8 ST is powered by a 361 hp V8 engine as the G8 GT sedan and offers a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The G8 ST can also town up to 3,500 lbs and has a 0-60 mpg time of 5.4 seconds.

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PRESS RELEASE:

Pontiac G8 ST at a Glance

-Sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities
-V8 engine with Active Fuel Management linked to six-speed automatic
-74-inch cargo bed and 3,500 lb towing capacity
-Estimated fuel economy near top of vehicles with comparable cargo/towing capacity
-Available in late 2009 as a 2010 model

PONTIAC NAMES ALL NEW SPORT TRUCK THE “G8 ST”

Segment-Defining Vehicle on Target for Late 2009 Launch

Detroit – After sifting through more than 18,000 possibilities, Pontiac has chosen to keep it simple, naming the recently revealed G8 sport truck the “G8 ST.”

Thousands of fans submitted suggestions during a “Tame the Name” promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use.

“Frankly, we were blown away by both the volume and quality of the names that were submitted,” said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. “‘G8 ST’ was one of the most popular suggestions, plus we noticed a far broader trend toward simple, easy-to-remember names.”

“El Camino” was also a sentimental favorite, given the G8 ST’s resemblance to the classic Chevy.

“We actually thought very long about El Camino,” said Bierley. “In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino’s unique place as part of Chevy’s heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac.”

Perhaps the ultimate reflection of the blurring line between cars and trucks, the G8 ST will create a unique niche segment in the marketplace: a sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities. Sharing the basic architecture and 361 hp V8 engine as the G8 GT performance sedan, it will offer a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds (453 kg) or tow a 3,500-pound (1,587 kg) trailer.

Thanks to its six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management system, the G8 ST should offer some of the best fuel economy numbers for V8-powered vehicles with similar cargo/towing ratings while still turning in zero-to-60 times of 5.4 seconds.

The G8 ST will be available in late 2009 as a 2010 model and will be backed by GM’s industry best 100,000 mile, 5-year powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.