The SSR was a cool vehicle. That retractable roof? Sweet! The only other thing you could get something like that on from competitors was that Lexus sport coupe thingy. Then the G6 and the XLR comes out with it.

Yeah, they’d need a 15-20% improvement in MPG to justify the V6, and since it’s a “high-tech” V6, it’s probably not going to be that much cheaper than the “8″.

A point of interest, the V6 in Australia is available with a 6 Sp Manual gearbox (Aisin I believe, same as the new Camaro) so if Fuel consumption becomes even more of an issue this could be offered.

The reason there is no Manual V8 is because the DoD L76 V8 doesn’t work with a manual. The GXP will use the LS3 and have no DoD, so hence that is why it can have a manual box.

Yeah, but it’s going to be a really big V6…

How a company can make such good 8’s and lame 6’s is amazing. It’s not like BMW where they can make inlines but not V’s. That’s at least understandable.

I paid under that for my sedan after finding a dealer to dicker with, but this was the for 08 sedan before the price increase on the 09. I’d frankly rather own an ST for my needs than a truck. I hate the way trucks drive, they are much thirstier, I love performance, and they are overkill for my needs. In fact I suspect a car like the ST would fit most people’s needs for hauling just as they do in Australia.

I’m planning on getting a Camaro SS eventually but would reconsider if GM offered a manual transmission on the ST with the V8. From what I’ve heard that’s probably not going to happen.

Agreed.

Even with a V6 I fear that this is another niche product. Unless the development costs were very low (using the Ute – G8 platform).

BTW, I love the concept and would buy it – but not for $30K – not now, not ever, not even close.

“The Titanic will be powered by a V6 on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.”

Presumably the G8 ST sells for about the same price as the G8, so is there a market for a $30K sport truck? I mean a market big enough to bother with?

And no, I can’t put them in the bed ala Subaru Brat’s of yesteryear.

Oh and Dperkins…..had you truly flamed you’d know it within 1 minute and 34 seconds as you would receive hate mail.

What’s the change in market condition here?

The U.S market has taken a sudden interest in fuel economy – the V6 option gives GM a nod to that market shift (even if the benefit is small).

“Don’t want a big honkin’ V8, step right over here, I have a V-6 for you”.

monkeyboy

How the heck is my comment ‘flaming’?

To answer my own question on the V6 being cheaper:

The v8 is probably going to have bigger incentives slapped on the hood. At least after the initial ‘image’ buyers have come and gone.

V8 it is then.

Maybe if the average speed of your commute is less than 15mph, when idling a 3.6L engine is better than a 6.0l. The 3.6L is a rev happy motor, in the CTS the peak torque is above 5000rpm.

I seriously doubt the 3.6L will fare much better than an effortless V8 in this tank. And if the V8 gets the Corvette’s double-overdrive T-56, the V6 is pointless.

EDIT: I just said what TriShield said. Oh well. :)

Which means this thing’s base engine should be some cheap old V6 with power in the low 200’s. There are plenty of reasons to buy a trucklet besides Ultimate Power, and those buyers shouldn’t be limited to the desires of the power crowd.

Probably not enough better to make the loss of performance worth it. I have a G8 sedan and it returns 17-20MPG all city driving. Edmunds had a G8 V6 and averaged 16MPG city driving.

If GM really wanted to increase fuel economy they would offer every G8 model with a manual transmission, not just the upcoming GXP.

The G8 ST is basically a coupe with a big open tray in place of a rear seat and trunk. It’s begging for a manual transmission across the range which this car and all it’s variants are already built with in Australia.

What is “faking out” about this? They’re responding to changing market conditions – much faster than normal. ”

Oh man!

RF?

“No flaming the site, its authors or fellow commentators.”

In reality, the V-8 would require less throttle to move the same weight. Torque model deal. And it would develop that needed oomph at a lower rpm, and pull a higher final drive.

And the V6 should be cheaper, correct?

Like Richard Hammond wrote in Top Gear magazine about American muscle cars, the V6 is there “for idiots to buy”. “It’s like going into a dragon shop for a pet and coming out with a poodle.”

Amen.

Because they said “V6 and V8, and manual transmissions.” Then they said “V8 only, auto only.” Now it is “V6 or V8.”

What’s the change in market condition here? The MPGs are basically the same for the G8 V6 and G8 V8?