2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

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What is it?
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

What's special about it?
Two words: Corvette power. Yes, the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP gets the same LS3 V8 as the Chevrolet Corvette. Sure, the GXP's more restrictive intake knocks the 6.2-liter V8 down to 402 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque, but that's still 41 extra hp and 17 more lb-ft of torque than the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT.

Pontiac says this is enough power to get the new 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 13 seconds flat at 108 mph. Not bad for a car that is expected to sticker for "just under $40,000," according to Brian Shipman, the Pontiac G8's product manager.

In addition to the extra horsepower from the retuned LS3 V8, the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP also gets something else that no other G8 has — an optional manual transmission. It's a Tremec TR6060 six-speed, and it's the same MM6 version used in the base-model and Z06 Corvettes, which means it has the customary (but annoying) fuel-saving skip-shift feature. On the bright side, this gearbox runs through a set of 3.70:1 rear-end gears in place of the G8 GT's taller 2.92:1 ring-and-pinion, which should deliver much quicker acceleration. A six-speed 6L80 automatic is the standard transmission. It comes with 3.27:1 rear-axle ratio, and as with the manual-equipped models, a limited-slip differential comes standard.

Every GXP gets Pontiac's top-of-the-line FE3 suspension in place of the FE2 setup used by the GT. This features the same MacPherson struts up front and four-link independent arrangement in the back, but the dampers, springs and antiroll bars are tuned more aggressively than the GT's setup. Same goes for the steering, while the brakes are upgraded to 14-inch rotors in front with four-piston calipers and 12.8-inch rotors in back with single-piston calipers. A set of 19-inch polished aluminum wheels comes standard with 245/40R19 performance summer tires.

Interior upgrades consist of two-tone, power-adjustable sport seats with "GXP" embroidery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, sport pedals with aluminum covers and a 230-watt Blaupunkt audio system.

Pontiac plans to build 5,000-7,000 examples of the 2009 GXP starting in late 2008.

What's Edmunds' take?
The standard G8 GT is already one of the best performance sedans you can buy for $30K. The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP has a good chance of being the best performance bargain for $40K. Not a bad lineup. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line