At this year?s Chicago Auto Show, Pontiac (also maker of top of the line Pontiac catalytic converter) ? confirming its commitment to style and performance ? introduced a show car version of the all-new, rear-wheel drive performance, the G8 GT.

The G8 is the first North American application of GM’s new global rear-wheel-drive architecture developed by Holden, GM’s Australian subsidiary.

The G8 show car gave everyone a peek of the highly anticipated production GT model, including use of the 362-horsepower (270 kW) 6.0L V-8 engine and optional six-speed manual transmission. The show car also features some unique items not found on the production model, including twenty-inch “shadow chrome” wheels and performance tires, ride height lowered approximately half-inch, high-performance brake rotors with painted brake calipers, custom interior trim color, including a leather-wrapped dash, exclusive exterior paint color: Phantom Grey, and the concept of “modernized” Pontiac badge.

Last week, the first prototype of the Pontiac G8 rolled off General Motors’ Australia unit, GM Holden — ahead of a full production start later in the year. The rear-wheel-drive performance sedan is headed for the United States in early 2008.

Production model details

The 2008 Pontiac G8 lineup will offer two models: G8 and G8 GT. Each will come with a host of standard performance, convenience and safety features, including:

Four-wheel independent suspension

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control

Electronic stability control

18-inch aluminum wheels (19-inch wheels available with sport package)

Seat-mounted thorax air bags and dual-stage frontal air bags for front passengers, with automatic passenger sensing system

Roof rail side-impact air bags for both seating rows

OnStar

XM Satellite Radio

Power-adjustable front seats

Fog lamps

Chrome exhaust tips

Rear lip spoiler

A sport package will also be available for both models and adds features such as specific wheels ? including 19-inch aluminum wheels and performance tires on GT ? a rear wing spoiler, leather shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy pedals.

Production of the Pontiac G8 is scheduled to commence at the Holden plant in late 2007, bringing the production line to a maximum capacity rate of 620 cars per day.

The G8 will be the first car sold in the U.S. based on the Australia-developed new Zeta global GM architecture. This means that Holden?s Elizabeth plant is exporting to every continent in the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

About GM Holden Ltd

GM Holden Ltd or Holden is an Australian automaker based in Melbourne, Victoria, originally independent but now a subsidiary of General Motors (GM). The automotive marque is one of GM’s “alpha” brands, taking charge of vehicle operations for General Motors in Australasia, and have partial ownership of GM Daewoo in South Korea.

Revolutionary advancements to automotive engineering and design have incorporated the use of engine computers to enhance the efficiency of engine operations. Along with the use of electronic engine sensors, computer-assisted engine system operations have established greater engine power and performance perfect for daily driving applications. For high performance driving applications, you can simply employ a cost effective Pontiac performance chip to do just the trick in taking your vehicle?s overall engine performance a level up notch. The chip carries a program that is designed to upgrade the critical factory performance settings of your engine. Aside from that, the incorporation of application tested technologies backed up the dyno-test proven results of the fuel efficiency as well as the performance gains offered by premium performance chips. Souping-up serious power train has never been easier. The secret to enjoying practical and convenient solutions to unleashing your vehicle?s overall level of performance lie on the functionality of a single unit of sophisticated performance enhancing device.

Tuned towards delivering your vehicle?s peak performance and fuel efficiency, the sophisticated and neat technology used in manufactured premium Pontiac performance chip has long been developed to offer greater possibilities to boosting combustion efficiencies. With the help of electronic sensors, it breaks your engine free from the restrictions of critical factory settings for performance. At specified RPM range, the product is designed to meet the exact demands of sustaining smooth operations as specific driving applications. Add that up to the product?s simplest and easiest installation specifications and you simple get pure convenience of continually enjoying the gains of re-establishing the fuel efficiency status of your engine absolutely hassle-free. While it is intended to be wired directly to your engine control unit, the product automatically makes all the necessary adjustments to optimize fuel combustion efficiency. It intelligently improves drivability by simply helping your engine computer keep up with the intensity of engine operations you require so following the course of your driving style will be absolutely fail-proof.

With today?s age of technological advancements, you never will need to crawl under the hood just to upgrade the performance of your vehicle. Back in the days, you need to hope of the best results when fondling with carburetor settings and distributor advance curves just to squeeze more engine power out of the standard yielded output. By combining aggressive fuel and timing settings, plug and play Pontiac performance chip applications eliminates all the dirty works of juicing more power from your engine. By remapping your engine systems for more power and torque, it simply acquires better stance in terms of drivability and fuel economy. Because performance chips are highly advanced car accessories as well as cost effective performance enhancers, chip manufacturers take leverage on more advanced chip features connected with their chips. Whatever type or brand of performance chip you decide to have your ride equipped with, make sure that the product is custom tailored to your vehicle?s specific year and model of application. Otherwise, you might face sever engine computer problems due to imprecision. Finding the best fitting Pontiac performance chip for your vehicle has been made easier as online automotive stores improved the availability of performance chips not just to your country but all over the world.

