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UPDATE: Modernized Pontiac G8 Looks Muscular, Out for Charger Hellcat Blood

The 2008 and 2009 model years were like a portal for performance sedan enthusiasts, with this window of opportunity marking the short life of the Pontiac G8. Well, the rendering that now sits on our screens aims to deliver a refreshed incarnation of the four-door muscle car that was the G8.
Modern Pontiac G8 rendering 5 photos
Photo: tuningcar_ps/instagram
Modern Pontiac G8 renderedModern Pontiac G8 renderedModern Pontiac G8 renderedModern Pontiac G8 rendered
It's not difficult to see the multiple features of the machine that have been updated, so this looks more like the extensive refresh the G8 never got than an all-new incarnation of the model.

Even so, pixel label tuningcarps, which is responsible for this work, has come up with an approach that has "badass" written all over it.

However, the story this rendering tells goes well beyond the G8. You see, the G8 came to the U.S. as a rebadged incarnation of Australia's Holden Commodore, making for the brand's first fuill-size offering since the Bonneville and the GTO coupe were retired in 2006, while also replacing the Grand Prix.

Alas, the Pontiac brand was killed in the wake of the 2009 global downturn, while GM also pulled the plug on Holden back in 2017. And, before the latter action took place, the Holden VF Commodore was brought to North America as the Chevrolet SS - this G8 successor was offered between 2014 and 2016 and I've had the pleasure to review it back in the day.

Well, sales of the SS weren't exactly solid and it all has to do with the way in which GM handles performance four-doors altogether, as we're talking about a lack of spice. You see, such machines need to be more than the sum of their parts, delivering the kind of driving experience that creates an identity, thus doing the heavy lifting for the marketing department and being able to add to the car culture.

Frankly, GM needed a massive hit like the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette as far as its image as an actor on the go-fast stage is concerned. And here's to hoping that the company will continue to deliver efforts of the sort.

Of course, with the market shifting towards SUVs and electrification slowly taking over, the future of V8 sedans that put a smile on one's face doesn't look all that bright, but this is another story for another time.

Update:The renderings portraying the refreshed rear end and the dashboard of the Pontiac G8 have landed and you'll find them at the bottom of the page. Meanwhile, the said digital label has also came up with an updated incarnation of the Chevrolet SS.





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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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