Thread: 2004 GTO's are on their way

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Here come the Goats!

http://www.micro-op.com.au/execls1/gto0.jpg

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Information from General Motors Press Release
January, 2003

Some of the features that were introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show include 2+2 bucket seating, 5.7 liter LS1 V8 engine, 340 horsepower, six speed manual or four speed automatic and 18 inch alloy wheels. The new GTO is expected to go from zero to 60 in less than 6 seconds and have a run time of 14 seconds in the quarter mile. Red and Yellow seem to be the exterior colors of choice. Production begins in September 2003 and debut shortly after. Hold on to your hats folks, cause this could be a smooth or fast ride!?

2004 GTO(What a concept!)
Information from General Motors Press Release 8:00 a.m EST
June 20, 2002
Can it really be that we will see another generation of GTO's. The prospect sounds good but, for the moment I live in the past. Well anyway, here is the scoop on it.
General motors has conceived a new GTO for 2004. It is scheduled to appear amoung us late 2003. The estimate of production has been around 18,000. They will be produced in GM's Elizabeth, Australia plant.
Chairman of GM's North American Operations Bob Lutz, is the key to bringing in the new modern GTO. According to the report he drove a Holden Monaro manufactured in Australia. He liked the performance and handling, plus the stanch 5.7-liter V8 and the 6-speed manual transmission. It seems to be a good flagship for the Pontiac GTO.
Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager said that the introduction would be an 'exclamation point' for the evolution of the division. This would enable Pontiac to achieve performance at the next level.
The 2004 Pontiac GTO will be powered by a specially tuned version of the 5.7-liter LS1 V8 ( Chevrolet Corvette also carries this engine). The GTO will have the 6-speed manual or the 4-speed automatic transmission. It will have a Pontiac characteristic of a dual-port grille. Hopefully it will stand up to the reputation that was established some thirty-eight years ago.

Supposed to be priced at $32k fully loaded - but i'm sure they will get marked up to the moon for the first year, just like the new beatle and PT cruiser did when they first came out.

I'm still out with the jury on this one... While I'm REALLY glad to see GM having another V8 powered RWD car, and I'm glad this one is a lot smaller than the barge camaro's were... I'm still not really happy with the bar of soap styling on it... I could honestly care less about the name badge on it- GTO, Grand Prix, grand am, whatever- i'm just sorry to see that they couldn't add any decent styling to it other than to put the stupid split grill on it....

As much as i like GM stuff- I'm sorry to say the new mustang for next year 'LOOKS' much cooler than this GTO.... I guess we'll have to wait and see what they really look like sitting on the dealer lots.

I dont think they look that great... for bringing back the GTO they should have and could have done alot better

I think GM could of done alot better in the design department to.
The restyled look of the old Mustang is a very well done and GM should of did a restyling of the 69 GTO .

This new GTO look ,reminds me of monte carlo , cavalier, Grand am , all slung together.

We have had 3 of those new Cadillac sport wagons come in the dealership, Man what is it with GM's styling , these things look like angry kitchen appliances!


Spray

Spray, that's the best description of the Caddilac styling theme I've heard. I'm seeing more 40 something families driving in the Cad SUV's, but I gotta believe their customer average age is still well over 50.

As for the new GTO, as Ahsom pointed out, it's pretty much a rebadge/grille of an Australian market car. (Okay, they moved the steering column too.) I think this is Bob Lutz's hand trying to pump some quick life into a weak (from a market excitement perspective) company with existing product. He's had a history of pushing for exciting products, and is a dyed in the wool car nut himself. He was the prime mover behind the Viper and Prowler when at Chrysler. Look for GM to come up with some real special cars in the future if the corporate suits don't bind him down too much.

I think they look nice but the should of had some more resemblance of the old ones like ford did with the 2005 mustang how do you guy think the 05' stang looks anyway?

Here's what we talked about on the 'stang a while back;
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...hlight=mustang

Boys,Monaro,has been the standard muscle car for Holden (GM)
Australia since around 1970 ?well about then anyways,and after
a test drive, I would like to see what you think of it????
this version will rock your socks........

Personally, I kinda think this can tie back into the Rice Burners thread.

While personally none of the new car styling does much for me, these cars along with the other current US offerings such as the Mustangs will potentially be providing fodder for the future generations of hot rodders.

The point was pretty much made in the previous thread that the kids that are so inclined are going to build what they have available to them (and can afford). Lets face it the available (desirable) american V8 RWD pickings from the last 5-20 years are pretty dismal from that standpoint with the possible the exception of the Mustangs, Camaros and Firebirds (which in my area anyway seem to have stong following with the younger folks).

The trend I think I'm currently seeing with the US manufactures once again offering cars with V8 preformance potential gives hope that the future generations (such as my 1 year old grandson) may once again have the material to work with for their projects.

The new "GTO" looks more like a lamb than a Goat to me.... it's very bland, just another look-alike GM coupe. I realize that Lutz just wanted to breathe some fun and life into the Pontiac division, but I think the overall impact would have been much greater with a little proprietary tooling to make the Goat instantly recognizable. I've been following the progress of this project for about a year in AutoWeek, as well as the new Mustang. The 'Stang made me sit up & take notice. If the Holden hadn't been identified as a GTO in the title, I wouldn't have paid any attention until the second or third time thru the magazine.