G8 Ute to be badged 'ST'

There are already mutterings from abroad over Pontiac's decision to name its Australian-built load carrier the 'G8 ST'. The Pontiac-badged version of the Holden Ute was the subject of a promotion ('Tame the Name'), inviting enthusiasts to submit an appropriate name for the vehicle.

One website, Jalopnik.com, lobbied heavily for the new model to be named 'G8 El Camino', claiming around 80,000 votes in favour of the name, which is a resurrection of a Chevrolet model name.

When Pontiac revealed that the Ute would be sold under the G8 model name in the US, they initially labelled it a G8 ST (more here) in anticipation of a better name being dreamed up through the website.

Plainly, that hasn't happened and Pontiac has reverted to the original plan. If the response on Jalopnik.com is a true indication of the feeling in the US, even those who are excited by the prospect of the new model are disappointed that Pontiac stuck with such a prosaic name.

However, it's plain that Pontiac couldn't apply a model name so closely associated with the Chevrolet brand. The 'ST', which will be available with an AFM (Active Fuel Management) V8 and six-speed automatic transmission, will align -- as a level of trim, in effect -- with the G8 GT sedan.

According to Pontiac, the company received 18,000 possible names through the website, although whether these were all distinct or whether 17,500 of them were 'El Camino' remains unclear.

Craig Bierley, product marketing director for cars and crossovers at Buick-Pontiac-GMC, described 'El Camino' as a "sentimental favourite" among the names proffered.

"We actually thought very long about 'El Camino'," said Bierley. "In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honour the El Camino's unique place as part of Chevy's heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac."

Pontiac would also be steering clear of any name with 'iconnotations'. Pontiac's last Australian import, the Monaro-based GTO, suffered from a relatively poor image in the marketplace because it was named after an icon from US automotive history. Despite being a good car and highly regarded by those who bought it, the GTO never lived up to the 'myth'.

The G8 ST will go on sale late next year as a 2010 model. Pontiac anticipates that the G8 ST will be capable of reaching 60MPH from a standing start in 5.4 seconds and deliver fuel economy close to the head of the class for a vehicle with a towing capacity of nearly 1600kg.

Winner of the naming competition, Joseph Warren of Waynesville, North Carolina, will take delivery of the new car once it's released in the US.

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