el-camino lovers rejoice. GM to import the UTE to the US.

[TonyL]

Holy awesome. (http://jalopnik.com/366699/2010-pontiac-g8-sport-truck-the-el-camino-is-back)

Thanks GM. It's about time.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[LateNight72]

It being a Pontiac = Lame.

[go-fish]

Ugly as sin to me. They could do so much more with it and there is other models from down under I would rather see in the States.

[Yelcamino]

It being a Pontiac = Lame.

I like the idea of a modern day El Camino, but from Pontiac? :screwy:

[Tony_SS]

I applaud GM for doing something different, but again, the were about 2 feet left of the bullseye.

[TPI Monte SS]

I applaud GM for doing something different, but again, the were about 2 feet left of the bullseye.

Agreed! I wish I could understand how someone could sit at a desk in a GM office and say, "Hey, I have a great idea. Lets bring back an El-Camino type vehicle, but let's sell it with Pontiac, who NEVER had a version of the El Camino." :ripped: This one will probably (and unfortunately) go the way of the GTO in a few years as well because they're not selling or marketing it the right way.

[Nicks67GTO]

WTF???Is that a Grand Am with a bed?

[hdesign]

I loved the one I had and I like the idea of bringing it back in limited production. It's obviously a niche market vehicle that probably won't sell incredibly well. Maybe it'll serve as "more economical" alternative to trucks if it's offered with a 6 cyl as well.

Can someone please explain to me why it couldn't be a Chevy? Why is it so hard to restyle the nose a little and add a bowtie? The people that will buy these are already saying "WTF, a Pontiac?" Not a good way to start if you ask me.

[moreHP]

I loved the one I had and I like the idea of bringing it back in limited production. It's obviously a niche market vehicle that probably won't sell incredibly well. Maybe it'll serve as "more economical" alternative to trucks if it's offered with a 6 cyl as well.

Can someone please explain to me why it couldn't be a Chevy? Why is it so hard to restyle the nose a little and add a bowtie? The people that will buy these are already saying "WTF, a Pontiac?" Not a good way to start if you ask me.

I agree. Pontiac el camino doesn't sound right.

[TonyHuntimer]

Can someone please explain to me why it couldn't be a Chevy? Why is it so hard to restyle the nose a little and add a bowtie? The people that will buy these are already saying "WTF, a Pontiac?" Not a good way to start if you ask me.

Since I just got back from Australia... this is what makes sense from what I saw over there.

Holden makes a bad-@$$ HSV Clubsport:
http://www.autospies.com/images/users/Casey54/Carscoop_vxr8.jpg

GM-USA finally got their head out of their rectum and decided to bring this awesome car over here. They are bringing is over as a Pontiac G8:
http://www.automotoportal.com/media/images/vijesti/070704001.jpg

Well, Holden also offers the UTE version of the HSV Clubsport:
http://www.autocult.com.au/img/gallery/full/4KMBH4LB.jpg
These Holden's are fricken bad@$$!

So, since GM USA is offering the Pontiac G8, it would only make sense to bring the UTE as a the Pontiac. Personally I think Holden did a much better job on styling than Pontiacs version. Unfortunately Pontiac had to change it too much and made it look like a Pontiac. They should have left the styling to Holden. But performance wise, these cars have 6.0L LS engines backed by an auto or 6-spd. Awesome!!!

That's my reasoning...

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[JMarsa]

A great car for DINKS (dual income no kids). No one else will be able to afford it. What a time for the dollar to fall.

--JMarsa

[bigvegan]

Wow. GM goes from no worthwhile RWD non-Cadillac cars below the Corvette, to 4 variations of the same car under two different divisions at more or less the same time (G8, G8 coupe, Camaro, El Ponchamino).

Way to hose up the branding strategy guys. They really should have made these all Chevys, and then offered a badge replacement option for the Pontiac fans.

[Moose]

kind of like it, but it has same problem as SSR had with chevy.. it will be a hit or miss vehicle.

[CRCRFT78]

I like it, but not as a Pontiac. From being late in the game with the Camaro and deciding to label everything an SS I'm somewhat disgusted with GM/Chevrolet. Have they forgotten their heritage. That should be a Chevy El Camino no questions asked. Someone up top needs to be demoted.

[BA.]

"El Ponchomino" - I like that name!


Actually, I don't care if they call it an Oldsmobile, it's not a bad looking vehicle.