I have a 1999 V6 Camaro with a 3.8L 3800 Series II engine. The 1997 Pontiac GTP has the same engine but it is supercharged. Will the Pontiac supercharger fit my camaro?

The General Motors has recently introduced the 2-door, 5-passenger family coupe, the 2007 Pontiac G5. It comes in two different vehicle types – the Coupe and GT Coupe. These are the first new compact cars for GM’s performance division since the Sun fire was dropped a few years ago.

Prices start at $14,995 for the G5 Coupe and $17,795 for the G5 GT Coupe. Two engine options for these cars include the 2.2-liter “Ecotec” four (rated at 25 mpg city/34 highway) and the 2.4-liter 173-horsepower V-6.

At first glance on this vehicle, you might probably call it Chevy Cobalt. The reason is that the Pontiac G5 is built on the same platform built on the Cobalt. Style-wise, the two cars are almost identical. Most writers say this is “badge engineering.” It is that simple. And that is the practice of taking one car and simply making it part of another lineup.

Buyers and car enthusiasts do not like the idea of style-copying from other car brands. But a writer said these Pontiac cars have a lot to offer that is entirely different from the Chevrolet car.

The G5 possesses an aero spoiler, full power equipment and a standard five-speed Get rag manual transmission. It has a MP3 compatible radio, an available XM Satellite radio, and turn-by-turn voice navigation from On Star.

Meanwhile, Pontiac is still touting its beautiful G6 coupe, convertible and sedan.

Highlighting the exterior of the G6 Coupe, styling changes is visible in a redesigned front face, featuring an integrated lower air dam and an aggressive color treatment of Pontiac?s signature twin-port grille, as well as a twin air scoop hood. Around the back area, the new rear fascia shows off the dual chrome-tipped exhaust and unique hammerhead spoiler. Side rocker panels, 19-inch wheels, vented cross-drilled brake rotors, and a 25-mm reduction in suspension height finish off the GXP?s ground-hugging appearance.

For the interior, red accents give the Coupe a sportier flavor than a standard G6. The red leather seat and door panel inserts add the red color trim on the instrument cluster, center stack and door controls.

The G6 Convertible, on the other hand, has a two-piece clamshell-style retractable hardtop. This was developed by Karmann, a convertible engineering specialist. It takes a rough estimation of 30 seconds to change.

The car also uses a double-hinged trunk lid that can open like a normal trunk for heavy luggage storage but has a reverse-hinge system that allows it to accept the folding hardtop.

To ensure a dry interior in rainy, top-up conditions, all G6 convertibles undergo stringent water tests at the factory.

Standard in the Sedan are Side curtain airbags. Front seat mounted torso airbags are still available as an option.

All Pontiac new models have their respective enhanced Pontiac muffler.

In spite these advancements, car enthusiasts say two things let the 2007 Pontiac G6 sedan down: the rear seat’s low roofline and awkward access, and the extreme wind noise from the panoramic sunroof.

The internal combustion engine of your Pontiac needs gasoline and air in order to make a complete combustion. Gasoline is basically made up of 2 elements?carbon and hydrogen; while air is made up of nitrogen and oxygen. The normal combustion process of your engine would produce nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. These 3 by-products are the most desirable products of combustion. But unfortunately, gasoline engines do not run efficiently at all times. As a result, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are being produced. These ?terrible trio? of automotive pollutants are harmful to your engine components. Not only that, excessive amounts of these exhaust gases can contribute to urban air pollution and respiratory and heart diseases as well. To address this need, you car has been equipped with a group of components collectively known as the Pontiac exhaust system. These car components basically convey burnt gases from your engine through the subcomponents comprising it.

There are 3 types of exhaust systems?the header back, turbo-back, and cat-back. Header back comprises those exhaust system components starting from the header outlet to the final vent. This type of exhaust system is used in cars that are not equipped with turbochargers. On the other hand, turbo-back exhaust systems are used in cars that are equipped with turbochargers. It runs from the turbo charger outlet to the final vent to open air. Lastly, cat-back exhaust systems start from the outlet of the catalytic converter and ends to the final vent to open air. No matter what type of exhaust system you may have, it will make you benefit in three ways. First, you will get serious torque gains and horsepower. Second, you will get an improved fuel economy. And finally, you will get a growling and distinctive exhaust tone. The Pontiac exhaust system comes into action after your engine generates the exhaust gases in the piston chamber. These exhaust gases are exhaled out of the engine by traveling through various pipes and hoses and eventually at the back of your vehicle. A reliable Pontiac exhaust system conveys exhaust gases as fast as possible so your engine can breathe easier.

