GTO news...

[ToolGuy]

GM Plans All-new Pontiac GTO Detroit Free Press By Mark Phelan July 28, 2005 General Motors Corp. will stop building the Australian version of its Pontiac GTO performance coupe later this year, but the U.S. model will remain in production at least through the 2006 model year, and an all-new model is in the works, a Pontiac spokesman said. After a slow start in 2004, U.S. sales of the 400-horsepower GTO have taken off this year. Pontiac sold 87% more GTOs in the first half of 2005 than for the same period last year. The car is based on the Australian Monaro coupe, which went into production in 2001. GM's Australian unit, Holden, will drop the Monaro this fall to concentrate on getting a new model of its higher-selling Commodore rear-drive sedan into production. The new Commodore goes into production in mid-2006. The Monaro and GTO are built in the same plant in Elizabeth, near Melbourne. The next-generation GTO will come from a new global family of rear-wheel-drive cars, Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said. GM insiders say that car's appearance will be more eye-catching than the somewhat anonymous GTO. The new model is likely to go into production in 2008 and will probably be built in Australia. "The next-generation GTO will fulfill the promise of the current car," Hopson said. "We have every intention of getting it on the street as soon as possible." Holden will continue to build a version of Monaro for sale in England by GM's Vauxhall unit.

[NUBlackshirts]

Here's hoping that GM goes a little more "retro" with the GTO than on the present generation. I like the current ones, but "GTO" just doesn't spring to mind when I see one.

[Mavrik]

you know what hurt the GTO sales? Not selling the car in Canada. Lots of interested people in the GTO all live in Canada, but they can't get one.

[binary]

The GTO was nothing to look at... it was so generic and bland with some fancy rims and a GTO badge. I can't wait to see what GM finally comes up with to slap the GTO badge on next year.I agree with Mavrik about that Canada sales embargo on the GTO... (removed) was that all about?

[ColonelPanic]

I suppose I am in the minority but personally I'm a fan of the GTO's styling. Yes, it's rather conservative but I kinda like it these days when everything is all retro... I just find the styling of the new "retro"cars like Mustangs/etc. interesting at first but all the novelty is gone by the end of the first model year. If the styling is toned down a bit, I think that wil make it stand the test of time better. I think it's sad that this car hasn't taken off. Plenty are still probably pissed that this Holden wears the GTO badge, but here's how I look at it: The '69 Judge my uncle owned and restored was definitely an (removed)-kickin' car. 455 and a 4-speed... The times I drove it, that thing certainly was a monster! But I'd put a new GTO up against that car any day. The muscle cars of days gone by ran like a beast in a straight line... But from the old GTO I drove, I don't really think it excelled elsewhere. The new car has gobs of power, no dobut will handle the twisties better, and has so much more in the comfort department. I'm glad they are redesiging instead of killing the car off entirely. The current GTO is a hell of a deal for the amount of car you get. Whether it lives up to the GTO heritage or not, it's still a great car in modern times. But knowing GM, they'll probably just decide to whack the new car once the current generation's production has stopped.

[jeffgtx]

i dont think they should have called it the GTO in teh first place. i love teh car, but the GTO should be its own thing back then.heck, bring back a trans am if you need to bring a name back.i wouldn't favor retro either... no retro styled cars do well after the "OOOO it reminds me of" phase wears off.see also: t bird, mustang, charger.

[binary]

The T-bird and '05 mustang are just continuations of the original model - not just a rebadged current model that some focus group decided would be worthy of the name GTO.I think you're going to see the sale of Mustangs climb. The T-Bird was priced way out of its market... $40k? Puhhleez.I'm excited to see what GM comes out with... but make it worthy of the GTO badge this time. It's like the '80s Novas...

[ToolGuy]

I did not realize the car was not sold in Canada, yeah that hurt...Another thing that hurt some states was its launch time-frame.I do like the new GTO and in a lot of aspects it is like the old GTOs. It has dual exhaust, headlamps, and grills, of course a V8, rear wheel drive, manual trans, two doors and not a lot of electronic items. And if you think about it the older GTO's were really not much to look at, the new one is not really either... The 2005 and newer models do look better with dual side rear exhaust tips and the hood scoops, good improvements. At any rate it will be interesting to see what the new car will be and as far as Camaro and F-bird, I bet its or their design will be more retro like the Mustang. Charger does not count to me other than the retro name. However rumor is that Dodge will bring back the Cuda name and kind of look like a 2-door charger. We will see...

[Kari]

I really like the GTO too...I think it's an awesome looking car -- sporty yet roomy. It definitely has an aggressive look, IMO, and I'd love to have one in Cosmos Purple. Hopefully their redesign doesn't screw it up...bad memories of what happened to a certain anonymous car between 04 and 05...heh.

[drunkenmaxx]

how come i see a yellow GTO all the time that only has 1 exhaust????i think they look a lot like a sunfire really. im sure they are fast as hell though, all those horsies in a little car!

[Pablo1669]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »how come i see a yellow GTO all the time that only has 1 exhaust????Because the 2005's with the 5.7L had that.

[ToolGuy]

The 2004's had two tips on the same side and 350HP. 2005's and newer had two tips but one on each side and 400HP.

[Mr. Poopypants]

I will be interested to see what they drum up, but I still like how the GTO blends in to the crowd until you open up the throttle. I like that.

[rasermon]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »I will be interested to see what they drum up, but I still like how the GTO blends in to the crowd until you open up the throttle. I like that.Same here. I still want one, but when do I get one?Local dealer where I bought the Buick Rendezvous yesterday has a 04 GTO (6 speed ) with only 5K on it.http://www.autotrader.com/deal...=null

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[4X4CHICHI]

I want to see pics of the JUDGE!!!

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by 4X4CHICHI »I want to see pics of the JUDGE!!!Here you go. lol!

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[jeffgtx]

Quote, originally posted by Pablo1669 »Because the 2005's with the 5.7L had that.actually, its a true dual, it jsut has both pipes coming out on teh same side.