[CRCRFT78]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/camino_safari1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/camino_safari2-1.jpg

Pontiac Safari Sport El Camino

[CRCRFT78]

I would've preferred something more like this for a "New El Camino".
See pic below.

[CRCRFT78]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Young Gun]

thats freaking awsome, glad to see some australian stuff maing it stateside...now we just need the new holden 60 to make it here!

[Magntik]

"El Ponchomino" - I like that name!


Actually, I don't care if they call it an Oldsmobile, it's not a bad looking vehicle.
I second that!!
Bleeding Pontiac myself, I love it.
It's about some of these cars wear the Pontiac name.
I was getting sick of cars/SUV/minivan things like the Aztec wearing the Pontiac badge!!!

[MarkM66]

It'll be a flop.

There are now small utility trucks with all the inside creature comforts of a car.

I just don't see the market. :dunno:

Sorry, but El-caminos have always been kinda picked on by the general public. Is it a "cruck" type thing. :poke:

[John McIntire]

Those Holden Specialty Vehicles are bad-ass! If GM had a brain they would bring them over just the way they are and only change the emblems on the cars to bowties. Why mess with a good thing?

[Yelcamino]

Those Holden Specialty Vehicles are bad-ass! If GM had a brain they would bring them over just the way they are and only change the emblems on the cars to bowties. Why mess with a good thing?

I agree, the Holden cars are bad-ass! Change the emblems and put them in the showrooms!

Outside of the Corvette team, GM doesn't know its ass from a hole in the ground.:Alchy:

[Tony_SS]

It'll be a flop.

There are now small utility trucks with all the inside creature comforts of a car.

I just don't see the market. :dunno:

Sorry, but El-caminos have always been kinda picked on by the general public. Is it a "cruck" type thing. :poke:

I agree. Plus, in certain ways it looks like some sort of Subaru Brat.

[WS6]

Why does everything need to have a bowtie on it? I can understand the new El Camino needing a bowtie because of its history but a few of you have specifically stated that the Holdens should come with bowties. Why?

I argue they should be badged Pontiac. Pontiac has always been luxury and performance. Chevy has never had the luxury side with their performance except in the vette. Compare the cousins(camaro, firebird, LeMans/GTO, Chevelle, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix) and you'll see Pontiac has always been more optioned out. Even Chevy's luxury options paled in quality to the rest. None of these Holdens are coming over here without options galore. It makes no sense to put these cars in the entry level make which is what Chevy has always been.

Stop hating on Pontiac and just be happy GM has finally started getting some things right. I say it's about damn time the RWD comes back.

[trapin]

OK everyone brace yourselves, here comes the GM guy to defend his company.


Can someone please explain to me why it couldn't be a Chevy? Why is it so hard to restyle the nose a little and add a bowtie? The people that will buy these are already saying "WTF, a Pontiac?" Not a good way to start if you ask me.
It will probably be off the G8 platform. That way they can keep the front end and save on tooling and design. This is probably just an experiment for them. Is there a market? Who knows. Doesn’t hurt to try.


Wow. GM goes from no worthwhile RWD non-Cadillac cars below the Corvette, to 4 variations of the same car under two different divisions at more or less the same time (G8, G8 coupe, Camaro, El Ponchamino).

Way to hose up the branding strategy guys. They really should have made these all Chevys, and then offered a badge replacement option for the Pontiac fans.
You sound disappointed. Curious, what would you rather have us do....build a seperate platform for all 4 vehicles? Do you have any idea what that would not only cost but what it would involve? I don't have the energy to do all the typing that would be required to explain it. You want my advice? Try to relax and smile at the fact that at least ONE American car manufacturer is trying to satisfy your taste for RWD/V8 performance. That’s a lot more than Ford or Chrysler can say. And don’t even bother going down to your friendly neighborhood Toyota or Honda dealer…..this isn’t their bag. They don’t do RWD/V8 peformance. Personally I don’t think there’s a market for this type of car either, as Mark Mutert pointed out….but I’m glad my company is at least THINKING about cars like this. Could be a lot worse. A LOT worse. Trust me.


Outside of the Corvette team, GM doesn't know its ass from a hole in the ground.
What do you mean? What are we doing wrong? All our divisons are doing well and are selling cars.

[O'Neall]

Big surprise... GM misses the mark again. Some heads really need to roll in that corporation. And by "some" I really mean "all" in upper managment. That company is full of dumb@$$es as far as I'm concerned. And this from a lifelong GM fan. UGH!!! It so frustrates me. I'd buy a Challenger!!!

