Remembering the Pontiac G8 GXP: The Super Sedan that Gave Rise to the Blackwings
Fast four doors like the Dodge Charger Hellcat and Cadillac CT-5 Blackwing capture enthusiast attention, but these sports cars aren’t the first of their kind. For GM, the modern era of four-door muscle cars started 15 years ago. Then, it was the Pontiac G8 GXP. Today, it’s an easily overlooked sleeper car on a used car lot. But if you know what you’re looking at, you know that’s a mistake.
What engine was in the G8 GXP?
Not only is the Pontiac G8 GXP a big, four-door sedan, but it packs a powerhouse under the hood. A 6.2-liter V8 spits out 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque and sends it through the rear wheels. Available with a six-speed manual transmission, the GXP delivers an engaging experience commensurate with that big powerplant up front.
Despite its full-size frame and V8 power, the Pontiac G8 GXP offered sharp steering and balanced handling. The short-throw six-speed shifter is smooth and satisfying, getting that V8 power to the ground with a sense of refined engagement.
Zero to 60 mph takes just 4.7 seconds, thanks in part to its 245 mm tire width. The flared fenders and wide stance give the GXP an aggressive look, and the added hood nostrils only add to the brash aesthetic.
All of this adds up to a 4,050-pound curb weight, making the G8 GXP a heavy car even by modern standards. That makes the impressive acceleration and handling even more remarkable, and it helps paint a picture of the GM super sedans to come.
GM’s Australian supercars provide plenty of joy
If all of that sounds familiar, it should. The Pontiac G8 GXP is closely related to the GTO of the same era. Using the same engine general philosophy, the G8 is essentially a four-door version of Pontiac’s muscly coupe. All of this great tech though, doesn’t come from GM’s American roots. Instead, both cars come from Holden, General Motors’ Australian division.
While the GTO was a rebadged Holden Monaro, the G8 GXP was a VE Commodore before coming to American showrooms. This was part of a push by Bob Lutz to bring exciting cars to GM’s showrooms, though his success is debatable.
How much is a Pontiac G8 GXP in 2023?
It may not be a car that many remember, but a used Pontiac G8 GXP is far from cheap in 2023. Averaging about $35,000 on the used market, a G8 GXP certainly isn’t a bargain. But considering the defunct brand made just 2,000 models in the first place, it’s no surprise that the spiciest Pontiac is hard to find 15 years later. For context, Jalopnik reports that the original starting price of the GXP was $39,995, all the way back in 2009.
The first of GM’s modern super sedans
While the G8 GXP certainly wasn’t the first American four-door sports car, it was the first of a rejuvenated attempt in the new millennium. As Dodge ramped up with the Charger, Pontiac attempted to answer with the G8.
Since then, the Chevy SS and now, the Cadillac CT4 and CT5-V Blackwing models carry the torch as high-octane four-door sedans from the American conglomerate. Still, if it’s the OG you’re looking for, you’ll want to look back to an old, brutish Pontiac.
