GTO Going, Going, but Not Gone

General Motors has no intention of abandoning its reborn GTO badge, despite a slow start-up for the Australian-made muscle car. The GTO "is a permanent addition to thePontiac stable," GM's Bob Lutz, stressed during an interview with TheCarConnection.com. "Maybe in retrospect, we should have done a more retro (looking) car," the GM vice chairman added, but he forcefully emphasized that "the car is not a flop." If anything, Pontiac officials insist that the "Goat" is gaining momentum, especially in the critical California market. While dealers in import-oriented Los Angeles account for only 1.4 percent of total Pontiac sales nationwide, they generated 4.6 percent of the overall GTO volume through mid-July, according to company data. While Lutz declined to discuss future product plans, industry sources report that the next generation of Pontiac's muscle car will be much more aggressively styled than the current, jellybean-shaped two-door. GM has good reason to hang onto the GTO. Since it's adding incremental volume to a product already on sale in Australia, "It's making a lot of money," despite a slow start in the U.S., said Lutz. -Paul A. Eisenstein

Yes mr car guru I think if you listened to your fans you would not have to backpeddle right now...

here is one thats going to come down the pipe..

if it looks like a Camaro
acts like a Camaro
feels like a Camaro

IT BETTER BY GOD HAVE A CAMARO NAMEPLATE on its fender!!!!

"hey is that the new Camaro Z28?" " nope thats the new CSC Z28 (chevy sports Coupe Z28" "funny it looks like a Camaro" "yea I know"

and dont let a stigma or sterotype play a roll...good point...MINI? rememeber how that was thought of in the auto world..now look at it..new car same name big success..I could go on..but I can say this...Lutz get moving on a Firebird too before you go ohh we should of done a firebird for Pontiac too????

Just because Pontiac is going G this and G that dosnt mean it has to be G something in Pontiac..instead of the front looking similar every pontiac car has the same letter G??? ohh wow..sounds like Fords like of SUV's..explorer, excursion,escape,expedition...get the picture..

the world needs new Muscle cars..and the Camaro and firebird deserve this, not something that you fancy as..we are going ahead..not looking in the past..except for GTO..thats a flagship...no make a Camaro and 2 years later a new Firebird..why..well if the recent trends show something..I think the axing of Camaro and Firebird was at the worst of all times...

Dont quote me but the 05 Mustang is going to force you to call it Camaro..going to suck when every street corner has a new 05 stang ( just like the 20 or so every day I see of Magnums and 300C's) and Lutz has nothing in response.."ohh we got a coupe that will blow its doors off..good is it called Camaro? well noo...then who cares??"

I think Lutz has lost some of his spark or too many bean counters are getting in the way..I hope its the bean counters..but the name game is his fault..

YOU THINK THE IMPALA WOULD BE SELLING LIKE IT IS IF IT WAS NAMED LUMINA??????????????

 

Yeah. You're right. But I think the name (for both Firebird and Camaro) is tied up in some Canadian gov't contract thing... read other posts... others know better than I.

 

Good post 94Z. Name the car Camaro or nothing.

B.L., (supposed car guy)

That's what happens when you don't listen to the customers and do what you wanna do instead.

 

Even I, one of the most vocal here against retro styling, can see where the return on the GTO would probably have been better served as a retro-car.

The car hasn't been around for 30 YEARS, so it's a perfect fit for retro styling.

I understand WHY the car looks the way it does, and accept that, but if there were ever a place for retro styling on an existing nameplate... this was it.

 

They shoulda just imported the Monaro HSV as is. It looks much more aggressive and would have actually appealed to the import crowd even more.

Plus put on the big fender flares and fat rubber.

And waited for the LS2 so the '05 stang would a get rude awakening

And required the dealers to sell for no more than MSRP.

 

NAME IT CAMARO! Yes the car had some serious negative images attached to it in it's waning years, but like people, a product (car) can re-invent itself.

 

Solstice doesn't start with a "G". The new 2006 Pontiac SUV is called Torrent, the 2005 Montana SV6 doesn't start with a "G" either.

 

Yeah ya like how just 2 years ago we though Bob was going to be our hero and bring back the Camaro only to find out now he doesn’t give a hoot about historical/traditional nameplates? Bastard....

I refuse to buy the RWD Chevy Coupe if its not called Camaro. Heck, I’m loving my GTP, maybe I’ll look at GTO’s in 2008.

 

I can see you point, but do you think GM really cares if you boycott one of their products by purchasing another?

 

So true.

 

LoL, yeah I know I just cant see myself in an import or a Ford.

But you get my point

 

I totally understand what you are saying. For the most part, I feel the same way....

Just razzin' ya a bit!

 

Bob Lutz has done more for the enthusiasts then all of you, sans a few, combined.
Anyone else here can claim they were responsible for the Viper? Anyone?
How about if Zarrella was still in there? Would we all be happy then?
Please, if Lutz wasnt at GM, GM would have imploded. His progress in stressing quality has alone saved a lot of GM.
But he hasnt made a Camaro yet, so hes worthles...right?

 

Chrysler?

 

Charger, maybe?