Just some weight comparisons:

CTS V6 (automatic) - 3,568 lbs
CTS V6 (manual) - 3,509 lbs
CTS-V - 3,850 lbs
G8 V6 - 3,885 lbs
G8 GT - 3,995 lbs

 

The old CTS. I bet the new one gains some weight. Also, most road tests I read of the CTS had them about 100 pounds over those numbers -- maybe heavy options?

Btw, regarding another post on the engine, the 6.0 liter in the G8 is not an LS2. It's an L76 with AFM that makes its 361hp on regular fuel.

A G8 GXP with a 410hp LS2 (as is in the HSV models) seems to be an obvious product enhancement opportunity. Or maybe the LS3 will be out by them...

 

I'm surprised they used the L76. The reason Holden gave for not using the L76 was that there was vibration (or something....) with AFM, so the L98 was used (L76 stripped of AFM and VVT). That was 6 months ago.....

HSV have the LS3 coming up but if it becomes available this august or next august isn't known, but August 2008 is my guess. 12 months after the G8's release I seem to remember GM doing the HiPo stuff 1 year after the normal stuff is release on a couple of other recent models......

 

That wouldn't surprise me one bit. The CTS V6 numbers came straight off of the Caddy website though.

Regarding the L76, I wonder if there will be any issues mating it (with it's AFM), and a manual trans.

 

Yeah, that would be nice. Of course, the SRT8 cars are in the low $40k price range. That is a $10k difference, give or take a few. The G8 GT sounds like it will be priced like a regular Charger R/T, while making a bit more power/torque, weighing a little bit less, offering a six speed auto or manual vs. only a 5 speed auto and looking a hell of a lot sexier, inside and out. If you expect SRT8 performance, perhaps you should expect something closer to an SRT8 price...

$30k is the price of a loaded Camry or a not fully loaded Avalon, for reference. Or maybe a stripper, base BMW 3-Series.

400 hp would be great, but 361 hp is not exactly weaksauce, especially in a car of this size at this price. Good Lord how spoiled we've become when it comes to horsepower.

FWIW, I think it will break into the high 13s personally.

 

AMEN!

 

Not to mention this should use the L92 heads which are 260cc intake runners, 2.16/1.59 valves, and I think will hold .570 lift on stock springs so a cam change will go a LONG way!

 

Right on Joe.

Let's make no bones about it. Pontiac's aim was to put the Charger R/T directly in the cross hairs with this car. And as far as I'm concerned, the G8 comes with THE one big deal maker/breaker vs the Charger R/T - a clutch pedal.

 

Looks really good. Too bad the two-tone interior is not shceduled to be available. I like the fact that they kept the fender duct. I have always thought that was a cool stylistic element, even when it was non functional.
May have to make the trek up to Chicago to go see her.

 

No where did I mention that I'd expect SRT8 performance for the price. I think for a starting MSRP of ~$27k, that this G8 is an absolute bargain. I just would've liked to have seen more performance.

On a side note, I think it'll run high 13's @ 103+mph. My problem is that the G35 and IS350 both turn similar numbers with the 6 cylinders; if I'm driving an LS2 powered vehicle, I'd rather not be in their company. I want that low 13 second family sedan.

 

More performance? What performance figures about this car disappoint you???!

You forget: horsepower just wins bragging rights, but torque wins races. the 277 lbs/ft in the IS350 and the 298 in the G35 will simply be decimated in a car with 391 lbs/ft. The weight difference between the Commodore and the G35 or IS350 is nowhere near enough to matter. These cars WILL get eaten by a V8 powered G8. No doubt.

Again, we're talking about a car pushing nearly 400 lbs/ft of torque and will go over 160-frigging-mph (ungoverned) at an opening bit of just $27K!

I don't know about you, but I'm having a pretty hard time naming any other car on the market thats a well built, rear drive, independent rear suspension, highly styled car putting out just over 360 horsepower and sells for the price of a front drive Impala SS.

Just going by horsepower alone, the $27K G8 seems to be the cheapest on the market.

 

Fair enough. But remember that those cars are smaller/lighter than the G8/Charger size cars. Which can be good or bad, depending on your priorities, of course. The G8, based on its dimensions relative to the large Charger, will be a completely livable family sedan.

And remember, it's a 6.0L small block, but it's not an LS2...

 

It's a 6.0 small block that our Australian friends have figured out how to mod. It's about the size of a Charger but apparently a couple hundred pounds lighter (and a couple thousand dollars cheaper than its closest equivalent, a Charger R/T), and it has a MANUAL TRANSMISSION, which Mopar has so far refused to offer even in the SRT8s.

It sounds pretty good to me, and I'm a Mopar guy. If the handling and brakes are up to snuff, and I bet they will be, I'll buy one.

 

Well. . . I'm guessing it's not stopping in any phenominal distance or going to have some great skidpad numbers either. So it'd be nice if it did something really well.
As I mentioned previously, I expect the 1/4 to be high 13s@103+. The IS350 already does that, as well as the 6spd G35. (Auto G35 may be a little slower).

Sure it will. You only say that because you own a torquey 15 second SC T-bird.
Really, an L98 Z28 with 345 ft/lbs still loses handily to a IS350, so this torque argument, as well as most others, doesn't hold water.

In reality, wouldn't your little comparison mean that the 1992 Z28 should smoke every car out there short of high end sports cars?

I mean, come on, it did make 345 ft/lbs!

 

Of course I have no first hand knowledge of how the G8 handles, and I know that the wheel/tire/brake package won't make it into the production version. But getting a 6.0L V8 with a 6 speed manual, in a RWD 5 passenger car, at the expected price point, would have been exactly what I was looking for, when I was new car shopping last year.