Thought I remembered that!
Well-equipped car, better than what a Chevrolet buyer was looking for. Only sold 3000 per year in the states, 25,000 each year down under.
The Lexus GSF is similar, less features and sold for $85,000. GSF sales in 2015-2016 were 620 units, success or failure? Depends on your expectations, some cars exist to draw showroom traffic, like the Dodge Viper.
Looked to some chevy buyers like a Malibu or Impala for more money, instead of a Pontiac G8 sold under the Chevrolet banner. Don’t know what number GM was looking for per year but they must have been expecting better. But dealers now want msrp or better for 2017’s right now, even the automatic’s. Manual’s still command a premium though. Many with hardly any miles on them.
A co-worker has a Pontiac G8.
These cars are intended to draw interest to the brand, if Holden Commodore production had not ended in 2017 this car may have continued.
According to Wiki, dealer allocation was based on their Corvette and Camaro sales, limited supply for dealers that earned the privilege to sell them.
Beauty is subjective.