GM, Pontiac. The GTO will be no more by next fall. Automotive News reported yesterday that the car will be discontinued at the end of this model year, with the last deliveries arriving at dealers by the end of September. The reasons behind the GTO's demise are many, but ultimately it came down to the fact that the architecture that the car is based on (from GM's Holden division in Australia) is going out of production in preparation for the company's newly revised ZETA RWD program. The GTO was one of the first things that Bob Lutz did to jump-start the Pontiac Division when he came on board at GM. Even though the plan was well-intentioned, the GTO suffered from unfair comparisons to the original GTO (not that any of the hard-core GTO enthusiasts could actually define what a modern GTO should look like), among other things, but the biggest problem for the car from our perspective was that it just cost too much money. If GM could have brought the car in for the mid-$20,000 range at intro, it would have taken off, big time. We made no bones about the fact that we loved the GTO, and the plain looks of the car never bothered us. After all, the original was a Pontiac Tempest with dog-dish hub caps and a couple of fake scoops in the hood, about as bland of a car as you could get back then. But the proof of the original was in the performance, just like the current GTO, which, if you haven't driven one you're missing out, because it is simply a blast to drive. The current car also has one of GM's finest interiors, and we find the overall package to be outstanding, which is why we called the GTO our Autoextremist "High-Performance Value of the Year." The retirement of the GTO presents a real quandary for the Pontiac Division, as the GTO is really the only other car besides the Solstice that is true to the brand's mission within GM's divisional structure. Pontiac had a narrow window of opportunity with the car, but now that's gone, which is a shame. So if you like RWD high-performance, you owe it to yourself to check out the GTO before it disappears. And by the way, Pontiac enthusiasts shouldn't give up on the brand just yet, as there is a RWD performance car coming for the division. After the new Camaro makes its street debut as a 2008 model, watch for an all-new Pontiac Firebird to debut 12 months later as a 2009 model. You read it here first.

 

I know that nobody would be unhappy if the car was mid twenties, but I always thought that low 30s was more than a fair price for the GTO.

Interesting that he is claiming a new Firebird will be out. We'll have to see.

 

And what does he mean by "all-new"?

 

I just hope its not a rebadged Camaro. I'd really like to see GM leave the Firebird dead and put that money towards the Camaro, making it the absolute best car in its class in all aspects.

 

I dunno, but I am starting to doubt the Firebird name won't be used by Pontiac for something in the next few years.

 

The Saab Aero X concept, which will be in Geneva, will be an AWD, 400 hp, Epsilon based coupe......just throwing that out there.

 

I still think/hope the Firebird stays dead and Pontiac gets a high performance rwd/awd sedan. That just makes more sense. I'd love to see a v8 rwd Pontiac sedan again.

 

That would be pretty interesting.

What kind of motor powers the concept?

 

Supposedly, an ethanol burning, 3.0L, twin turbo, V6.

 

Suppose the Firebird (new car, whatever) got that...sounds like an import fighter to me, rather than competing with the Camaro in the musclecar arena. High power, turbos, "green" emissions....yea, definately import competing to me.

Which, to me, is not necessarily a bad thing...

 

Well if in fact the Firebird comes back, which I doubt, and the GTO as we know it is really dead, then Pontiac truly soiled the GTO name for good.

The car that started the Muscle Car era comes back in 2004, and then fizzles out like a dying star. Shame on GM/Pontiac for throwing away the soul of Pontiac.

 

never liked the GTO.But a new firebird,that is interesting.Not as bulbous as the 4th gen.Maybe a bit like the top-selling 2nd gen( a few '77-81 styling cues)and im getting excited.Hey GM,wanna get a Ford guy back into the fold???





shaker hood(functional),fender air extractors,engine turned gauge panel,77-80 T/A graphics without the hood chicken

 

I don't think it would be a bad thing either.

To be frank though, I'm not sure where DeLorenzo is getting this '09 Firebird stuff. Sadly, I see no evidence of any future Pontiac product being worked on right now.

 

...off of Zeta or period...as in no future Pontiacs at all?

 

Nada. Nothing but talk, anyway.