G6 GXP looks to be GTP in different clothes...

[MantaGreen97]

Did a search but the last thread on the G6 GXP seems to be from 2006, so I thought I'd start a new one...

I'm sure people must have noticed this by now but the 2008 G6 GXP seems to be the same thing as the previous G6 GTP, but with different bumpers/exterior trim parts...

Looks like they dropped the GTP model (perhaps because it's not really any different mechanically than the GXP) as well...

Gone is the the modified 270hp 3900 from the concept, in favour of the 252hp 3.6L LY7 from last year's GTP... Also gone is the manual trans (which went missing from the 07 GTP due to the LY7 motor).

In fact the 3900 (which was still available on the GT w/sport package last year) is gone entirely from the G6 lineup. There's only the 2.4L Ecotec (strangely only producing 164hp in the G6), the 3500 and the 3.6L DOHC available now.

Can't really say I miss the 3900 given the LY7 is a better engine, but it's unfortunate that they didn't keep the LY7 and GTP; and make the GXP with the LLT (direct injected version of the LY7 with around 300hp). That would have made more sense to me.

Also gone are the brakes from the concept (I guess there was no hope of seeing Wilwood brakes on a production car anyway); but it seems the interior touches like the copper anodised colour vents are gone as well...

The hood scoops and more-aggressive spoiler are available on the "street" package, but not on all GXPs.

http://www.pontiac.com/gxp/galleries/g6coupe.jsp?img=2

Those are all coupe pictures, if you go on the site and "build a G6" you can see a little more of the sedan version...

[urweak]

yea, we havent gotten them at work, but im dissapointed. with stuff like the solstic gxp and GP gxp you would think they could have made one bas ass FWD sedan, but i guess not. The torrent GXP isnt anything that great aswell (drove one the other day)

[b2089]

Is that rear spoiler as butt ugly in person as the pics make it out to be?

[A Profane Legac]

Wow. What were they thinking? The spoiler and the front bumper need to be replaced. I was planning on buying one of these next summer to.

Guess I'm ganna get the (used) Saab 9-3 Aero instead

[b2089]

The rear spoiler looks better on the sedan from what I've seen on the website. The Sedan's trunk line seems different for some reason and the spoiler fits better.

I'm still withholding judgement on it until I see it in person. Camera perspective is often misleading.

[Matt95GT]

Guess they're sticking with the Pontiac theme of disappearing manuals trans, and leaving the car largely unchanged except making the powertrains more and more weak each year.

Sidenote... wow those bucktooth grills are nasty looking.

[bballr4567]

I have seen one of the race cars that its based off of and the front actually looks damn mean in person.

The deal with the less power is way weird but IIRC isnt the 3600 variable timing? Also the power curve on the 3600 is far far far better. So yea it doesnt have as much power but the power is used more often.

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by bballr4567
I have seen one of the race cars that its based off of and the front actually looks damn mean in person.

The deal with the less power is way weird but IIRC isnt the 3600 variable timing? Also the power curve on the 3600 is far far far better. So yea it doesnt have as much power but the power is used more often.

The 3.6L DOHC (LY7) isn't actually called a 3600. The 3x00 (or actually any yx00) model nomenclature is pretty much always used for GM pushrod engines.

The term "3x00" also is used by most people to refer to the 60-degree pushrod engines including the 3100, 3400, 3500 and 3900.

That nitpicking aside, both the 3900 LZ8/LZ9 and the 3.6L LY7 have variable valve timing (with the former being among the first and few OHV engines to have such technology). However, the LY7 is indeed a better motor than the 3900, pretty much all around. Being a 24-valve DOHC design it's smoother and more refined and both it's power curve and (surprisingly) torque curve are actually better than the 3900, yes.

However the 3900 in the concept GXP was tuned a little bit for 270hp (greater than both the standard 3900's 240hp and the LY7's 252hp). Which is why I say it would have made more sense to keep the GTP with the 252hp LY7 and use the direct injected version (the 300hp LLT) in the GXP.

But I guess GM is keeping the LLT Cadillac exclusive or at least keeping it in higher end cars than the 2nd level Pontiac? :shrug:

[04GA/GT/SCT]

I'm just happy to see Pontiac finally realized they need to offer hood scopes. They do add the aggressive touch the G6 is lacking otherwise. As for the engine choices, I drove an 06 GTP with the 3900 and I wasn't impressed. I believe the GA GT had more pull from a rolling start than the GTP I drove.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

theres a late 07 package, i think the 'chrome package' that recesses the grilles back on the gt + gtp's that I really like. Not really that its chrome, but real metal, therefore powdercoat-able.

[b2089]

Originally posted by 04GA/GT/SCT
I'm just happy to see Pontiac finally realized they need to offer hood scopes. They do add the aggressive touch the G6 is lacking otherwise. As for the engine choices, I drove an 06 GTP with the 3900 and I wasn't impressed. I believe the GA GT had more pull from a rolling start than the GTP I drove.

I was told by family members that the 3.6 G6 was a demon. Their idea of demon may not be the same as yours though.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

Originally posted by b2089
I was told by family members that the 3.6 G6 was a demon. Their idea of demon may not be the same as yours though.

not sure what the se/gt differences are, but i know the se 3.6 spins them with easy, i just dont like how the rest of the car feels.

[b2089]

I'm told the car "feels" small. It's really not much smaller than a GA but it supposedly feels cramped. To be fair though I haven't been in one. I looked at one but I don't like dealers so I didn't ask to drive it.

[Twista89]

Originally posted by b2089
The rear spoiler looks better on the sedan from what I've seen on the website. The Sedan's trunk line seems different for some reason and the spoiler fits better.

I'm still withholding judgement on it until I see it in person. Camera perspective is often misleading.

I seen that wing in person a couple of days ago...trust me doesnt look as bad as it does in those pictures...looks 10x better in real life.

[DomestikDemon]

Originally posted by b2089
Their idea of demon may not be the same as yours though.

Well looking back, maybe i shoulda picked a different S/N...when I first got my GA I thought it was fast as hell compared to the 85 Jetta I had...anymore I consider the GA to have just enough power to make it fun...and that might be pushing it

[04GA/GT/SCT]

I was told by family members that the 3.6 G6 was a demon. Their idea of demon may not be the same as yours though.

I was talking about the 3.9, not the 3.6.

[b2089]

I assuming that if the 3.6 is fast then the 3.9 would be faster. Is that wrong?

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by b2089
I assuming that if the 3.6 is fast then the 3.9 would be faster. Is that wrong?
Yep, the 3900 LZ8/LZ9 is a pushrod/OHV motor. The 3.6L LY7 is a DOHC engine, which is a little more advanced, higher cost and actually outperforms the 3900 not only in maximum horsepower but also in low end torque and has a generally better torque curve (which is surprising but true).