A typical anatomy of your Pontiac exhaust system comprises the exhaust manifold, headers, head pipe, catalytic converter, muffler, and tailpipe. You can usually see the exhaust manifold and headers directly above the engine cylinders. They are the starting blocks of your exhaust flow. The head pipe connects the exhaust manifold to the mufflers. The catalytic converter, on the other hand, converts harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides and unburned hydrocarbons into less harmful gases. The muffler looks like a catalytic converter, but they serve the function of reducing exhaust noises. Finally, the tailpipe is the last piping of your exhaust system. Depending on the type of driving, regional climate, and maintenance, your Pontiac exhaust system is projected to last for 2 to 3 years. Among the major causes of exhaust system failure is internal corrosion, which can be attributed to acid moisture from the combustion process. Do not think twice on replacing your stock exhaust system with a new one if it gets worn out to maintain an efficient engine performance.

Because most of the engine action happens right at the exhaust system, components like your Pontiac muffler is commonly overlooked for modifications aiming to boost performance. With all that massive pipe and tubing that helps your engine direct harsh and hot emission out of the system and engine compartment, your muffler pipe or pipes could help you take your car?s overall level of performance a level up notch. Typically engineered to cancel out or minimize exhaust noise, the part could actually help manipulate backpressure to yield the desired engine power at specified rpm range. For high performance driving applications, powerful muffler constructions have been employed so your engine roams as a winning piece of mean machine. While muffler manufacturers take leverage in the functional features and distinction of the sound their pipes deliver, time and application tested technologies have been incorporated to let you enjoy powerful engine performance while following the course of your driving style with absolutely no fail. The part is typically installed along the exhaust pipe to serve as the resonating chamber where exhaust noise waves cancel out. As a result, the performance tuned exhausts complete your vehicle?s commanding presence with an assertive tone.

Due to the continuous fuel combustion processes, your engine continuously release harsh exhaust gases which are delivered through their designated routes to undergo a series of combined chemical and mechanical processing. After passing through electronic sensors and the catalytic converter, the fluid is then delivered to the exhaust mufflers prior to its release outside the system. Without mufflers or exhaust sound silencers, the sound created while your engine pushes out hot and harsh exhaust gases will be unbearable. Tough constructions of stainless steel Pontiac mufflers are employed by your car to effectively fine-tune your car?s exhaust sounds. The most important aspect of muffler design will be the amount of backpressure it could produce. While the stock mufflers typically generate high levels of backpressure, it subtracts a significant portion of engine power as your engine runs. To reduce backpressure, sound absorption features to application have been established. Glass insulation at tubing walls have been incorporated for insulation. As a result, pressure pulses are better absorbed. The use of advanced automotive technologies to practical Pontiac muffler applications have significantly improved fuel efficiency, performance and power output while reducing overall engine wear and tear.

With the continuous efforts to muffler construction development research, less restrictive mufflers are now made conveniently available to help you achieve your set car performance goals. To deliver the sound levels in compliance with the law, Pontiac muffler is comprised with less restrictive set of exhaust tubes that facilitates reflection of sound waves. As the reflected sound waves are made to interfere with one another, they practically cancel out resulting to a more bearable exhaust tone. To do that, the part is strategically mounted at points where processed exhaust gases are more efficiently collected. Well-crafted cars like your Pontiac ride is typically designed for quiet exhaust operations. Once you experience increased exhaust noises or increased judder to exhaust pipes, immediately consult a qualified service technician so his accurate diagnostics could immediately correct potential causes of muffler damage or failure.

I have a 2002 pontiac grand am with a 2.2L ecotec engine. I have found a supercharger kit but it only works on 5-speed manual transmissions. Is there one made for automatic transmissions?

Gasoline-powered vehicles such as your Pontiac are among the major contributors to urban air pollution. This can be attributed to the high quantities of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons that are being produced by the normal combustion process of your car. If these burnt gases are left uncontrolled, they would eventually contribute to urban smog, as well as heart and respiratory heart problems. To protect the air quality and improve the quality of air, your Pontiac vehicle has been equipped with a group of emission-control components known as the exhaust system. This group of car parts serves the main function of conveying burnt gases from your internal combustion engine. The Pontiac catalytic converter is an indispensable part of your exhaust system. It looks very much like the muffler, and can be usually seen mounted under the vehicle. It was first used in cars three decades ago, and has evolved into a more complex and more reliable emission control component because of automotive technology.

