He talks about the G8, its relation to the Commodore, the Camaro and the GTO - worthwhile ... oh, and he talks pricing :)

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070210/VIDEO/70212001/1151/VIDEO

I hope it's not a repost, but a search didn't show it up ...

Nice Video, looks like the GT is going to be in the mid 30K range, and GM isn't looking to discount this one...

He talks about even larger cars than the G8 by using the longer front rails of the Camaro. Ultimately will replace the Grand Prix but that they will co-exist for some time. Pricing very spot on engine-wise to Charger. Lessons he has learned from GTO, use current styling, not old. 1. Bring in car at beginning of design cyle. 2. Overpriced. 3. Poor distribution according to where wanted (S CA)

Did you catch? First cars to leave Oz in November, arrival early 2008, sold as 2009 models.

Yep....MSRP people...at least for the V8.
It worked with the Solstice, now they're going to do it again.
Keep in touch with your dealers and take them a deposit to get on the list.
Fun, fun, fun...but it looks like this 4door baby will be worth the trouble.

Yep....MSRP people...at least for the V8.
It worked with the Solstice, now they're going to do it again.
Keep in touch with your dealers and take them a deposit to get on the list.
Fun, fun, fun...but it looks like this 4door baby will be worth the trouble.

MSRP still works for the Solstice. That I'm okay with for the G8. Especially in a relatively low (less than 50,000 units) production vehicle. We are not talking a half million per year unit like Camrys and Civics. As long as the SoCal dealers are not tacking on $5k, urging NE dealers to hit us $3k then there will still be some negotiating room. Besides, right now, today, if it were here, would you gladly pay sticker of about $35k for a G8 instead of $10k off a $53k Lexus? I would.

very interesting. quite possibly the best interview ive ever seen with mr lutz

id say itd be safe to say v6 for 25k, gt for 31-32k before dealer gouging

Well I want a GT and my cap is 30k. I may have to wait a little bit... I'm hoping GM can get the MSRP to 29,999.

Lutz says the G8 maybe introduced as a 2009 model. That makes sense. It is evident that GM wants to go head to head with the Chrysler RWD cars and will probably be priced about the same.

BTW, I rented a 6cyl Magnum..........a SNAIL!!!

There are 6 trim levels for the Magnum. Which one was Bob talking about?

2007 Dodge Magnum SE
MSRP $22,945 INVOICE $21,321 2.7L V6 190HP 21/28 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum SXT
MSRP $26,855 INVOICE $24,918 3.5L V6 250HP 19/27 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD
MSRP $29,285 INVOICE $27,027 3.5L V6 250HP 17/24 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum RT
MSRP $31,040 INVOICE $28,606 5.7L V8 340HP 17/25 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum RT AWD
MSRP $33,040 INVOICE $30,406 5.7L V8 340HP 17/24 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum SRT8
MSRP $37,670 INVOICE $35,008 6.1L V8 425HP 14/20 mpg

I assume the AWD options can be ruled out. The base V6 for the Magnum is not comparable in HP to the G8 V6 so would guess the G8 V6 will be comparable to the Magnum SXT. The G8 at 340hp doesn't compare to the SRT8 at 425hp so I would assume it would have to be paired with the RT at 31,040 MSRP. That's 2007 pricing and I assume 2009 pricing is going to be a little more. The Dodge pricing is going up about 185+ a year for the RT so maybe 31.5K for the 2009 G8 GT, I would guess and $27K even for the V6. But then earlier he said the V6 would start at 25K. I would assume a GXP (if they decide to make it) would match the SRT8 pricing.

Very informative video. Thanks!

There are 6 trim levels for the Magnum. Which one was Bob talking about?

2007 Dodge Magnum SXT
MSRP $26,855 INVOICE $24,918 3.5L V6 250HP 19/27 mpg

2007 Dodge Magnum RT
MSRP $31,040 INVOICE $28,606 5.7L V8 340HP 17/25 mpg



These 2 are my best guess. I want a damned G8 and I hope to Christ they are priced in my range. I'm in socal, so I'm glad to hear they'll be shipping a ton out here.

Bob Lutz ftw!

I didn't think they made the R/T in AWD.

ERM... my buddy just dropeed a Charger R/T for a lot less than what is listed. So to go buy a Charger R/T for 28K vs a G8 for ~33K

Oh shi@$#@#%(& I feel GM may be in another crapper! They need to start pricing agressively not because "it is cool looking"

OK GM First you have to break the gas guzzling & unreliable perception... then you can charge more for your car than everyone else...

I mean did anyone hear the latest news???

The new Camary V6 dropped a 0-60 in 5.8 and a 1/4 mile at 14.3 for 25K. That is Charger R/T territory (time wise) and for the most part everyone I to talk to seems to be baffled why we are going back to RWD which pushes a lot of sales back to the Camary and Accord.

I still to this day say GM should have offered a 3 way platform...

FWD
RWD and
AWD

in the same vehicle. Well not at the same time... I mean for instance a G8 FWD, G8 RWD and a G8 AWD so let the public pick em. Obviously in the southern states you make more RWD and in the north you make more FWD and AWD. FWD and RWD being comparable in price and the AWD making up some of the cost.

If I owned a heavy equipment company I would start my own USA brand vehicle company!!! (yes like Lambo :) )

I thought I heard a backhanded comment about how he really doesnt want it to be a fleet vehicle like the current grand prix.

ERM... my buddy just dropeed a Charger R/T for a lot less than what is listed. So to go buy a Charger R/T for 28K vs a G8 for ~33K

Oh shi@$#@#%(& I feel GM may be in another crapper! They need to start pricing agressively not because "it is cool looking"

OK GM First you have to break the gas guzzling & unreliable perception... then you can charge more for your car than everyone else...

I mean did anyone hear the latest news???

The new Camary V6 dropped a 0-60 in 5.8 and a 1/4 mile at 14.3 for 25K. That is Charger R/T territory (time wise) and for the most part everyone I to talk to seems to be baffled why we are going back to RWD which pushes a lot of sales back to the Camary and Accord.

I still to this day say GM should have offered a 3 way platform...

FWD
RWD and
AWD

in the same vehicle. Well not at the same time... I mean for instance a G8 FWD, G8 RWD and a G8 AWD so let the public pick em. Obviously in the southern states you make more RWD and in the north you make more FWD and AWD. FWD and RWD being comparable in price and the AWD making up some of the cost.

If I owned a heavy equipment company I would start my own USA brand vehicle company!!! (yes like Lambo :) )

The Camry compares in size and market t o the G6, so compare the new G6 GXP to the Camry, not the G8. Otherwise I agree with offering at least two platforms in the same vehicle, RWD/AWD or FWD/AWD. Consider that one axle has to be primary and teh other is , so to speak, mostly along for the ride. The difference in architecture to make a Zeta into a full time FWD only would be overy expensive, not to mention that the back end would be overbuilt for the application. I would choose an AWD first, as long as price is competitive. It would not be the first AWD sedan from Pontiac, as the 6000 was offered as such for one or two years before its demise. Just never had any power to go with it.