[JayR]

Tony's right. Instead of everyone giving their amateur design critiques and marketing observations, embrace that GM has quite a few 300+ hp RWD cars out with more to follow. Everyone did the same thing with the GTO instead of noticing that it had 400 hp, RWD, IRS and a backseat and kicked Mustang asses in every test I read.

Hey Tony, Can you put a good word in for the G8 wagon that seemed to be stillborn but is still going to be a Holden? You guys have all the parts!

[James OLC]

OK everyone brace yourselves, here comes the GM guy to defend his company.

Try to relax and smile at the fact that at least ONE American car manufacturer is trying to satisfy your taste for RWD/V8 performance. That’s a lot more than Ford or Chrysler can say.

I don't think that comment is all that accurate... if anything GM is coming to the party late (IMHO) after all but ignoring that segment for the last half decade. Given the success and breadth of the Dodge STR program and their decision to release the STR Hemi Challenger first shows me that they are trying a lot harder than GM has been over the last few years. Ford has had continuity with the Mustang and never turned their back on rwd platform.

If anything I think it is odd that GM is announcing the release of a "new" (rebranded for different market) rwd product after so recently announcing that their rwd program was in danger of being dropped or otherwise curtailed. I do think that GM's passenger car division is in dissary and continues to miss the mark or at least neglect a large segment of the market that is being recognised and serviced by other manufacturers.


What do you mean? What are we doing wrong? All our divisons are doing well and are selling cars.

While I do not know about all of the divisions, I will give credit where credit is due. After shopping for trucks over the last six weeks the Chev VortecMax LTZ is hands down (again IMHO) the best (light truck) offering on the market today (ie. non-diesel/heavy duty applications). Power, styling, comfort, ride quality are all top notch and are head and shoulders ahead of the other North American manufacturers. I hate to say that I went into my search with the preconceived notion that I would be dissappointed with GM's product as I had seemed to be over the last few years however after test driving all of the competitive offerings, I am pleasantly surprised to say that I'm heading off the the car show this afternoon to order a Silverado with the VortecMax package.

[O'Neall]

Tony's right. Instead of everyone giving their amateur design critiques and marketing observations, embrace that GM has quite a few 300+ hp RWD cars out with more to follow. Everyone did the same thing with the GTO instead of noticing that it had 400 hp, RWD, IRS and a backseat and kicked Mustang asses in every test I read.

I'm a Pontiac fan first and foremost, and I dearly wanted to like the new GTO... I swear!!! But let's face facts, horsepower and IRS be damed, the thing looked like a Chevy Cavalier! And as a result it flopped while the very smartly styled Mustang has been a humongous success. There's more to selling cars than horsepower numbers. GM needs to do some serious rethinking... IMO they're groping about blindly just hoping to grab onto something successful by chance... at least that's what it looks like to me. It's such a shame, because I always liked GM best!

[CRCRFT78]

IMO they're groping about blindly just hoping to grab onto something successful by chance... at least that's what it looks like to me. It's such a shame, because I always liked GM best!

I would have to agree with you on this.

[WS6]

I disagree. I believe following the crowd and grabbing a hold of the retro look is a very short lived burst that will cause the makers to fall harder once the fad is gone. Ask yourself what the next mustang will look like. What will Chrysler do with the Challenger and Charger? I believe the Charger is the only current retro offering that has a chance of surviving the next few years. It carries the name and puts forth the same image of the Chargers of old but it looks nothing like a Charger of old. Both the Mustang and the Challenger look like something a number of shops on the site could build from old cars. What will the next models look like?

I believe/hope GM is looking beyond this and is thinking further down the road than 5 years. The GTO was an awesome car that looked great to me. Opinions though.... Look at GMs take on the hybrid. Everyone is in love with the hold overs Toyota is building. Toyota has even said they are not a solution yet people buy them as if they are and then turn to GM and Ford and demand to know why they are not doing anything. Meanwhile GM is building a tahoe hybrid that uses completely different technology and is hopefully working on the plug in hybrid deal that will bury Toyota's designs. But people still point to GM and demand to know why they haven't fallen in line with Toyota. You can't expect to be the leader if you're doing the same thing everyone else is.

