Since Pontiac announced that it would be selling its own version of the Australian  | | It's very much a G8... it's just got a 6'2" long bed in the back. (Photo: Pontiac) | Holden Commodore sedan here in North America, the G8, there has been speculation regarding the brand bringing its slightly crazy but ever so cool pickup truck brother over as well, the Holden Ute. General Motors has decided to invest in the idea, and is bringing back what is quite literally a modern-day El Camino, in everything but the brand and model badges.
The G8 “Sport Truck” is more or less identical to the G8 sedan from the front pillars forward, but the big news is out back. Like the car, the pickup version features a unibody frame with fully independent front and rear suspension setups spanned by a wheelbase that's stretched four inches. The rear overhang on the truck is larger than the G8 sedan by a further two inches. This allows Pontiac to claim a useable 6-foot-2-inch long bed behind the two-person cab, which is topped off by a soft tonneau cover protecting the bed from the elements.
 | | And with 361 horsepower on tap, this is one quick pickup. (Photo: Pontiac) |
So far as we know, the G8 “Sport Truck” will be offered with the same 361 horsepower V8 as the G8 sedan, also featuring AFM cylinder deactivation and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It'll tow 3,500 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1,100 pounds.
With all that power, the pickup version of the G8 will hit 60 mph from a standstill in only 5.4 seconds, making it the fastest truck currently on the market.
The name “Sport Truck” won't be carried over to the production model when it hits the assembly line in Adelaide, Australia for model year 2010. GM is holding a naming contest at www.pontiac.com/namethiscar, and the winner will be chosen on April 15th.
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