2009 Pontiac GTO
Posted by admin on 08 Sep 2007
The previous Pontiac GTO was a spin off from the Australian arm of GM, Holden, which sold a coupe domestically called the Monaro. As Holden is the last bastian of rear wheel drive in the GM empire, attention was focused on the Monaro and it was decided that the car could be brought into the US as the new GTO. A few changes were made, most notably the fuel tank was relocated which ate into trunk space, and the nose was redesigned for a Pontiac look.
But like the Monaro the GTO never really took off. Once everyone who wanted a big coupe had bought one, demand fell way off and the car was discontinued in 2006, when production of the Monaro was stopped. The GTO was also criticized for lacking visual aggression, which didn’t help sales.
Pontiac shifted just 36,427 GTOs over three years when the company had expected 54,000. At one point, due to proposed CAFE standards, the new GTO was almost cancelled, but the GTO’s future is assured, by none other than Bob Lutz, GM’s Vice President.
The new GTO will appear next year, along with the Chevrolet Camaro. As before, the chassis will be from Holden, but this time it’s the new Zeta platform, which debuted in the Australian VE Commodore. The Camaro will also use the Zeta platform, which is exceptionally stiff, which bodes well for handling, Certainly the Holden products drive very well.
The 2009 Pontiac GTO should be available with an entry level 261 horsepower 3.6 liter DOHC V6 and a full on 362 horsepower LS2 6.0 liter V8, the same engines that are available in the Pontiac G8.
One thing’s for sure, the 2009 Pontiac GTO will have much more aggressive styling than the previous model, to emphasize the cars sporty and muscular nature. And thanks to the Zeta platform suspension handling should match the image. Suspension at the front is MacPherson strut, and at the rear is a ‘proper’ multi link suspension rather than the primitive semi trailing arm suspension of the previous GTO. The wheelbase is also longer, giving the car a more stable ride, while the overhangs have been shortened, which should give the car a very sporty look.
There’s some question over whether the car will be built by Holden and exported to the US or whether it will be built in the US. The GTO is being developed in Australia because of Holden’s experience with the Zeta platform, but Bob Lutz says the final decision on the location of assembly will come down to the exchange rate between the Australian and American dollars. You can bet your bottom dollar that the UAW (United Auto Workers union) will be campaigning hard for the car to be built in the US.
Move over Mustang….the GTO’s commin through!
Cody:
The G8 will rock as well.
I agree. Seems as the “big 3″ are finally bringing the musclecar war back. Well, that doesn’t bother me any, no LOL
We have the Challenger, GTO, Camaro, and rumors of Mercury putting the Cougar on the mustang platform. That will be nice to see. Too many mustangs!
But sorry. I’m still a MOPAR freak!
1973 Roadrunner
1973 Satellite sebring
2000 Formula Firebird
1999 Corvette
LS2 with 362HP? Come on now! How’s that ‘muscle’ going to compete with 400HP from the 2005/2006 GTO’s, the 425HP Charger SRT8’s, the 400HP LS2 in the new Camaro’s, the 6.1L Hemi in the Challenger and even the 355HP(?) G8’s.
That’s weak.
While it’s great to see the U.S. muscle cars return, I guess us Trans Am lovers will be left out. In the long history of the Camaro and Firebirds, the Trans Ams have always looked more aggressive and had better styling. With Pontiac being the “performance division” of GM, it’s hard to understand why we won’t be seeing the Trans Am again.
I have a 2004 gto I bought brand new, todate I have 62,000 miles on it, never had a problem. Have the 4 door called the G8 have a two door called the ALLMIGHTY GTO! Bring it back!!!!!
First off, The current GTO was never meant as a high volume car, it was always meant as a nitche car being that only 13,000 to 15,000 were made a year. Second, the current GTO was not discontinued due to lack of sales, it was always only meant as a 3 year run due to the fact that the current GTO would not have passed 2007 US safety standards. Third, Mr. Lutz himself said there will never be a new GTO with an “entry level” motor. Fourth, the new GTO will not have less than 400 HP, which is what the LS2 GTO has, that was also said by Mr. Lutz IF the new GTO is a go.
Please, please get your facts straight before you post misinformation on the internet.
optional v6 and only 362 hp ls2 v8? what the fuck? why take a step back???? this is going to be a complete failure. why dont they just make their own GTO model. Stop borrowing others designs. I own and love my 05′ gto but holy shit, learn from you mistakes GM.