The number of catalytic converters installed on your vehicle depends on your car?s configurations. Some have 1 while others have 2 catalytic converters. But no matter how many catalytic converters you may have on your car, they still serve the same purpose?that is, to significantly minimize the harmful poisonous gases in your exhaust gases. A typical Pontiac catalytic converter is made up of a honeycomb form catalyst that is protected by a stainless steel canister. The interior surface of your Pontiac catalytic converter within the honeycomb structure is coated with catalytic metals such as rhodium, palladium, and platinum. There are 2 catalysts present in every catalytic converter?an oxidation catalyst and a reduction catalyst. The oxidation catalyst burns all the byproducts of your fuel combustion such as the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the reduction catalyst ensures that the nitrogen oxides are turned into harmless emissions.

There are 2 types of catalytic converter: the two-way converter and the three-way converter. Also known as an oxidation catalytic converter, the two-way catalytic converter makes use of the oxidation process to transform the harmful pollutants into harmless gases. Through adsorption, the oxygen molecules, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon are simplified into water vapor and carbon dioxide, which eventually goes out of the tailpipe. The three-way catalytic converter oxidizes the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides and at the same time transforms the nitrogen oxides into less harmful nitrogen and oxygen. This type of catalytic converter is used in conjunction with the feedback engine management and fuel injection of the car. Your Pontiac catalytic converter can last for over 100,000 miles if properly maintained. A worn out catalytic converter can decrease the performance level and fuel economy of your engine, aside from contributing to urban pollution and health problems. You can easily determine if your Pontiac catalytic converter needs replacement when you hear some rattling noises from the catalyst, especially when your car is increasing speed. A defective oxygen sensor and poor maintenance are some of the leading causes of a worn out catalytic converter. So when this happens, do not think twice on replacing your defective Pontiac catalytic converter with a new one in order to maintain the emission control functions of your car.

Your Pontiac car is a complex assembly of car parts and accessories that enables it to perform exceptionally on the road. The exhaust system is among the integral systems in your car that is tasked to lessen harmful engine emissions, reduce the sound level of your engine, and deploy engine exhaust gases to the rear of your car. As a system, it is made up of a number of components. Every exhaust system part has a specific function to perform—that is why your entire exhaust system will not function properly if one or more of its sub components failed to do their part. There are different types of exhaust system: the single exit cat back exhaust, dual exit cat back exhaust, and performance diesel exhaust. But no matter what type of exhaust system you may have, they all have the same number of components—and among these is the Pontiac exhaust tip.

Your Pontiac exhaust tip can be seen at the end of your car where the exhaust gases are vented. This exhaust system component is the only visible part of the entire system that is the end of the final length of the exhaust pipe. Compared to the rest of the exhaust system, the Pontiac exhaust tip is often the larger pipe. It may be among the least maintained parts, but your Pontiac exhaust tip is among those parts that affect the performance of your car. The exhaust flow as well as the over all tome of the exhaust tone of your Pontiac depends on the construction and shape of the exhaust tip installed on your car. The accompanying sound and the remaining pulses of exhaust gases are shaped in the exhaust tip as they exit from the pipe. As a matter of fact, a long pencil-shaped exhaust tip will definitely sound different than a short megaphone exhaust tip. The manner of installation of your Pontiac exhaust tip can also affect the sound coming out of your car. Screw-on Pontiac exhaust tips provide a less solid sound as compared to welded or compression clamped Pontiac exhausts tips that produces a more solid sound.

Aside from performance enhancement, your Pontiac exhaust tip can also add some visual style and aural punctuation on your car. Custom exhaust tips are among the most affordable car styling enhancements around. The automotive market offers various styles, finishes and construction of exhaust tips. Some of these include trumpet exhaust tips, tapered exhaust tips, dual exhaust tips, single exhaust tips, megaphone exhaust tips, mellow exhaust tips, square exhaust tips, quadruple exhaust tips, triple exhaust tips, oval exhaust tips, as well as oval exhaust tips. However, you need to consider a few guidelines when choosing the right exhaust tip for your car. You can choose the biggest and the loudest if you want an over the top style. You can add subtle yet unique style on your car by following the predominant shape, general mounting direction of the bodyline, and mounting flush with the rear valance of your vehicle. So get a stylish yet functional Pontiac exhaust tip at your preferred car parts dealer online or offline—and add some shine to that space below your bumper!