Chevrolet SS/Pontiac G8

The Pontiac G8 was introduced in 2008 as a rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, based on the Australian Holden Commodore. It was Pontiac’s attempt to inject excitement back into the brand, offering a base V6 model and a high-performance G8 GT with a 6.0L V8. The ultimate version, the G8 GXP, featured a 6.2L LS3 V8 producing 415 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful Pontiacs ever. However, the G8’s run was short-lived, as GM shut down Pontiac in 2010 following the financial crisis.

Despite Pontiac’s demise, the G8’s platform lived on. In 2014, Chevrolet revived the concept with the Chevrolet SS, another rebadged version of the Holden Commodore. The SS came with a 6.2L LS3 V8, producing 415 horsepower, and featured performance upgrades like Magnetic Ride Control and Brembo brakes. Unlike the G8, the SS was positioned as a premium, yet understated, performance sedan with no flashy badging. However, it remained a niche product with limited marketing and was discontinued in 2017, marking the end of GM’s Australian-built, rear-wheel-drive V8 sedans in the U.S.