Pontiac drops the GTO

[tjredgt2000]

Apparently, its official. The Goat is dead. It may be the wrong brand but I still hate to see it die. 400 hp is a wonderful thing.

http://www.gmplanet.com/pontiac/pontiac_gto_discontinued_1_000604.asp

 

[timeless2]

Thanks for reading our article!

 

[300bhp/ton]

It's not suprising really. The Monaro in Europe was dropped at the end of last year (no idea about Aus though).

But the platform used for the GTO is quite old and I'm pretty sure is being phased out anyhow.

Plus this all goes to prove that the new Camaro and maybe something else are definatly on their way for 2008. Which will fill the gap quite nicely.

I mean if a new Camaro/Firebird was launched with a 400bhp LS2 it would clash big time with the GTO and one or the other would be to expensive.

As I've said before, I beleive the GTO was a "stop-gap" car for GM to quickly and cheaply re-enter a market segment after the demise of the Fbody. I think this decision only reinforces this view.

 

[REDFIRE 05 GT]

Super nice car, almost bought one, just looks like a big cavaler. The drive train needs to go in a different car. My wife is already drueling over the Camaro pics.

 

[Berserker]

If it didn't look like a Taurus/grand-am mating gone wrong it wouldn't be a dead car. I don't care if it's 550 hp looking like that. I still don't know if I've seen one. Certainly NOT a head turner which is sad because the lineage is there for an awesome car.

Critics of the GTO blamed its relatively plain styling and its lack of historic and iconic muscle prompts. It seemed to have the badge, but not the heart of the classic namesake.

 

[Mickey21]

On the first note, it's sad, another great car is being put under. I really liked the car even with it's bland looks department. Very capable car and not exactly ugly to look at.

On another note, doesnt this make you wonder though? Am I the only one:
"One is an airbag deployment standard that would require some very expensive re-engineering of the car..." How are they currently out of the airbag regulation coming up? Curious.

 

[I8URVTEC]

I don't think it was slated to run for more than just a few years anyway. I can see why it failed though. It just didn't generate the mass appeal that the GTO name should have.

 

[shooterm1]

If it didn't look like a Taurus/grand-am mating gone wrong it wouldn't be a dead car. I don't care if it's 550 hp looking like that. I still don't know if I've seen one. Certainly NOT a head turner which is sad because the lineage is there for an awesome car.

I'm with you! good riddance ....


but then I've never seen any GM car the I'd take over a Ford.

 

[300bhp/ton]

I'm with you! good riddance ....


but then I've never seen any GM car the I'd take over a Ford.

Yes but you are obviously biased, so why even bother commenting if you don't care??????????????????? A bit self defeating isn't it.

 

[Destiny98]

I'm with you! good riddance ....


but then I've never seen any GM car the I'd take over a Ford.

So says a V6 owner

 

[shooterm1]

So says a V6 owner

Brother, if it takes a single dollar away from Ford, its one dollar too many ... !

 

[Razinhell]

Actually its not dead its just that the production cycle was only slated for 3 years and about 15K of cars per year.
Heres the link to the 2009 GTO have fun

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106630

 

[MCMustangMan]

I still think GM should have made the first GTO's retro'd to look like the '65 with the headlights straight up and down (hi and lo) and copied the hood scoop and tail lights. I think it was a bit mistake not to go retro when the retro wave was starting to take off! I like the GTO and all of its horse and sleeper qualities, but for a real head turner retro would have been the way to go! After all they had many years that followed the early sixties versions to borrow from to carry on the retro theme. Obviously, GM wasn't listening too hard to the GTO clubs as I know they were screaming to keep the GTO lines intact!

 

[Doc GTO]

I'll take a 2009 when they come out.

 

[Pliskin]

Repost.

 

[351CJ]

Actually its not dead its just that the production cycle was only slated for 3 years and about 15K of cars per year.
Heres the link to the 2009 GTO have fun

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106630

Look at the date on the Edmunds article, it's over 7 months old. A lot of things have changed @ GM since then.

Also the original sales target for the GTO was 18,000 and the 3 year run was because there was going to be a new US built GTO for 2007 or 2008 which was canciled.

 

[2MFF-Z28]

So says a V6 owner

Good one. He should have bought the GT so he could give more money to Ford. They are in financial trouble like every other american car Co.

I hate to see good cars die. Pretty soon we'll all drive 4 cyl's and we will drool over the BIG v6's

 

[mach1dsg]

Look at the date on the Edmunds article, it's over 7 months old. A lot of things have changed @ GM since then.

Also the original sales target for the GTO was 18,000 and the 3 year run was because there was going to be a new US built GTO for 2007 or 2008 which was canciled.

you might want to read this one then 03/02/2006
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/FREE/60302001/1024/LATESTNEWS

 

[351CJ]

you might want to read this one then 03/02/2006
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/FREE/60302001/1024/LATESTNEWS

They're talking 2-1/2 years from now for production start. A lot can happen or change between now and then. GM has yet to explain how they will be able to use the Camaro name earlier than 2015.

The 09 Mustang update has reportedly slipped to at least the 2010 model year. Don't hold your breath on any future models, both GM & Ford could be bankrupt by then.