When Pontiac picked the name “G8 ST” from 8k entries to its “Tame The Name” competition, it was obvious that weak-wristed marketing would be a major component in its Aussie lite-ute’s American campaign. After all, the most, erm, unique vehicle in the GM lineup would surely need a good old-fashioned ferocious animal or force of nature name to succeed. And now that the G8-amino has been canceled, its namer has confirmed the mundanity of the instincts behind the ST moniker. Pickuptrucks.com reports that the Name Tamer, Joseph Warren, was supposed to receive an ST for his excellence in humdrummery. But with the ute canceled he’s opted for a Pontiac Torrent. That’s right, G8 ST lovers, the obvious replacement for your symbol of individuality is a brand-engineered Theta-platform crossover. Oh sure, Warren picked the “hot” GXP version with 268 hp, 18 inch 5-spoke chrome wheels, twin hood scoops, and “a unique front and rear body kit.” And yes, the choice of any $30k Pontiac product is a little like picking the most subtly elegant Steven Seagal movie. But c’mon, a Torrent? No Solstice? No G8 Sedan? No wonder “G8 ST” was all this guy could come up with. Just sayin’.
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I wonder how many “El Camino” entries they received. “Who’s this Ray Wert guy?! And why did he email us 3,000 times?”
Wasn’t that the name that Pontiac had planned on using before the name-game? Maybe he lives in the snowbelt and his wife needed/wanted a crossover…who knows, definitely not my choice.
But c’mon, a Torrent? No Solstice? No G8 Sedan? No wonder “G8 ST” was all this guy could come up with. Just sayin’.
Amen to that.
Pontiac and excitement is becoming an oxymoron.
No Solstice? No G8 Sedan?
Maybe this guy simply needs to carry stuff around, and that’s why he’d want a “Sport Truck?”
I’d even take the Vibe at half that price.
Am I the only one who thinks that the Torrent GXP is actually pretty cool? I’d buy it.
Obviously this is a guy who has some stuff to haul around. Given that, the only Pontiac for him is the Torrent.
I wonder if they would’ve offered 3 holdover GTOs if asked.
G8 GT has a trunk and a back seat if one needs to carry stuff around…
“G8 GT has a trunk and a back seat”
Yes but it won’t fit your Amplifier, guitar, and surfboard all at the same time.
just resurect the holden “crewman” ute. 4 doors and the tray. And was available in AWD.
He should have asked them for a G8 sedan and a Sawz-all.
DIY G8ST
Instead of wasting development money on the Torrent, just make the Vibe into a version of the Matrix XRS into the hot hatch it was meant to be. Stick in the 2.0L turbo from the Cobalt SS, hitch it to an AWD system developed for that engine used in Europe on the Insignia SRi 4×4, and call it the Vibe GXP, a smaller AWD alternative to the HHR SS.
You’d think they’d be nice enough to offer him a GMC truck, especially since they are in the same GM division.