I really hope GM is looking further down the road than 5 years. I believe they are when you really look at what they are offering. I think they have dropped the ball on many projects but I believe they are headed in the correct direction. Give it time and really look at their offerings and not just the name plate. It's the only way you are going to get past your prejudices.

[O'Neall]

I'm all for planning ahead too and I hope GM is doing so... but in the interim 5 years they need to come up with some cars that look good and will sell! The Mustang has been selling its butt off for the last 4 years... I'm betting GM wishes they had such a short term successful car (and we all know it'll continue to be a long term success too!)

I don't know... maybe I'm just pessimistic, but it's not like GM has given me reason not to be. They quit building anything car-wise that I could give a dang about except the Corvette (which I can't afford) and the Solstice (which is a niche car at best). Even their trucks are suspect. The new Chevy truck looks terrible in my book. The GMC looks good, certainly by comparison to the Chevy, but I'm soured on GM's trucks in general since buying the high-maintenance 05 Silverado (I dumped it last summer and bought an older used Dodge Ram which has been a really excellent trouble-free truck).

Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for GM to find their way... and the reason I'm so down on them is because they are my favorite brand and I hate to see them in their current state. But it's become painfully obvious to me that they really have no idea what they're doing at this point. They may have a "plan" they are trying to execute, but whatever it is, the choices they continue to make show that either they are incompetent at executing it, or that the plan itself is incompetent. Either way, it's not good news for GM.

Just my opinion of course... your mileage may vary.

[Tony_SS]

Tony's right. Instead of everyone giving their amateur design critiques and marketing observations, embrace that GM has quite a few 300+ hp RWD cars out with more to follow. Everyone did the same thing with the GTO instead of noticing that it had 400 hp, RWD, IRS and a backseat and kicked Mustang asses in every test I read.

Hey Tony, Can you put a good word in for the G8 wagon that seemed to be stillborn but is still going to be a Holden? You guys have all the parts!

Yes let us all embrace GM and their Grand Am pickup. Who are we to question their superiority? The customers opinion surely isn't need at all! :twothumbs

[trapin]

That's really not what I meant. All I'm saying is to take a minute and look at it from a different perspective instead of just blasting the company up and down which seems to be the popular thing to do whenever we roll out a product that makes the terrible mistake of not pleasing everybody. It's amazing, really. We try something different or roll out another performance car and if just happens to miss the mark, people go ballistic and say the WHOLE COMPANY is in disarry. Astounding. If this were a car that Volvo was rolling out, or Mazda...there'd be a hell of a lot more empathy bein' thrown around, I guarantee it.

As an employee of GM who is finally, FINALLY feeling good about his company after 15 long years of pissing and moaning to everyone who would listen (and almost getting fired for it once) the negativity and piling on is really starting to get old.

I am starting to think we did more than just piss a few people off in the 80's and 90's. Something else happened. Something that I don't think we can fix. And what that might be...I have no idea.

[formula]

It will probably be off the G8 platform. That way they can keep the front end and save on tooling and design. This is probably just an experiment for them. Is there a market? Who knows. Doesn’t hurt to try.




WHERE IN GODS NAME WAS THIS ATTITUDE WHEN THE DISCUSSION OVER THE NEW FIREBIRD WAS ON THE TABLE?

[O'Neall]

That's really not what I meant. All I'm saying is to take a minute and look at it from a different perspective instead of just blasting the company up and down which seems to be the popular thing to do whenever we roll out a product that makes the terrible mistake of not pleasing everybody. It's amazing, really. We try something different or roll out another performance car and if just happens to miss the mark, people go ballistic and say the WHOLE COMPANY is in disarry. Astounding. If this were a car that Volvo was rolling out, or Mazda...there'd be a hell of a lot more empathy bein' thrown around, I guarantee it.

As an employee of GM who is finally, FINALLY feeling good about his company after 15 long years of pissing and moaning to everyone who would listen (and almost getting fired for it once) the negativity and piling on is really starting to get old.

I am starting to think we did more than just piss a few people off in the 80's and 90's. Something else happened. Something that I don't think we can fix. And what that might be...I have no idea.

To be honest, it's good to hear a GM employee express this sentiment... and maybe on the inside things are starting to turn around at GM, but to your potential customers on the outside it still looks like GM is lost. So you're gonna have to cut us outsiders some slack if we just don't see it yet... I truly hope you're correct... but it just doesn't look like it from this side of the glass.

