A valet greets me with comment. “I’ve seen all sorts of cars, trucks and SUVs, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a sweet-looking Pontiac.” He was gushing over the G8, which brings to North America the first look at General Motors’ new global rear wheel drive architecture. Assembled in Australia, the G8 is stylish. And it’s also a marvel to handle, which is a testament to its near 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance. The car employs a multi-link MacPherson strut design front suspension and a four-link independent rear suspension. Its chassis/body structure is overwhelmingly (more than 80 percent) made from advanced high strength steels. G8’s power comes from a choice of engines: a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 256 horsepower and a 6.0-liter V8 that releases 361 horsepower. Engines mate to either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed automatic transmission. The standard equipment list includes six airbags, 18-inch aluminum wheels, power windows/mirrors/locks, air conditioning, and a Blaupaunt AM/FM/CD audio system. G8 with V8 engine and six-speed transmission collects mpg fuel economy estimates of 15 city and 24 highway and that same car has a MSRP of $29,310, making it the most powerful sedan sold in the U.S. with a sticker price under $30,000.