The G8 debuted at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show and finally hit the streets early this year. It has clean lines and a strong shouldered appearance, accented by a dual port chrome grille with black inserts, dual polished stainless steel exhaust tips, dual hood scoops, tinted glass and low-profile rear spoiler.

The 2008 G8 is the unofficial replacement for the GTO. This mid-size, four-door, performance oriented sedan comes as the base model G8 with a V6 engine and the G8 GT with a V8. This solid performer is reminiscent of the Pontiac's that used to excite enthusiasts in the 1960s and 1970s. Priced at under $30,000, both models are priced well below similarly-equipped sedans on the market today.

The global rear wheel drive chassis architecture upon which the G8 is based is very similar to the previous generation of the BMW 5 Series and is Pontiac's first rear wheel drive sedan since the 1980's Bonneville/Parisienne.

The base model G8 is powered by a 261 horsepower V6 mated to a five-speed manually interactive automatic transmission with overdrive. The highly anticipated GT boasts a 361 horsepower 6.0 liter V8 that is almost identical to the engine found in the base model Corvette. A six-speed manual or six-speed manually interactive automatic transmission will be available for the GT. The V8 mated to the automatic transmission will come with active fuel management, which shuts down four cylinders when the power is not necessary in order to save fuel and reduce emissions.

The handling and performance of both models is enhanced by an independent multi link rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, rear stabilizer bar, and four-wheel disc brakes. Standard features found on the G8 and the G8 GT include a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD/Satellite Blaupunkt Sound System with speed sensitive volume and steering wheel mounted audio controls; tilt/telescopic steering wheel, remote start, power adjustable front bucket seats, air conditioning, Onstar Telematics System, cruise control and a tire pressure monitor.

The handling and performance of our GT test car was terrific, a veritable rocket ship — and gives halfway decent gas mileage, too (18 city/24 highway according to the EPA). The trunk is huge. This will make a wonderful traveling car for up to four full-grown adults.

The only complaints we had with our test car were an unusual amount of glare reflecting off the gauge cluster and the lack of handgrips above the doors for the driver and front seat passenger.

Thirty grand isn't that much money these days and it is almost impossible to find another new five-passenger performance sedan on the market that does it better than the G8 GT. R&D