If it went on sale in the U.S., this would be the first vehicle of its kind to hit the market in a long time. The last one was the El Camino, and it proved to be quite a hit when it came out. Now we have the new Pontiac G8 ST, or do we?
The G8 ST, like the El Camino, is a car-based platform with a pickup bed in the back. Structure-wise, the ST shares all the basic chassis and suspension components with the regular G8 sedan. The only main difference is a thicker front anti-roll bar on the ST to curb the oversteer tendencies of a light rear end.
Now though, Pontiac execs are pondering whether they should still bring the ST over the pond (like the G8, the ST is also built in Australia by GM-owned Holden). The truck was supposed to have debuted sometime late next year, but now those plans are being reviewed.
"We are having lots of discussions," said Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC. "We would be foolish if we didn’t take a second look at whether or not that is the right thing to do."
I, for one, still think this could be a big seller for Pontiac. The G8 ST would create a niche segment that for some reason has not been occupied in America for quite some time now. Return of the El Camino? Maybe. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Would the sporty yet practical G8 ST sell well here in the states?
Source: Auto Week
Photo: Pontiac
