The Wrong Kid Died: Pontiac's Pillarless G8 Could Have Been Great

Image: General Motors Design

Pontiac was in a real good place in 2008. The arrowhead brand was living large with a slew of critically acclaimed models on the road, including the G8, an enthusiast-favorite sporty sedan yoinked from Holden. The G8 was the first rear-wheel drive sedan from Pontiac since 1986, and the design heads at GM were determined to see the car get a second generation, aiming for the sales success that Dodge had seen with its Charger. Pontiac was a performance-aimed brand, and it was doing a pretty good job of backing up that image with high-quality and fun product.

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A fully-functional G8 pillarless sedan concept was constructed to show the future of Pontiac design. Unfortunately for everyone, that future would never come.

Image: General Motors Design

We all know the story of Pontiac’s fall, as the economic disaster of 2008 effectively killed any future the brand might have had. In another string of the multiverse Pontiac launched a second-generation G8 and it sold in giant numbers thanks to its edgy design language, aggressive sporty driving experience, and powerful LS engine. Pontiac died in 2010, and this project was shelved before it could ever see the light of day. It took fourteen years for General Motors to even acknowledge its existence.

Image: General Motors Design

Earlier this week the General Motors Design account on Instagram unveiled the concept’s form for the first time to, unsurprisingly, great fanfare.

Image: General Motors Design

Some of the late Pontiac designs are evident in this vehicle, as you can see some of the rakish Solstice sports car, particularly in the rear fascia and tail lights. The front carries a more aggro take on the Aveo-based G3 bumper. That doesn’t sound like it would work, but somehow it does.

Image: General Motors Design

The brand has been gone for fourteen years now, and it isn’t coming back any time soon, but hot damn it should be. This car looks great in 2024, and could still be a looker on the street today. Follow Dodge’s lead with the Charger and make it a fast electric, and it would be ready for prime time. Damn, I wish Pontiac were still here to see this today.