I think you're right though about people not empathizing with GM... but you have to understand many of us did empathize (and apologize for and make excuses for) with GM for many years while GM basically ignored us their customers. GM used to rule the auto world and one of the reasons is because they built cars that were not only reliable, but that looked cool!!!!! Really, look at a GTO or Chevelle, or a Hurst Olds, or a Firebird/TA or a Camaro of old... these are all very cool looking cars that struck a nerve with the heart as well as the head. GM cars just don't do that anymore.

And I think you may be right about "something else" having happened. The vast majority of the 20+ vehicles I've owned in my life have been GM. I've never owned a Ford. Have had a couple imports and a few Chrysler products, but the GM was always where my loyalty lied because I just liked the overall look of GM products. Not so anymore... but what's worse was this attitude that you saw from the higher ups at GM who always seemed to be trying to tell us the consumer what we should want instead of listening to their customers... that IMO was GM's biggest mistake. That destroys loyalty.

[novaderrik]

instead of a Pontiac, at least throw a GMC badge on it and call it either "Caballero" or "Sprint".
if it sells, then make a Chevy version of it. but don't call it a Pontiac- they aren't a truck brand.

[TonyL]

It just doesn't make sense to brand the front of the UTE with anything other than the G8 front end they already have. It's just smart business. It's cheaper. Duh. Who cares that it says Pontiac on the front? Pontiac is a brand identity in flux right now, MUCH NEEDED FLUX. Pontiac lovers need to realize that everyone else in the world viewed Pontiac as ridiculous. Now, with the G8 (holden) and the UTE (also holden) they have two world class, proven fantastic cars right there. The problem American buyers are too stupid to appreciate it. Hopefully these cars and others will rebuild the reputation of Pontiac much the way the new Caddy's have for Cadillac. I for one can remember when Caddy started to try and change thier identity. People laughed at the new art deco styles. Who's laughing now? We'll see if this strategy pays off.

Cuz I'll tell you what. Im DAMN tired of sitting here wondering why GM and Ford save the good cars for the rest of the world and we got the absolute worst crap ever here for the last few decades. And Im real thankful they brought these new cars over.

[LateNight72]

And Im real thankful they brought these new cars over. x2. If I weren't a poor college student. An '06 GTO would be sitting in my driveway.



I don't think that comment is all that accurate... if anything GM is coming to the party late (IMHO) after all but ignoring that segment for the last half decade. Given the success and breadth of the Dodge STR program and their decision to release the STR Hemi Challenger first shows me that they are trying a lot harder than GM has been over the last few years. Ford has had continuity with the Mustang and never turned their back on rwd platform.
Dude. Please stop. Honestly, this ISN'T the place to bash GM. Much less bash them with such unjustness.

SRT? Hmm... V-Series? Nope. GXP? Nope. SS? Nope. Geeze, aside from those three performance lines, GM has nothing that is in anyway similar to the SRT line up. :lol:
GXP cars were here before SRT, V-Series was here before SRT, and SS was definitely here before SRT.. (SRT10s not withstanding).


If anything I think it is odd that GM is announcing the release of a "new" (rebranded for different market) rwd product after so recently announcing that their rwd program was in danger of being dropped or otherwise curtailed. I do think that GM's passenger car division is in dissary and continues to miss the mark or at least neglect a large segment of the market that is being recognised and serviced by other manufacturers.
300C, Charger, Crossfire, Pacifica, Magnum are all "parts bin" cars that were made on preexisting parts/designs. How can you punch GM in the mouth for one thing, and not Chrysler?

What market has GM missed the mark in? Please don't be afraid to divulge your secrets...

[Damn True]

I don't see the Ute doing well. But what I think would do well is a Holden based wagon. Makes a whole lot more sense for most people than an SUV in terms of MPG, comfort ingress/egress, parking etc.

Offer a V-8, a V-6 and a hybrid.


Or even better, TDI

[TonyL]

Someone say Holden wagon as a Pontiac?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/holden_wagon01-1.jpg
Oh hells yes. Seriously, how could anyone NOT like this car?

[TonyL]

And thinking of the market of "JDM" front ends. how long do you think it'll be until you start seeing this type of front end on the G8?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

You naysayers really don't think this car is awesome?

[Tony_SS]

Someone say Holden wagon as a Pontiac?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/holden_wagon01-1.jpg
Oh hells yes. Seriously, how could anyone NOT like this car?

THAT is the ticket. As mentioned, offer some fuel effcient models along with a powerhouse, and it would be a winner.