I don’t know what they’re thinking stepping the power down to 360hp. I drive the LS1 powered GTO and at 350hp it is strong, but after the release of the 400hp LS2 model, it seems disappointing to me sticking less than 400hp under the hood, especially with the new LS3 now available. I still look forward to seeing this new model, but at this point I loved the Monaro/GTO styling and it was a major selling point for me and I doubt it will be enough for me to trade in my Goat for this one.
Concidering that they really did not advertise the car it is no wonder the sales were low. The only people that bought them were sold on a v8 rear drive car before the car even came out.
If anyone an GM is reading this, please listen to the market. If you are not adding a bigger HP motor, at least make an LS7 an option.
You’ll see.
Tell me its not true!!!
What about the trans am?!
gto had there chance!! Bring back the bird!!
I would love to see just about any GTO come back! Not everyone loved the originals and just about everybody hated the 04-06 cars, but any GTO is better than NO GTO!
Hopefully this will give Pontiac an edge in the coming year…we need all the American car sales we can get!
Thanks Randy!
We need the Jugde for 2009!
man dont reduce the power nd torque what the fuck is wrong with you people!!! you should atleast make it stronger than the 05 and 06’s!!! damn!! i agree with you randy!
“The 2009 Pontiac GTO should be available with an entry level 261 horsepower 3.6 liter DOHC V6 and a full on 362 horsepower LS2 6.0 liter V8, the same engines that are available in the Pontiac G8.”
I think that’s the stupidest mistake they can make! I was expecting more of a 500 hp v8. WoW, i’ll be so disappointed if it comes out like this.
Always been a trans am lover, but would love to have a gto. Why won’t Pontiac go retro ???? They couldn’t make them fast enough !!
The “2009″ GTO is confirmed? I thought the G8 is the replacement for it. Now it’s a GTO, too?
This is news to me and I own a 2006 GTO. Best car I’ve ever had.
Why not put the CTS-v engine with more compression the the G8 and have a winner.
I would say the reason they are down grading the hp on the gto is becouse they dont want to jeopardize sales for the camaro. But Im on the same page as chad I thought the G8 was the replacement for the GTO, had no idea a new GTO was coming back. Has anyone seen any concept pics?
Come on Pontiac, I love my 06 GTO but in order to upgrade you must give me a reason to purchase instead of keeping the one I have. Please improve and don’t go backwards on H.P.
I agree with Mike.
Here comes the Judge, and make it 500HP while your at it.
Only people that haven’t felt the POWER rag the GTO.
I jumped on one of the first ’04’s and now drive an ‘05 and would be in heaven in a ‘09 Screaming Orange Judge
Woo Hoo!
Hey don’t count out the Trans Am right away. I have heard rummors and seen concepts of the new Trans Am and it has the same body style as the new Camaro but the front end look of a 77′ Trans Am. The Bandit is back baby! Still hoping for it see production.
The 2009 GTO hasn’t been confirmed just rumored. The plan GM has right now is for the Holden Commodore Coupe to come out in late 2008 and test the market in Australia. Then if the Coupe has reasonably high sales then they will consider importing the Holden Commodore Coupe as the Pontiac GTO in early to late 2010.
The Commodore Coupe will come in two versions the SS which will have the LS-3 and the SS-V which will have LS-3 with a roots supercharger very similar to the LS9 going into the ZR-1
So I am pretty sure if GM brings the GT0 to America again it will eat my 06 alive. It is just a matter of hoping the Commodore coupe does will in Australia. Because GM does not want another Monaro flop again.
To respond to mike way up top. Trans am have never been anywhere as good looking as any camaro, gto, charger, challengar, etc. Nor have they ever looked more aggressive.
The new G8 is not a replacement for the GTO. It is a replacement for the Grand Prix. If you have seen photos of the G8 you will see that it is a four door.
Ok, I’m at a Pontiac dealer having the oil changed on my 2006 GTO (yes, best car I ever had) and the sales people here say there’s no such thing as a 2009 GTO. Imagine my surprise. So, what is it? Is the 2009 GTO a myth? If the HP is reduced, as this article says, it might as well be :0
which one will be faster gto or the camaro ss? i think camaro
there will be no 09 GTO, No Trans Am Reborn.
The G8 will get a GXP version with a 430hp LS3 the rest is just internet BS. Additionally the new RWD impala SS and RWD G6 replacements are dead. THank your congressman and CAFE.
