New for '09: Pontiac G8 GXP

Pontiac G8 GXP

Like so many of the new cars for 2009, the Pontiac GXP seems out of step with the realities at the gas pump, with its 402-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8. Like some of the great Pontiac muscle cars from the 1960s, the GXP is a rear-wheel-drive sedan and can be had with either a manual or automatic transmission -- both six-speed units. But unlike the old muscle cars, the GXP is also built -- in Australia -- to handle curves and can stop almost as quickly as it can accelerate. Of course all this performance comes at a price at the pump. Although the EPA estimates aren't available yet, but it would be surprising if the G8 GXP could hit city numbers much above 16 mpg.