Out of all the sub-brands in its fold, General Motor’s Pontiac division is the one that has been making record strides lately. The types of cars that we have seen come out of Pontiac in the past few years have been really good. The Solstice re-established the brand, the GTO gave it cred, and now the new G8 shows that Pontiac can play with the big boys when it comes to overall build quality and execution.

The G8 as good as any in it’s class. A 361hp 6.0-liter V8 and a well tuned rear-wheel drive chassis for less than $30k sounds mighty good to me. This chassis is definately the result of homework well done and the engineersin Australia should be comended.

Now though, Pontiac has given the awesome G8 the “GXP” treatment, which is reserved for Pontiac’s performance vehicles. That colosal 6.-liter V8 gets bored out to a 6.2-liter. A few other simple engine tweaks and your looking at a bonafied 415hp. Nice…

The GXP treatment isn’t just the engine though. All new bumpers and wheels adorn the already handsome V8. The hood sports to vents that give the car a menacing look. Inside special sportier seats and trim highlight the GXP’s sportier nature.

The numbers don’t lie. Zero to 60mph comes in a M5-equaling 4.8 seconds, which will then go on to become a 13.0 second quarter mile at 108mph if you hold the gas for long enough. The new FE3 suspension package was tuned at the famed Nurburgring racetrack in Germany’s Black Forest region. Oddly enough, on an already tail happy car they’ve added a bigger rear sway bar which should give the car even more oversteering characteristics.

The new G8 GXP should be out early this year. Expect a $8-10k price increase over the standard G8.

Source: Auto News Blog

Photo: Pontiac