Holden Commodore SS V-Series: A G8 By Any Other Name...

Holden’s HSV E-series 2 may have used some Pontiac G8 parts, but the new Holden Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition models are G8s in everything but name.

As reported earlier this year, Holden was planning a limited-edition run of Commodores -- as the G8 was known in Australia -- with leftover Pontiac parts. Although the cars don’t wear Pontiac emblems, they use the G8’s front fascia and hood. If that weren’t a tug at our heartstrings already, the faux-Poncho is available in two variants -- wagon and sport truck -- that were once considered for our market.

SS V-Series models come equipped with GM’s 6.0-liter small-block V-8 underhood, mated to a six-speed manual transmission (an automatic is optional). At the equivalent of $41,500, the SS V-series Ute is the cheapest of the G8 trio; sedans start at $48,335 and wagons at $50,000.