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The Firehawk name is well known by GM performance buffs, having graced some of the highest performing Firebird models from 1991 until 2002. Built by New Jersey based SLP (Street Legal Performance), the Firehawk models received various levels of performance upgrades and could hang with the best of American muscle during its day: the later models could run 0 to 60 mph in around five seconds and passing the 1/4 mile in the mid 13’s. While the Firebird wasn’t revived along with the Camaro, SLP has decided to use the G8 to revive the Firehawk name with three special edition cars based on the V6 and V8 models as well as a supercharged version. The cars will be sold through Pontiac dealers and will carry a full warranty. Sound great, right? Current Firebird Firehawk owners don’t think so. After hearing the news on LS1Tech.com, many of the members were outraged that the Firehawk name would be watered down on something besides a Firebird, in particular a four door sedan. In all fairness, SLP owns the Firehawk name and can use it how it wants, so we’ll reserve judgment until the car is actually unveiled and we can see how it performs. Thanks for the tip, Russ!

SpeedTV did a video podcast featuring Adam Carolla — along with SpeedTV’s Kendall, and 50 Cent — flogging a Pontiac G8 around a track. Carolla gets a check mark for being able to make jokes at speed and while in a spin. Whether he’s actually funny, we’ll let you decide. Since it wasn’t done as a trial for the US Top Gear, and we have no idea what he was meant to be doing — or allowed to say — we shouldn’t judge too harshly. But Clarkson doesn’t have anything to worry about just yet…
[Source: Final Gear via Jalopnik]

10,000. That’s not a sticker price and it’s not a production number. It’s the number of submissions General Motors received for naming the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck. The contest opened up just a month ago, following Pontiac’s unveiling of the concept car-ute at the New York Auto Show.

Granted, many of the names will be duplicates. And many of the names will be completely unusable, whether they’re owned by other companies or just plain inappropriate. It’ll take Pontiac a good long while to sift through them all, and while the carmaker won’t reveal what names were submitted or which of them are being considered, a spokesman for the GM division did confirm El Camino was one of them, although it remains to be seen if GM can or will use a defunct Chevy name on a Pontiac vehicle. Meanwhile, although the public voice will be taken into consideration, Pontiac is safeguarding itself against an Alfa MiTo-type backtracking by noting that, in the end, the company’s marketing gurus will have the last say.

[Source: KickingTires]