[James OLC]

x2. If I weren't a poor college student. An '06 GTO would be sitting in my driveway.

..Honestly, this ISN'T the place to bash GM. Much less bash them with such unjustness...

What market has GM missed the mark in? Please don't be afraid to divulge your secrets...

Chill out dude. I don't know you and you don't know me and I'm not going to get into a "my demographic vs your demographic" arguement. Besides which, as you say this isn't the place to bash GM (although I don't really see where I did).

What I do know is that I can voice my opion on the direction that GM (or any other manufacturer) has takes directly with my pocketbook and while I have chosen to purchase products from other manufacturers over the past five years because chevrolet didn't have a vehicle that suited my wants and needs, I have purchased a new Silverado this week.

[elcamino80]

You can't have a Pontiac Elcamino, use some common sense:here!:

Why cant it just be rebadged with a chevy bowtie?? Thats what GM does to every GM car that comes to europe(except the caddy)

And that wouldn't cost anything!

Like this

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[TonyL]

yes it would. That holden front end doesn't meet US crash standards. The G8 one does. So, just to put a bowtie on it, they'd have to develop fenders, hoods and front ends that meet crash safety standards. Twice the money, same car. To the younger buyers that have no ties to the old brand, they wont care that it says pontiac on the front.

[elcamino80]

Oh I didnt know you had crash standards in the US :poke:

So if the younger guys wont care about that its a Pontiac, what about all the old farts like me(30) that just think that an elcamino like vehicle from GM should be a chevy elcamino??

[LowFast]

And thinking of the market of "JDM" front ends. how long do you think it'll be until you start seeing this type of front end on the G8?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

You naysayers really don't think this car is awesome?

Wouldn't that be "ADM"

[amx2334]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/rampage84_01-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/83truck1-1.jpg

[Hartz]

Wow. I am really surprised by the negative comments here. Who gives a rat's pitooty if they bring it over as a Saturn for pity's sake?!? It's RWD, got a tasty V8, and has some practicality to it. That's awesome. I swear you can't please all of the people half of the time....

[Twentyover]

Mabe Cabellero like the old GMC g-body 'el Camino' was known as?

Oops- Posted before I saw derricks reply- Sorry to cover old dirt

[[email protected]]

who give a **** if it's a pontiac. it's a new elcamino. period. it doesnt have to be made by gm and called the cabalero or by chevy and called a elcamino it just has to have a v8 RWD and look like a car with a bed. thats what they are. they always have been. although i would prefer it to be called a tamale or something spanish-ish but i'm not going to be all up in arms if it's not. as for the options and pontiac being upper level. they are a buisness and have to sell cars if dipping into another market helps them accomplish the mission then good deal we have another john delorean with the GTO. or we can hang on to "the good ol times" and complain how it used to be and not see how better it is.

[65elkyprotour]

As an ElCamino owner I am glad to see it. I don't really care if it is pontiac or GM. I just cant wait for a few to turn up in scrap yards so we can get nice seats with ElCamino on them!:twothumbs

[TonyL]

glad to see there are a few who just want the UTE imported at all. Personally, I'd rather it was still called the UTE or given a different name than elcamino. That name really does take away from the car since it evokes the images of elcamino past. Time to think of the future. Either way, good on GM for bringing it to us.

[Young Gun]

Tony, just thought of the 'vair, was driving by a gas station and there was a blue 66 monza for sale in decent shape...if I had 4500 lying around I woulda scooped it up... then again it didnt have sh** on yours, so I didnt feel that bad hahaha

[TonyHuntimer]

And thinking of the market of "JDM" front ends. how long do you think it'll be until you start seeing this type of front end on the G8?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

You naysayers really don't think this car is awesome?

I love the Holden. I bet the Pontiac G8 and the Elcamino are going to get some nice body kits available so they will look killer. I likey.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[bobbaganoosh]

I for one like the ute, whether it be a Pontiac, Chevy, or even a Buick for that matter. I've conned the wife into thinking the G8 needs to be our next family car. We haven't test drove one yet (they haven't made it to our neck of the woods yet), but I think we'll wait awhile to avoid the dealer price gouging that might occur.

[6'9"Witha69]

I love how the 'purists' react like GM has kicked them in the gnads for using a retro name or putting the wrong badge on it. Look at it for what it is and if it don't float your boat, bummer.

And yeah, that G8 is killer!

