Pontiac G8 GT - Welcome to the Company. Sorry. You're Fired.

Bob Lutz and Company's second attempt at injecting excitement back into Pontiac's lineup with a rebooted Holden ended just like the first one did but only worse; the entire Pontiac division was shut down.

Whether or not the G8 had any direct affect on its own fate or the fate of Pontiac is debatable, the car itself was a terrific performer, styling is just ok, the new for 2008 G8 died an inglorious death after only its second model year with less than 40,000 sold.

Not unlike a solid employee who gets hired just as the company is going down the tubes; they're out the door just like everyone else. "Welcome to the company. Sorry. You're fired." Was there any way that the G8 could have saved Pontiac?

No, of course not. Why? Well, again, nothing against the automobile but its timing could not have been any worse. It may have worked in '04 instead of the "what the hell was GM thinking GTO", it would have made a whole lot more sense actually and may even have stole significant thunder from Chrysler's 300 and Charger, but the late '00's were brutal economic times. What with a woe begotten economy along with GM going down the drain, nothing short of the reincarnation of the 1964 1/2 Mustang could have saved Pontiac let alone the "Old GM". Y'know, let's be honest, that wouldn't have helped either. GM was that far gone.

What's ironic is that for a company that got repeatedly lambasted for selling junk years prior, at the end of their [first] life, they sure got serious about pushing iron out their doors that could really bring it. This car is a first rate performer and was screwed together pretty well too.

Another ding in the G8's fender was that consumer tastes were also well on their way towards moving away from "conventional" automobiles by 2008. Pontiac needed a vehicle that either totally redefined a segment or a vehicle that could create a mass appeal niche. What may have worked five years prior, even if the economy was not in the toilet, was not going to work by the time "Bob" rebadged at Holden Commodore and called it "G8".

So, instead of a game changer, this is what they came up with. A very good imitation of a BMW not to mention a rehash of the same ole 3 box sedan we'd seen over and over again. They were even planning on a Chevrolet El Camino esque version as well. Had they learned nothing from the SSR? 

If you've ever worked for a company and seriously doubted whether or not the folks upstairs had a clue as to what they were doing, as we've discussed time and time again, the GM of the '00's was that company. As if the well compensated and soon to be out the door suits upstairs cared. Incidentally, Mr. Lutz pulled the rip chord on his golden parachute as he didn't survive GM's reorg.