Is it true, is it true?

[mayfly]

By Editors of Motor Trend
Photography by Marc Cook
Motor Trend, May 2005

This one's a winner -- The design for the new GTO coming to Pontiac showrooms in 2007 as a 2008 model. The big, rear-drive sport coupe will be designed and built in the U.S., possibly at GM's Hamtramck or Wilmington plants, and it's likely to show up in concept form at a 2006 auto show, probably Detroit in January.



Internally called the GMX282, the 2008 GTO will be built on GM's new Zeta platform, now under development in Australia by GM's Holden subsidiary. The Zeta platform brings new suspension all around, with a more sophisticated independent rearend promising better traction and even sweeter handling. The wheelbase has grown marginally to 110 inches. The next GTO will carry over the 6.0-liter, 400-horse LS2 from the current car as well as the six speed manual transmission.



The new GTO looks more muscular than the today's model, with a fastback roofline and strong tension in the profile and pumped fenders. Overall length is down 0.8 inch to 189. The only retro nods on this car are the wide-track Pontiac-style front end and the twin hood scoops. Ironically, the design is being done under the direction of Australian Mike Simcoe, who designed the current GTO as a Holden Monaro in 1997 and is now responsible for all GM North American cars.

[Sarge]

Go Bob!

[Lingenfelter TT]

I hope so!

[Hotrod]

If it ends up looking anything like the illustrations then it's gonna look a hell of a lot worse than the current models do! Count me out!

[2004_GTO_]

The wheelbase has grown marginally to 110 inches

DOES THIS MEAN MEATIER TIRES???

[GTOPT]

Cannot wait to see it

[third_shift|studios]

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102907

What you see in this illustration is a fairly close rendition of what we can expect when the next-generation Pontiac GTO hits the market in 2008. We say “fairly close” because we’ve seen the super-secret spy photos upon which it is based, and the actual shots show a sleeker, wider, lower and, frankly, far more appealing car.


That’s the good news.


The bad news is General Motors’ Aussie division Holden reportedly may not start cranking out these future Goats until 2008, a full two years after production ceases on the 2006 Holden Monaro-based GTO.

One more tidbit: It’s not shown here, but we hear GM is considering doing this GTO as a four-door coupe, using rear-hinged rear-access doors without visible handles.

[2004_GTO_]

Uuhhhh Ill Stick To My 04

[predator]

it looks like a gto rearended a galante and the 2 just fused together......

[needmorepwr]

[QUOTE=predator]it looks like a gto rearended a galante and the 2 just fused together......[/QUOTE

That was I thought too! It is a mitsubishi!

[Rob]

Have to remember that picture is a current GTO that has been photochopped...a lot. Pretty sure it won't look like that but might have some styling clues though.

[Moyso]

There's been some delays with our new Commodore (on which the GTO is based) and it's been put back until Sept 06' from March 06'. Basically GM left the bulk of the design and development of this rear drive (Zeta) platform with Holden here in Australia. When Whagoner and his mates in Detroit decided to pull all of the US models that planned to use the Zeta platfom it set Holden back as they had to finish the engineering themselves, without the technical input and support of the other GM divisions that had originally been looking at using it.

That's now changed again and the Zeta platform has been given the go ahead for use in a range of new US sedans, including a rumoured new Camaro!

The good news is this car should b worth th wait, with a sweet multi link IRS in the back and an all new interior with built in LCD screen, reversing camera and the option of a six speed ZF paddle operated auto for the LS2. It's also been engineered to cope with the Corvette C6's new 500 HP mill!

Maybe worth the wait guys ? ? ?

[SOM 01 WS6]

That would be wayyyy toooo cool to have a GTO with a LS based 427ci

[Mr. CarelessAndImprudent]

what the hell have they done to the gto?

[chaman]

I already own one of these....I just added my own wheels and lowered it a bit...check the wide tire...!!!

[IMG][/IMG]

[RaSScal]

Look too much like a Mustang, arghhhhhh..........

[00SSVERT]

No Freakin' 4 Doors!!!!!!!!!!!!