According to a new report by Motor Trend, GM has scrapped any plans for building a new Pontiac GTO as a follow-up to the current model. Recently, there has been some speculation that GM might replace the much-criticized GTO with a new model based on the same platform as the forthcoming Chevrolet Camaro. While GM is considering a rear-wheel-drive offensive, it appears the GTO will not be part of that plan. Other possible nameplate revivals that could use a new RWD architecture include the Buick Velite and Chevy Impala. Recently, we cited a report suggesting the company might use the Camaro platform for a new Firebird or Trans AM. (Show right is the 1999 GTO concept. If GM builds another GTO, it's widely expected to use a more agressive design like that of this GTO concept).
ehhh....not to make it sound bad but I kinda liked the Holden designed GTO and would fair better in aerodynamics then I would think the camaro would.
Arent we forgetting those block of a cars in the Charger/300C/Challenger?
Personally, I dont know what to make of it. My friend is on a couple of LS1 forums, and she's got both a Camaro and a Goat.....and they told them back in 2004 it wouldnt get made again in 2006....so I think this is more smoke on the water then anything. The GTO is Pontiac's flagship car....there's no way they let that car go....not without something to replace it. Anything coming out of GM right now about car cancellations or retiring is considered rumor until it actually happens. The only fact is that the Camaro will get built, the problem is with when...
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Pontiac To Drop Gto After '06 Model Year!
Pontiac To Drop Gto After '06 Model Year
Autoweek
DETROIT -- General Motors has told Pontiac dealers that it will discontinue the GTO coupe at the end of this model year. GM will make the last deliveries of the vehicle to dealers by the end of September, sources close to Pontiac say.
GM will produce 10,000 to 12,000 more GTOs before dropping the nameplate, one source close to the situation says. Last year, Pontiac sold 11,590 GTOs compared to 2004 when it sold 13,569. That's a 14.6 percent drop.
When Pontiac launched the GTO in 2003, it projected 18,000 annual sales. The vehicle was criticized for bland styling, and some fans of the original GTO complained that it lacked nostalgic styling cues.
A Pontiac spokesman confirms the GTO will be discontinued after the 2006 model year.
“There are some changes in the federal regulatory standards. One is an airbag deployment standard that would require some very expensive re-engineering of the car,” says Jim Hopson, Pontiac spokesman. “Since the architecture of this car is being phased out around the world it’s not economically feasible to continue this car.”
Pontiac will continue to build the GTO through the end of May, Hopson says. The last “boatload will hit the ground in June”, he adds.
The GTO first came to dealerships in December 2003 as a 2004 model, Hopson says.
The GTO is built on a rear-wheel drive architecture from GM's Holden division in Australia. The present model is going out of production as GM constructs the new Zeta RWD architecture, says the source.
There is no replacement coupe planned at this time and because of the strong Australian and weak U.S. dollar, the GTO had to be priced thousands over where GM originally wanted it -- in the mid-twenties, the source says. "It never did as much volume as we had hoped," the source says.
Pontiac is considering a replacement in the lineup for a RWD performance vehicle, but does not have anything to announce yet, Hopson says.
The GTO suggested retail price starts at $31,990, including shipping. One GM source says, "the 2005 and 2006 were pretty well sold out, and sales were especially strong in areas of GM weakness, like Southern California. It's a shame it has to go -- for now."
Suprise suprjse, eh? Pontiac wanted the icon look of the Pontiac.... they got it... and it has been their problem ever since. No one wants a 30k GTO that looks like a 15k Grand Am...
Location: Tallahassee, Florida (Home is Ft Myers, FL)
Posts: 20,480
RE: Pontiac To Drop Gto After '06 Model Year!
For all you saying, "Dodge better take note to this, because this thing died because of price"... No, it was well priced for the kind of vehicle it was.. It just lacked styling and was too bland. Also, the fact that Holden is cancelling the platform it's on, is a reason why it's gone...
Suprise suprjse, eh? Pontiac wanted the icon look of the Pontiac.... they got it... and it has been their problem ever since. No one wants a 30k GTO that looks like a 15k Grand Am...
-Matt-
That was indeed alot of the reason for the griping and what have you, but the truth is Pontiac wanted its own RWD car. It could have been a GTO, a Firebird, or a freakin high powered Grand Am. Pontiac was just tired of not having a RWD car of their own. This is similar to like the Mustang. Ford has one sportscar that's RWD and a V8. Pontiac just wanted the same. It's unfortunate it flopped, but it didnt flop because of performance, more so in the looks department....
Quote:
ORIGINAL: MidnightBlueNeon
For all you saying, "Dodge better take note to this, because this thing died because of price"... No, it was well priced for the kind of vehicle it was.. It just lacked styling and was too bland. Also, the fact that Holden is cancelling the platform it's on, is a reason why it's gone...
Chase is absolutely right, the real reason this car sees the end of production is because of Holden, not GM. The styling was indeed bland, but the performance was off the charts for the price. Granted, it debuted overpriced, but that's typical for most performance cars. Especially a V8. 32k for a new 06 model with a LS2 V8 400hp is cheap. I fully expect to either see the rebirth of the GTO on a shared platform with the Camaro....or something of that nature...
If GTO shares the same platform of that of the Camaro, what will their TransAM look like. always accustom to see the TransAM/Camaro sisters and the GTO is separate from these.
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GM will not build another GTO!