365 is to the wheels, 400 from the 05/06s is to the crank. GM changed its advertised HP to the wheels, not the crank. Its the same HP as the 05/06 LS2s.
Why would they offer a entry level motor? there should be two opinions for motors a “entry level” LS1 with 350 horsepower and a true LS motor maybe a LS9 or LS7 that has the right tunes with correct timing and it should be a 500 horsepower motor. Also please pontiac if your gonna offer Auto transmission forget the 4 speeds all you 4 speed transmission SUCK!(I should know pontiac grand am transmission slips worse then a pickup truck on ice)
I want a 09′ Pontiac GTO Red Black Blue or the Prized Judge Orange!!!
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD A MUSCLE CAR BUILD A MUSCLE CAR…NO FRIGGING V-6…THEY NEED TO COME OUT WITH 500 PONIES AT LEAST…I HAVE THE 06 GTO…400 PONIES AND IT EATS MUSTANDS AND BMWS….BUT A V-6????….STUPID…VERY STUPID…WILL NOT SELL..
This is crap. There should NEVER BE a V6 GTO!! If they make this car i will leave Pontiac. GM should make cars better and more exotic. The better quality the more respect it will gain. V6??!! Never thought id see the day…. whats next a 4 cylinder “muscle” car? no way…
I have a love for GTO’s, but the 04-06 models were horrible. Pontiac needs to make the 09 a remake of the 69 Judge with the same body style only more modern and fuel economical.
i need to say this the new cars y’all are making are pretty d$#% hot
than all the other pieces of s#$@ they have made
First of all GM Is acting Like they are ass backwards,the past Pontiac Grand Prix two door coupe should have been the platform for the new GT,not a freakin a past Sunfire frame. GM has done some great things but there design team is a little misguided on some models in the muscle car arena.
Need to bring back the 67′ GTO or the 70′ Judge, can’t Pontiac see what Ford, Chevy and Chrysler has done? Get with the program and and back to basics, stop making American cars look Australian!!!
pontiac needs to give people what they want not what they think they want. the car is suppose to dominate. i have a 66 gto and wonder why they didnt copy the real gto in the first place
thats bullshit. if they are going to bring the GTO back then they should at least bump up the HP. And they are making a big mistake by putting a v6 in it. Its gonna be just like the new mustangs… too damn many of them.
what’s the whole point of a more “agressive look” on the 09′ if you make a 362 hp 6.0 v8???!! show n’ no go?
First off let me say when it comes to complete muscle….the GTO has it’s own lane. Pontiac needs to stop with all this G8 stuff. Stop teasing me with these poor imitations. Bring back the real deal…..im talking a 430-454 HP engine with the matching tourqe!!!!! Optional Judge package!!!!!!!! Lets see what GM can really do these upcomming years. Make the corvettes take notice and make the mustangs quiver……..!!!!! Everyone else eat dusk!!!!!!!
The only problem with the new GTO is that it looks fast as hell, which in America is not the best feature for a fast car.
The 2004-2006 GTO had great styling because it didnt look like you would get pulled over every time you drove past a cop, but it still has the muscle.(like my buddy and his Camaro, he always gets pulled over for going less than 5 miles over. I drive a Subi and I speed past cops going 20 over and I havnt been pulled over yet).
If this car was meant for the European market Id have better things to say about it.
I owned both 04 and05 If Iam going to buy an 09 it better have more hp! GTOs are for a certain kind of person not person who is not worryed about gas price. wise up pontiac give us what we want, HP
The reason they have a V-6 is so they can sell more cars!Chicks and old farts will love the GTO and don’t care about a V-8.Ford has sold millions of V-6 Mustangs so why not sell as many GTO’s in the same configeration..If the new GTO was a reto of the 60’s model it would be way to cool…if not I still might buy one just to say I owned a Goat in my lifetime.I was lucky to be in my 20’s when the mustang,gto,mopar cars and all the others came out in the 60’s,its nice to do it again in a car that is light years ahead in mpg and safety.
I think that they should make the 2009 GTO a 6.2L with 430 hp and then they should make the JUDGE with a 6.5 with 500 or 505 hp
I bought my son a 2005 GTO which is a dream muscle car. I have been looking to buy a 2006 red gto with red interior for myself. But i have been reluctant since reading the article about GM decision to build a 2009 GTO that supposively will come to the marketplace in late 2008. I want my 2009 gto to have at least 400hp. I really want 500hp. I can’t wait. It just upsetting to read articles or comments about an entry-level gto – there is no such thing. You don’t see a lot of gto’s on the road because the people who want them and buy them are special speed demons. I had a Porsche 911 and there are not that many on the road. I hope and pray that a 400 plus gto will find itself underneath my Xmas tree.
