It’s been nearly 14 years since Pontiac was sacrificed as penance for the General Motors bailout, despite the efforts of several executives to keep the “excitement” brand alive during the proceedings.
The decision to shelve the brand was actually made in 2008, not long after it unveiled a very interesting concept model at the New York Auto Show.
The G8 ST was a two-door pickup version of the Pontiac G8 sedan that would have been a modern take on the Chevrolet El Camino had it made it to production.
It was ready for it, too, as the model was sold as the Holden Commodore Ute in Australia, where the G8 was made and where “ute” was the word for this type of vehicle, which was popular Down Under at the time.
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But while that was based on the existing G8, Pontiac was already quietly working on the next generation and had a concept ready to go when the plug was pulled.
General Motors Design has now revealed images of the “fully functioning” vehicle for the first time and its far more dramatic than the car it would have replaced.
The car features oversized vertically arranged headlights and a hood that goes all the way down to the bumper and incorporates the brand’s signature split grille.
Rear buttresses framing a recessed window give it a fastback look and the car is equipped with a hatchback rather than a trunk lid.
The interior is exceptionally sporty and has a cockpit-style arrangement enveloping the driver that’s not to unlike the one that appeared in the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. Rich distressed leather upholstery gives it an upscale look.
Whatever the proposed technical specifications were have not been released, but the production G8 was built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Camaro, so likely would have followed suit.
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There have been on again, off again rumors that Pontiac could return as a sub-brand of Chevrolet the way Hummer has with GMC, but it’s not looking likely to happen. Even if it did, with GM’s focus shifting toward electric vehicles and SUVs, the likelihood of a G8 sedan ever being sold again is about as good as it bringing back the G6, which actually was the last Pontiac ever built.