Quote:
Originally Posted by Caraman  I believe the G8 is actually a Holden Commodore SS built in Australia for Pontiac. Hopefully, it'll be around longer than the GTO, also produced by Holden as the Monaro. |
You're sort of on the money there..
Holden, here in Australia, make the Holden VE Commodore range.
HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) is another factory that takes the Holden Commodore then adds the body kits, trims, upgrades, wheels etc. to make what is known here in Australia as the HSV Clubsport R8.
The HSV Clubsport R8 is exported to the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8 and to the US badges as a Pontiac G8..
The Pontiac GTO (also known in the UK as a Vauxhall VXR) was based on the 2 door Holden Monaro (which was a 2 door version of the Holden Commodore basically) produced here by holden. HSV also took 'Monaros' and did them up and badged them as the HSV GTO Coupe.
We get a few different HSV Models here in Aussie (because they are made here obviously)..
Based on the Commodore we get:
- HSV Clubsport R8 E Series (E Series relates to the model code that goes with the Commodores - that being VE.. previously we had VZ, VY, VX, VT, VS, VR, VP etc etc)
This is what the UK Vauxhall and US Pontiacs are based off..
- HSV GTS E Series (gets more power, different wheel/kit etc)
- HSV Senator Signature (luxury model based on the Holden Commodore Calais which is the luxury model of the Commodore Range)
- HSV Grange (top of the range in terms of luxury goes. Its based on the long wheel based Holden Statesman/Caprice which are the long wheel base versions of the commodores)
side on to show the extra length:
We can also get the HSV Clubsport R8 in the form of a 2 door utility known as the HSV Maloo R8:
And we also get the HSV Astra VXR 2 Door Coupe.. It is basically a suped up turbo-charged 2 door Astra kitted up by HSV..
So there ya's all go - there's a little more info about where your Pontiac G8's come from (and what they are based on) and a few pics to show you what else we get here in Australia..
They are great cars, i love them....
I drive a Holden VZ Commodore SS with the 5.7 Litre V8 LS1 engine.. Basically that is as high up as you can go with the Commodore Range before you go into the HSV Range of Vehicles..
This is my car:
Cheers,
Ben
Edit* after closely looking at the pontiac G8s it appears they are actually in fact based on the normal Holden SS Commodore..
the UK Vauxhall VXR8 is definatley a rebadged HSV Clubsport R8 though..