Pontiac calls our ute

Instead of opting for something wild or wacky like the Utenator or Kangaroo, they quietly added it to the G8 import family with the ST name and badge.

He also turned down sentimental favorite El Camino after weeding out 18,000 entries for the Tame the Name contest that followed the opening of the Americanized ute in the US.

“Frankly, we were blown away by both the quantity and the quality of the names on display,” says Craig Birley, Pontiac's director of product marketing for cars and SUVs.

"The G8 ST has been one of the most popular offerings, plus we've seen a much broader trend towards simple, easy-to-remember names."

The reaction to the naming contest reflects interest in the Australian ute, which could be a huge winner as Americans downsize larger, more gas-consuming Ford F150-class pickups. It also shows Commodore's influence since it began exporting as the Pontiac G8.

It took Pontiac months to announce the results of its name game as it had to clear every potential trademark use.

This hints that the El Camino, previously used on the Chevrolet pickup truck, came in second, but doesn't acknowledge it.

“In fact, we thought about El Camino for a very long time. In the end, we decided it was more appropriate to mark the unique location of El Camino as part of the Chevy heritage rather than use this Pontiac nameplate,” Birley says.

The G8 ST won't go on sale until the end of next year, when it will be included in the 2010 Pontiac lineup.

Pontiac says pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to its arrival on showrooms, but it will definitely only come with a Commodore V8 engine, complete with a six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management, which Australians are still waiting for. to see in their Holden. .