Now that it's actually available, we know that exterior highlights of the G8 GT include three pairs of air intakes, fender flares, and twin chrome tailpipes. The standard wheels are aluminum eighteen-inchers and there's a Sport option bundle that subtracts the spoiler on the trunk lid and replaces it with a wing, as well as adding 19-inch alloy wheels as well as double exhaust pipes and tail light clusters with clear lenses.

Under the hood of the muscular GT , there's the L76 6.0L V8 engine that produces 361 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque, and while the standard transmission is six speed automatic with "sport shift" capability, critics have expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of a manual transmission option. The word from Pontiac is that the GT will go from zero to sixty mph in under 5.5 seconds. There's also an Active Fuel Management system on this car, though the technology comes with all the L-series engines – which is a cylinder deactivation system that switches off cylinders 1, 4, 6, and 7 to save fuel when the transmission is in "drive" and the load is light.

Speaking of drive – the drive system in the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT is an Australian-designed rear-wheel drive platform, and the G8 is the first use of it in North America, though it will eventually be used on other models as well. Both front and rear suspension are fully independent, and use a multilink design, and while the painted brake calipers and performance tires won't be offered on production models, the list of standard features is impressive, and includes four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, fog lights and systems to control both stability and traction.

Inside the car, the design is simple and clean, with softly glowing gauges. There are leather upholstery and bucket seats for the driver and front passenger, while the back bench tilts up to give long-legged passengers a bit more comfort (though petite people may feel trapped), and a total of six airbags are standard, including side torso bags for the driver and front passenger, and side curtain bags for every seating position. XM satellite radio is NOT an option on the G8 GT, but there is a aux jack for connecting an iPod.

The cars first-drive testers of the G8 GT have noted that the doors are exceptionally light, and that there's a bit of a vibration you can feel in the pedals (but not, apparently, in the seats) when the fuel management system engages. It's also been noted that there is noticeable body roll (normal for rear-wheel drive cars), and that steering can seem a bit heavy.

We drove a bright-red G8 GT and were really impressed with the driving manners of the car.    Handling was crisp, acceleration is invigorating, and the brakes pull the car down quickly and fade-free.    And it sounds coo, too.  

When the price of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT was announced in Chicago - $29,995 to start - marketing director Craig Bierly referred to the G8 as representing Pontiac's commitment to bring, "…seductively designed, high-performance vehicles to the showroom floor."

Seductive or not, it's definitely the most powerful performance car under $30,000.

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