[Jim Nilsen]

You can't have a Pontiac Elcamino, use some common sense:here!:

Why cant it just be rebadged with a chevy bowtie?? Thats what GM does to every GM car that comes to europe(except the caddy)

And that wouldn't cost anything!

Like this

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

If they were to do this one in yellow I would be passing up the Camaro if it handled just as good, so they better make the Camaro kick it's ass for the same $$$$$ or the Camaro will be in trouble:enguard:

[TonyL]

THE CAR IS **NOT** CALLED THE ELCAMINO

Just had to get that out there. If you read the article, you'd see that they are actually soliciting ideas on what to call it. It may get called the G8ST for all we know.

No one knows for sure what the Pontiac UTE will be called.

So crying about the name is insane guys.

[dodge]

Here is my car boys:attn:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I enjoy driving mine..I took these by the way..The utes are great vehicles also

cheers Joe

[TonyL]

is that an SS logo on the back door? Cool.

[6'9"Witha69]

Here is my car boys:attn:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I enjoy driving mine..I took these by the way..The utes are great vehicles also

cheers JoeThat thing is sweet!!

[steemin]

I don't care what you call it..
I am a big fan of the El Camino (and the Ranchero) and I believe that there is a niche for this type of vehicle.....
but that car is imho Fugly as hell.

Scott

[dodge]

is that an SS logo on the back door? Cool.yes it certainly is:)

[TonyL]

Very cool car dodge. I envy your choices for cars there. I sat in a G8 the other day. The fit and finish were awesome.

[dodge]

Very cool car dodge. I envy your choices for cars there. I sat in a G8 the other day. The fit and finish were awesome.Actually i envy you guys more with your choice of muscle available and the whole aftermarket set up you have at your disposal..One day i will get my butt over there to drool in person at what you guys build.


cheers Joe

[[email protected]]

Actually i envy you guys more with your choice of muscle available and the whole aftermarket set up you have at your disposal..One day i will get my butt over there to drool in person at what you guys build.


cheers Joe

thats funny when i was in canberra and i almost spun my head in circles from all the cars there. pretty much all the cars tearing up the area was some sort of holden.

[dodge]

thats funny when i was in canberra and i almost spun my head in circles from all the cars there. pretty much all the cars tearing up the area was some sort of holden.here is a link to some pics i took on friday night at our local hang out...you may recognise a few models:drive:

http://www.rpmphotography.com.au/v/Browsing/Events/CCN/march/

[bwhinnen]

thats funny when i was in canberra and i almost spun my head in circles from all the cars there. pretty much all the cars tearing up the area was some sort of holden.

The two major players over here are Holden (GM) and Ford. In reality they are the only two who make a full sized sedan, Mitsubishi (locally) make a full size as well, but that really was a failure in both marketing and design.

Where Dodge owns the Holden Commodore SS sedan, I have a Ford Falcon XR8 sedan (5.4L BOSS engine) the major competition to Holden's SS model.

I was just in the US last month and couldn't believe the choice you guys get as far as full size (and oversize) cars go, specially in the Trucks and SUV ranges, not to mention the great pricing you see!

And a couple more of dodge's car, I really do like this model Commodore, it is so much better on the road than previous models, you'll like this more than the Pontiac GTO when you get it over there.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[CRCRFT78]

Well I will have to retract some of my previous statements about the Pontiac G8ST, UTE, El Camino or whatever they will call it. I just looked at a Pontiac G8 tonight with the wifey and I must say I'm impressed and she loves it. Hopefully she will pull the trigger and buy one. Probably a V6 instead of the LS model but I can't complain. It will be hers not mine. However, if & when they release this new El Camino, Ute, G8ST interpretation I will do everything in my power to buy one. Sorry 2010 Camaro, your parking spot will be filled with one of these instead.

[THX 138]

needs coupe doors not sedan doors

[EFI69Cam]

THE CAR IS **NOT** CALLED THE ELCAMINO

Just had to get that out there. If you read the article, you'd see that they are actually soliciting ideas on what to call it. It may get called the G8ST for all we know.

No one knows for sure what the Pontiac UTE will be called.

So crying about the name is insane guys.

It could be

http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/hirezpics/holden_exp03.jpg

Seems there already are Chevy badged Holdens.

[Bones43x]

I can't believe they're actually bringing the Ute over here.

I'm glad they brought the Commodore over, that thing is nice. I'd like to have a new G8.