GM Design has revealed a concept it never had the chance to unveil – and it wears a familiar name. On its Instagram account , GM Design has published a series of images of the Pontiac G8 concept designed by its Advanced Studio in California, which was the final concept from the brand. Completed in 2008, it never had a chance to be revealed – General Motors announced it was shuttering the Pontiac brand on April 27, 2009, shortly before the American giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 8, 2009.
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. Pontiac had introduced the G8, a rebadged Holden VE Commodore, in early 2008. It’s unclear when this concept, which previews a next-generation model, was set to make its motor show debut.
It’s also unclear just how much of the G8 concept’s design would have filtered through to a second-generation model. GM Design does, however, say the concept was “a fully functioning vision of the future design language of Pontiac from 2008”. It’s a bold design, too.
Pontiac’s trademark twin-nostril grille features, but there are vertically oriented headlights with more of a Cadillac flavour. There’s a rakish, coupe-like roofline, a sharp crease running down the side, and prominent hips, culminating in a hatchback rear that bears a passing resemblance to GM’s Mazda MX-5 rivals of the time, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Inside, there’s a dramatic, driver-focused dash, with a minim.