I have the a 2006 GTO with over 101K miles now without any problems. I am faithful to 5K oil changes and on my 4th set of tires. G-T-O gas-oil-tires, I do get to reach 120mph on a weekly basis on Hwy 1 at 5am in the mornings when the Hwy is empty. I would like to see them drop in the LS9 into the newer models.
I am a big gto collector. I have every gto model from 64 to 72. My son is about to turn 16 and I was going to get him an 06 gto with 400hp. Now that I have heard about the 2009 gto I am torn between the two. But I am very suprised that the motor is only going to go to have at most 362hp. Come on at least get it over 400 then for sure I’ll buy a 2009
the new gtos suck, they look like your average car and look like those g6’s or whatever
They scraped the idea of bringing back the GTO. Oh well, atleast the Camaro will be coming out soon.CANT WAIT, already put in my order for the SS.
i agree with g on the 6.5 judge but it should at least put out 650hp
the GTO will oblitterate any competion because it is way lighter than the charger and that compensates for not having as much horse power
come on man! are you serious! the new goat should at least have the LS3 396ci not a tuned down LS2! The new goat should have a N/A bigger powerhouse, a 4 link solid rear, and come stock with a 3,000 rpm stall. The judge on the other hand should have a 3.2 whipple or something of the like to run with the ZR1 and the ACR viper. the judge decides the outcome of the courtroom, why not the finish line.
By the way jeff the 09/10 camaros have a LS3 396 with over 400 HP. The judge could beat it then and the modern day goats should have the heart to do it today too!
yea bruh its me g-unit one thing i gave to say put more hsp in to the car
why not make the gto more square like the challenger i like the old gto’s more than the old challenger’s but come on that car has NO STYLE!!!!!!!!!
“LS2 with 362HP? Come on now! How’s that ‘muscle’ going to compete with 400HP from the 2005/2006 GTO’s, the 425HP Charger SRT8’s, the 400HP LS2 in the new Camaro’s, the 6.1L Hemi in the Challenger and even the 355HP(?) G8’s.
That’s weak.”
Ok jeff get you facts straight first the ls2 is what came in the 05-06 gto it had 400 to the fly wheel and 362 to the wheels.
“You don’t see a lot of gto’s on the road because the people who want them and buy them are special speed demons.” …Oh please, the Newer GTOs are not that great. And they certainly arent that fast. A Corvette will easily stomp the Goat. Now I love the older model GTOs, but now days they arent nothing. They have almost the same body style as a Mazda 6. Pathetic
American cars arent on par with imports? This coming from a bunch of followers who have heard stories like so and so said that he has a Honda and its lasted a long time without putting a dime into it. When the true story is more like so and so was getting alot of crap for having a little tiny teenie weenie car that would hardly move in snow (not to mention has no towing capabilities or demolition derby strength lol) because he didnt have the money to buy a real car but his pride told him and every other matchbox owner to just say with pride how they havent spent a dime on their little toy car and it just keeps going. Well I’ve got news for you I fell into that way of thinking too and after less miles than my monte carlo which is untouched by the way my Mazda 626 has had the radio antenna motor fail, the knuckles in the spindles replaced, the sensor or something is currently out will not idle but you can tap on the stuck piece will free up and idle away again, door rusting, heater is pathetic, air conditioning bought a can of refrigerant to recharge myself and found a leak in the lines so she can sweat for the price to replace, what else….oh the tires will not stay aligned and cause uneven wear no matter rotation, there folks is PROOF 100% no bull! Plus there is just something about driving a vehicle designed and built in the greatest superpower this world has ever known. As far as PONTIACS being killed off thats sickening there are some many of them on the road GM should really be shunned for killing off a great brand to save there own name. At least sell the name so we can keep a realitively inexpensive upgrade from a Chevrolet.
Its Corvette retards like that guy that think there Automatic Convertable stock 5.7L LS1 Corvette is tha fastest thing around. Well let me tell you Ive got one of those little outa-date “ugly” 6.0L GTO’s and unless ur in a ZO6 or better, Ill see you in my rear view. And thats all I got to say about that.
i recon the clasic gto is the best
out of date article….
@ 05 6.0 gto
ive got an automatic 07 ZO6 convertable with racing headers, a turbo manifold and a custom stripped vinyl interior along w/ a 10lb bottle of nos where the passenger seat used to be
quarter mile time: 9.89 seconds
R.I.P. Pontiac, you had a great run. Don’t know whose to blame, government, G. M. or the imports. We’ll miss you.
I’m sorry, but where’s the engineering? Where’s the cunning? Or the curiosity for that matter? A 6.0L V8 and only 360 some horsepower? Jaguar makes a 4.6L V8 with 410! And, even with the door counts stopping at two for both cars, the jag XK is faster and ligther. I mean, both engines were designed by Americans–Yes! That engine was designed when Ford owned Jaguar! So, I just can’t justify driving a gas-hog like that if my power can’t be shown for it. Maybe it’s just a matter of preference, but engineeringly speaking, there’s no point to that car. And being american, it’ll be lucky to make the way around a corner.
The 2009 GTO is gay and it sucks the
1969 gto judge is better
First off, I would like to thank Pontiac for an outstanding 90+ years of great engineering. The past 20+ years have been a little scetchy. The Firebird was great, however to be obvious, almost an exact replica of the Camaro. To comment on everyones opinion on the GTO, do not knock it until you try it. John DeLoreon would love to see what people are saying about the GTO. This vehicle has been one of the most controversial vehicles in the past 20 years since the introduction of the Fiero back when I was wearing diapers. I can honestly say that I am glad as an owner of a beautiful Impulse Blue with Bermuda Blue interior and a M6 (478 were produced)at 24, to say that I have been a part of this vehicles heritage. To think of similarities, you must first go back into the idea of the GTO. The GTO back when was a cutting edge way to try to boost the sales of the Pontiac division and turn them away from the “conveniant” side of the industry to the “excitement” division. John Delorean, an Italian man, had been hired some years earlier to turn the company around. He and one other person (I cannot remember his name at this time), had taken a Bonne’ engine and placed it into a LeMans, and secretly started to accept orders for the fear the CEO of Pontiac at the time would decline unless he already saw results. Thus the first factory “muscle car” was born.
40 years later, GM wanted to create a car to help with the declining sales in their excitement devision after a breif hiatus of “excitement” by killing off the Firebird. They had corresponded with Australian engineers in the GM division at Holden to rebadge their Monaro and sell it in the states. As a result, the new GTO was born. And it came factory with more horespower in ‘04 than even the ‘08 and ‘09 Mustang GTs have. GMs vision for the GTO was to create a car not necissarily based around trends, but what has worked in the past. It was this idea that eased GM to badge the Holden as the new GTO. Unfortunately, because the styling was not of a “Retro” design, and was more focused on what the GTO may have looked like today if it had still been in production, people shunned it to the side. Both great American vehicles, both with foreign ideas, to start new trends and shock the “excitement” divisions of other car corporations thruout. The only true part of this car I find that does not match up from the ‘64 GTO (besides the design), is that America did not embrace the ‘04 GTO. People were so concerned that it was not “fitting in” with everyone elses idea to be retro, that they did not even take a look inside and realise that it has an amazing, and very comfortable interior. I dare say a much better interior than even Corvette even to this day has. It does not look pleathery and without taste. Since people were not drawn into the car, they never did get a chance to experiance the 350HP and 365LB FT of torque, when at the time, the next most powerful car in its cost class had a total of 305HP which was in the Mustang line-up.
Thanks much for reading this bit, and I hope you all to have happy and safe motoring.
wow im dissapointed with the engines 362 V8?
the 2005/2006 have 400 hp so why would they make it with 362 3 years later.
back in 2006 gto would run the streets, but if they make it like that. GTOs will fall behind every other muscle car.
what gm needs to do is design a car more advanced and with more performance than any goofy looking import…e-mail me if you agree ppl!….-and im telling you gm-if you design a vehicle that fits in there with high performance imports americans will forget about all those fancy cars made in italy,germany,etc…….YOU CAN DO IT GM!
I’m the only person in my town with a GTO 06. *excluding n older gentlemen running a 72 GTO whom I have not had the joy of piting my baby against*. And I gotta say nothing in this small town beats my GTO. I run over honda’s with ther *v-tec* destroy mazda’s and flip mustangs. Can’t wait for the 09. But is it too much to ask for something that can outdo my 06?? Love my GTO tho!