2008 New York Auto Show Preview: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

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NEW YORK CITY — Meet the neo-El Camino — a rear-wheel-drive, performance-oriented sport truck based on the Australian Holden Ute, that will be marketed in late 2009 as part of Pontiac's G8 family.

Set to debut at the upcoming 2008 New York Auto Show, Pontiac is giving consumers an opportunity to help name the 2010 model by submitting their suggestions online.

Riding on 18-inch alloy wheels and 245/45R18 performance tires, the truck borrows heavily from the G8's exterior design, especially at the front end. The wheelbase gets a 4-inch stretch, and the 6-foot-plus cargo bed is covered by a color-coordinated soft tonneau.

Unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to stuff the 6.2-liter LS3 Corvette V8 into the engine bay. Instead, the truck will have to make do with the still-formidable 6.0-liter V8 that powers the G8 GT sedan and makes 361 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque — enough muscle to propel the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

A six-speed automatic is likely to be the only transmission choice, but Pontiac plans to offer a sports package with 19-inch wheels and tires, plus other goodies.

Stability control, dual-zone air-conditioning and heated power leather seats are among the standard equipment.

What this means to you: So what's wrong with calling it the G8 Ute? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent