Pontiac "Revitalization" GTO Concept Art @ GMI

[nequiem]

GMI posted another one of their brand revitalization concept art collages:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php? t=37381

What do you think? I'm not feeling the GTO at all. The front end is just too much of a throwback. I love the G8. Not very fond of the G6 front end. The Firebird is of course a makeover of Camaro and seems kind of redundant if the goat exists.

They did a good job rendering the concepts. It's a shame they kind of snub this site.

[highperf]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg

I got Wood!

[why2kmax]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg

I got Wood!

Same here, The G8 and the GTO look great. Id buy either if they were made. WOW.

[nequiem]

Upon looking at the G8 again, I know the trend at GM is "super-sized" grills but I'm thinking this is just a bit too much.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-82.JPG

That's just a resized GP front end they slapped on there. I think the HSV with those large black inlets looks better.

[ICE]

now i have to go change my undies

[DiffTechnics]

I like both :thumbs:

The GTO puts the lead in my pencil :-pimp:

[phobos512]

G6 and G8, hell yes, love the looks of these conceptual drawings. GTO and Firebird, no. Bigger no to the Firebird though, too many lines saved from the 80s versions which I am no fan of.

EDIT
It just came to me...the GTO looks like it has a beak. I like the smoother nose of the Firebird.

[Eldodroptop]

That GTO would never look right in person... That car would need to be 7 feet wide to pull off that look.

[MuhThugga]

I'm really glad I bought one now.

[alextaylor29]

They all look like birds of prey, very aggressive. Which I like. :)

[nixapatfan]

Eww that's just hideous :barf: All of those drawings look like ass.

[gojiragoat]

Yuck. Not really liking anything there.

[OrangeCrushM6]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg


The color is atrocious, but the car looks badass!!!

[SICKS.OH]

shame we can't get flip up lights...

[RobertHammen]

Hmmm... those cars have no consistent styling theme among them, i.e., they don't look like a "family" at all.

The GTO rips the nose off a '68-'69, but the rest of the body is, IMHO, too "plain". Needs more of a "coke-bottle" shape to the body, rather than square/slab-sided.

The G8 rips the nose off the current Grand Prix. Not a good styling benchmark, IMHO (the area under the twin nostrils is too large). The rest of the car is obviously a VE Commodore and looks great.

I actually like the cleaner G6 lines best of all.

IMHO, the current Pontiac twin-kidney grille on everything but the Solstice is very tired (minivans, Torrent, Vibe, GP, G6 et. al.). I don't think they should drop the twin-kidney, but come up with a new style for it (whether it's leaning back to more of a split full-width grille like the '68-'69 GTO/Firebird/Trans Am, et. al., or whether they ape the Solstice front on other cars, doesn't matter to me, just make it look good.

Of course it goes without saying that anything we get from Pontiac probably won't resemble anything the GMI guys came up with, unless it's mere coincidence.

[QuickSilverTiger]

GMI posted another one of their brand revitalization concept art collages:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php? t=37381

What do you think? I'm not feeling the GTO at all. The front end is just too much of a throwback. I love the G8. Not very fond of the G6 front end. The Firebird is of course a makeover of Camaro and seems kind of redundant if the goat exists.

They did a good job rendering the concepts. It's a shame they kind of snub this site.

Looks to me like "somebody" is on the right track. I think if these are done, the engineers will probably smooth the front facias.
Even if these happen, I'm still keeping my 2004 Quick Silver. By the time these come out I will have many upgrades...and my car will be my vision.
I like what I see though.:turbonaug

[speedking]

I would buy that GTO. The 69 grill and hideaways are awsome. Those 20" rear wheels have to go.....hell its not a geto mobile. I have tried to imagine how I would design the GTO so that when you look at it it says GTO and I dont think it can be done. As the body styles for the GTO changed from 67 to 68 if the 68 wasnt badged no one would have guessed it for a GTO. The new one has to find its own look. I dont want it to look like a 69 or any other GTO. Give me something that defines a 200? GTO, please and I think this concept would work. The 04-06 GTO's will go down in history as the 1974 GTO did. The mass GTO fans didnt accept the 1974 and they didnt accept the 04-06's. I do believe they would founder over this concept. Not that I give a rats azz what the mass GTO fans like. I think I will wait to order until I see the real thing. I bought the 04 from the concept and was I fooled? Hopefully the Challenger wont eat my next GTO money?? Going to be hard to pass on the Challenger if it sells for MSRP or lower but I'm feeling a premium on them? Dirty low life scum bastages car salesman! Sorry to any car saleman on the board but your industry earned it so wear it!

[highperf]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg

I'm still sport'n Wood.

That front clip would never make prod, just build out that front.

[Pont3]

If that car hits the dealer tomorrow, I'm there!! Can't quite tell how the rest of the car looks but I'm a GTO fan to no end. I like it. Prefer a little more refinement on the front but I'm taking whatever comes our way. JUST KEEP THE GTO ALIVE!!!!

[mcm]

Terrible.

[QSM6SPD]

I personally think that the "G8" looks pretty good, even if it is a made over current G/P front end.

But their idea of a new GTO just makes me want to break my computer screen :comp: One of the ugliest things I have seen in a long while. I'm a fan of all the classics and the current models, but that picture is hideous :barf:

[jonlee]

eww wtf is that?!

bring the VE commodore over here in LHD. heck, bring the HSV clubsport.

at least give us the option of putting the holden stuff back on. that pontiac crap is fugly.

[lostgoat]

i read the article the other day but was waiting to discuss it here . . .

GTO looks great, so does the G8 - they did a much better job than the Motor Trend photoshop cover. Don't care for the Firebird at all, plastic bulbous badge engineering at its worst. I can't remember the G6 design so it must not have grabbed me.

[City Goat]

ehhh I think they all look like ass :barf: Sorry

[itsme4g63]

that g8 would so be a commodore car methinks?

[Ls1Jeeper]

I like the G8 but I don't like this part on the GTO

43486

[QuickSilverTiger]

I like the G8 but I don't like this part on the GTO

43486

That part of the facia is a little on the extreme side. I believe that the engineers may re-think and re-tool certain styling cues. This next evolution in all of GM's line ups is much too important to get wrong.

"FOOL ME ONCE...SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE...SHAME ON ME".

[lastc4]

I'm really glad I bought one now.

+1:judge:

As far as the Commodore/G8 goes, I kinda wish Pontiac would get away from the need to put a "beak" on their cars.

[sxty8goats]

We felt that, as Pontiac's "halo" vehicle, it was important that it had to have a strong connection to the past. Slotting above the Firebird, the GTO is a sporty muscle car that has fresh styling, presented in a retro light. Simply put, the GTO isn't GM's Challenger/Mustang fighter. We'll leave that to the Firebird. GTO is intended to sit at the top of Pontiac's lineup; the more expensive, higher end muscle car, positioned at a higher, less accessible price point then the Firebird. We believe it's a true GTO, paying homage to the past greats, but a car for the future. What the GTO would be like if it had continued all these years. The GTO's planned introduction date is late 2008, as a 2009.


The GTO has not line to the past. There were 5 completly different body styles over 10 years. It was built on a Tempest, Nova and GP body over those years.

A GTO is a Top sedan with the biggest and best engine available. Suspention upgrades an minor appearance bumps, typicaly a new grill and scoops on the hood. Going retro will make it less of a GTO than some people seem to think ours are. Get your minds out of the past.

[sxty8goats]

That part of the facia is a little on the extreme side. I believe that the engineers may re-think and re-tool certain styling cues. This next evolution in all of GM's line ups is much too important to get wrong.

"FOOL ME ONCE...SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE...SHAME ON ME".
These are "wish" drawings by 'enthusiests'. They were not produced by GM or her engineers.

[QuickSilverTiger]

These are "wish" drawings by 'enthusiests'. They were not produced by GM or her engineers.

Understood, thanks. I will say that...with the exception of a few minor styling cues, the Camaro concept looks close to what the initial concepts the one kid did. Google "concept camaro" and you'll see where I'm coming from.
I believe that with the Engineers and "Powers that be" over at GM checking sites like this one, gives them an idea in the direction they may go. I know it may seem like cheating, but what better way is there to get a feel of a successful product when you can inject potential concepts, plus it's much cheaper then developing a concept.Remember, feasablilty is always the issue.

[gtoadmirer]

"the GTO isn't GM's Challenger/Mustang fighter. We'll leave that to the Firebird. GTO is intended to sit at the top of Pontiac's lineup; the more expensive, higher end muscle car, positioned at a higher, less accessible price point then the Firebird. "

"As the replacement for the Bonneville, the G8 sets the $38-48k sports performance segment directly in it's sights. "



can you say 10 year auto loan? :boink:

[RobertHammen]

That's GMI's take, not GM's. I highly doubt there will be a Firebird that is a twin of the Camaro.

I am guessing the top end you could charge for a Pontiac, any Pontiac, is in the $30-$35k range. I know the SS-V is sold for more in Oz, but, if GM does what they did with the GTO (the Monaro was $45k+, ours was slightly decontented/built in one standard config, just making colors and trannies the only options), I could see 20,000 a year coming here for "around" $35k...

[QuickSilverTiger]

"the GTO isn't GM's Challenger/Mustang fighter. We'll leave that to the Firebird. GTO is intended to sit at the top of Pontiac's lineup; the more expensive, higher end muscle car, positioned at a higher, less accessible price point then the Firebird. "

"As the replacement for the Bonneville, the G8 sets the $38-48k sports performance segment directly in it's sights. "



can you say 10 year auto loan? :boink:

I understand what you're saying, but if the Challenger comes out (even scaled down) it would still be a larger car then the Camaro and Mustang. The GTO is the perfect fighter for the Challenger...two Light Heavyweights banging it out at many venues.

The G8 is a Heavyweight, that would have the Charger square in it's sights.

As far as the Firebird goes, when it came out initially the Firebird was thought of as fresh and exciting, yet less expensive then the GTO. Then the gas crunch of the 70's, along with the haters of muscle cars, and uninspired engineers at GM caused the GTO to go away...due to lack of interest.

I know that there is an opportunity here to have your cake and eat it too, but you will have one too many cars when one car can get the job done.

Yes I think the Firebird has a loyal enough following to be successful, but remember that many of those loyal followers of the Firebird were in effect former GTO owners. I have always been more of a fan of the GTO then the Firebird.

If you are only looking to produce lower numbers then yes, make both. If you are looking to mass produce then pick one (Firebird or GTO) and go for the knockout...just remember, when you have a Firebird and Camaro you may cut off your nose to spite your face. I think that more then anything is what happened to the Camaro and Firebird. Yes they both sold, but seperately they could not outsell the Mustang. One pony car should do the trick.

Some of you may say..."there was a time when the Cougar was a classier Mustang", but then the Cougar was joined at the hip with the Thunderbird, and was that way until they came out with an econobox that only resembled a tuner car. Now that cars (the Cougars) internals have been shipped off to Mazda in the form of the Mazda 6. NO MORE COUGAR!

In my opinion, GM only needs one pony car...the Camaro is it. Just as long as GM keeps it edgy they won't need another pony car. Now if you just have the Camaro and GTO, the cars will be very different and used for different purposes.

The other thing to bring to mind is, people are less brand loyal then they used to be. Money is the key. Our Fathers Father may have said..."only a Buick or Ford for me". You have so many more car makers here that someone may say..."I would love to have Monte Carlo SS", but instead choose a base Honda Accord. Don't fault them, they are looking out for their well being. It's true of all people.

Maybe I'm off base here, but I don't believe I'm totally out to lunch.

[nutiger]

WTF is up with the GTO! Why are they trying to recreate a 68-69 GTO? The car is total trash! Give the designer a blank piece of paper and start over! :barf:

[The Black Phantom]

Upon looking at the G8 again, I know the trend at GM is "super-sized" grills but I'm thinking this is just a bit too much.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-82.JPG

That's just a resized GP front end they slapped on there. I think the HSV with those large black inlets looks better.

Have you looked at all the other car makers with huge grille designs? Let's see Chrysler,Audi, Volvo, ect. all have cars with HUGE grilles these days. It's a unfortunate trend in the auto industry.

I like the basic look of GMI's GTO, but wonder why the turn signals are not positioned below the grille like the 1968 and 69 GTO. :confused: I don't like the firebird because I while their GTO concept has retro touches, the Firebird looks too much like the 67-69 model. :ftw: I hate totally retro cars! :barf:

[tosc]

why would you not put a manual in the gto? dumb pontiac revitalization people!!

[nikivee]

the next gen gto will look like this. :D


http://ultimategto.com/pow/pow0617.jpg

[QuickSilverTiger]

WTF is up with the GTO! Why are they trying to recreate a 68-69 GTO? The car is total trash! Give the designer a blank piece of paper and start over! :barf:

First of all, I love Nutigers Avitar:yumyum:

I think you have two schools of thought...you have people who want retro, and others that believe it's time for change.
I believe you can have both. You can have a car with clean lines, stylish touches and an aggressive stance.

I believe that the next GTO will have an understated look, the front and rear facias will be toned down from what the latest concept looks like, but still have a mean stance. The grill is cool, but the turn signals won't make it past the "powers that be", and the wheels won't be larger then 19"...I would say 18" is the best you can get, unless you want to ride around on rubber bands;)

Just remember, GM patrols sites like this one (saves money on research):) . They are looking for an idea of what the customer wants. So keep passing along all your ideas and suggestions, it may do some good.

[TrixR4Kids]

I like it.. I need to see the rear though. On a previous artist rendering I saw the back looked like a bad version of 66-67ish taillamps and I wasn't diggin it at all.

This is nice 68-69 hidden lamp style.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg

[MuhThugga]

Why doesn't GM just do this:
Find the old plans for building the 67 GTO and just rebuild exactly that: a 67 GTO.

This whole retro bullsh*t needs to stop. The Camaro progressed, the Firebird progressed, and the Mustang progressed. Then all-of-a-sudden Ford makes the Mustang retro and everybody has to do it. But, nobody complains about Dodge's abortion with the Charger nameplate. It is just that magazines had to rag on the GTO and claim the Mustang was better. If the 2004 GTO looked the way the 2005/2006 GTOs do, would there have been an uproar?
I'm just wondering why the automotive world has moved from wanting vehicles worthy of a nameplate to wanting replicas of an old nameplate.

The fact of the matter is this: it may not look like a GTO, but it's still faster than your POS.

[QuickSilverTiger]

Why doesn't GM just do this:
Find the old plans for building the 67 GTO and just rebuild exactly that: a 67 GTO.

This whole retro bullsh*t needs to stop. The Camaro progressed, the Firebird progressed, and the Mustang progressed. Then all-of-a-sudden Ford makes the Mustang retro and everybody has to do it. But, nobody complains about Dodge's abortion with the Charger nameplate. It is just that magazines had to rag on the GTO and claim the Mustang was better. If the 2004 GTO looked the way the 2005/2006 GTOs do, would there have been an uproar?
I'm just wondering why the automotive world has moved from wanting vehicles worthy of a nameplate to wanting replicas of an old nameplate.

The fact of the matter is this: it may not look like a GTO, but it's still faster than your POS.

Check this out:
http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showcar.cgi?type=lot&pic=/pow/pow0450

I've seen this a couple of times before, and it still looks cool!:)

[highperf]

Check this out:
http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showcar.cgi?type=lot&pic=/pow/pow0450

I've seen this a couple of times before, and it still looks cool!:)
That's just not a 2000's modern era car.

Apply production reality and this is:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg
I don't see this as retro. The front grill yes. The car no. The "old style grill" is something that could come from a modern era car. But it would need to be freshened a bit.

this is whole thing is meaningless. but I like the concept

[QuickSilverTiger]

That's not a car a 2000's modern era car.

Apply production reality and this is:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg
I don't see this as retro. The front grill yes. The car no. The "old style grill" is something that could come from a modern era car. But it would need to be freshened a bit.

this is whole thing is meaningless. but I like the concept

The thread was more for "Muh Thugga" than anyone. "Muh Thugga" was talking in terms of just doing an updated 67. There are car companies getting into updating classic muscle cars. I've seen on "Dream Car Garage" where a company was updating suspensions, and other things on some Chrysler products. It is an alternative.

[PeteyPete]

I don't love any of them...but the GTO is ok.....the rest all need alot of work.

[MuhThugga]

That post was out of sarcasm. I wasn't serious about rebuilding a 67 GTO.
I just wish I could understand the idiocy of people.

Let designs progress. I mean, what's next? 2015 IROC-Z Camaros running around and 2012 Cadillac Cimarrons?

[danrieke]

Check this out:
http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showcar.cgi?type=lot&pic=/pow/pow0450

I've seen this a couple of times before, and it still looks cool!:)

There it is, baby! There it is!

1967 GTO... purdy as they come!

That in LS-7, 6-speed ragtop trim would be my item.

[ellisk02]

That GTO is awesome...I definitely got wood on that. I would definitely line up for one of those. I love the new Camaro, but that Firebird concept is garbage. And the G8 doesn't really do it for me. I personally like the retro styling going on recently. The new Mustang is one of the best body styles I've seen for Mustang in a while. If the GTO doesn't make a come back, I think our 04-06 GTOs will be like the 94-96 Impala SS...They didn't go over all that well when they were in production, but then they became a sought-after car, and held their value very well.

[HazMatt]

Both are absolutely HIDEOUS! Might as well slap some of that late 90's cladding on the sides too.

YUCK!

[QuickSilverTiger]

Both are absolutely HIDEOUS! Might as well slap some of that late 90's cladding on the sides too.

YUCK!

Are you saying yuck to the updated retro (1967 style), or the GMI concept?

What would you like the next gen GTO to look like? If you have an idea in mind or have seen something, please share.

The more ideas the better. As I've said before, the car companies look on sites like this to get an idea of what direction to go, it's cheaper, quicker, and in the end you have more satisfied people. The great thing about this is, if you absolutely dislike the product, and want something new then there are options out there.

[txbatman]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg



EEHHHHH- NO.

Doe the GTO Hood look asymetrical? The only really good looking car is the G6. The rest look like:bs:

[highperf]

to each his own but all i say is this could work:
http://ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attachment id=43628&stc=1&d=1158980305
have to do more with the hood as well, but...

yes that is a bad photochop and yes this conversation is for nothing.

[rVOLT]

IMO, all of these suck big butt ... except this one

http://www.transamtech.com/pics/transamconcept_bla ck.jpg

This is the hottest thing ever

[IrnZeppelin]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Thank You!!!!! That car is hot

[Black Devil]

IMO, all of these suck big butt ... except this one

http://www.transamtech.com/pics/transamconcept_bla ck.jpg

This is the hottest thing ever
I saw this one not that long ago. If I had to choose between this, and the above GTO. I would choose this one.

But, if the GTO concept looked like this one(below), I would buy this one.

This was posted by QuickSilverTiger. Thanks for the link.

http://ultimategto.com/cgi-bin/showcar.cgi?type=lot&pic=/pow/pow0450

[mike5215@bellsouth.n]

Okay. I know what a new GTO would look like. First of all, forget all the concept art with the 24" rims and no bumpers. And for God's sake forget the Smokey & The Bandit treatment.

Unlike the Firebird, Camaro, or Charger, the GTO wasn't born a stand-alone car. The original GTO was a high performance coupe version of a mundane Pontiac sedan. That's the car's "heritage", not a Frankenstien attempt to stitch together a bunch of design cues from two decades worth of cars, all of which now look stodgy and dated.

So, in order for there to be a new GTO, there first needs to be a new RWD V8 sedan in the Pontiac stable. If that is a Holden-built Grand Prix, then it would follow that a new GTO would be a high performance, high contented coupe version of whatever the base sedan ends up looking like. That's the only benchmark a new GTO needs to hit. Like the original GTO's, the design would be derived from the sedan counterpart, but dressed to be more aggressive and distinct.

Expect it to be a high-end, limited run sports coupe, positioned well beneath the Vette and well above the Camaro. I'd agree that puts it firmly in the $35-$38k range. Alternately, if GM intends to compete in some way with the 500 HP offerings from Ford, and a likely 500 HP SRT version of the upcoming Challenger, the question is, which car carries the mantel for GM? Is it a $40,000 Camaro SS with an LS7, or is it a $45,000 LS7 GTO?

[HORTENSE]

^^^ YES!!! i have to agree with that. GTO is about POWER, not to be dilluted by v6 models.

[Crockett]

shame we can't get flip up lights...
Youre not missing anything. I had a 99TA with both headlight motors burning out and clicking. PITA to replace and the only one worth anything is made by Brent Franker which is a solid piece of machined brass.
IMO it's just one more thing that will break.

[mike5215@bellsouth.n]

Yeah, back when the only headlight shapes were round, and rounder, the only way to avoid the "eyeball" look was to hide the lamp assembly entirely. Today, the configurations and style of headlamps are infinite, so there's no reason to hide them.

[rawmar]

Every single Retro-like design I have seen, including the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger, look like CRAP, Build a new car people, not something that looks 30-40 years old!

-Dennis

[QuickSilverTiger]

Every single Retro-like design I have seen, including the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger, look like CRAP, Build a new car people, not something that looks 30-40 years old!

-Dennis

I understand how you feel, but look at it this way...I think there is something to be said for "retro" design. I think that retro takes you back to when you first looked at cars and said "WOW"!!!

For many people the feeling is the same "WOW" feeling they had when they were younger. It is a way psychologically for people to reach back to simpler times, when they may have gone to the races with their parents, or went to a cruise-in, or went to the car lot with their Parents for the first time...looked at all those shiny cars, and saw their first sports car.

I'm sure they were like I was, saying..."when I have the chance, I'll have one some day". Well now we have the chance to have "ours", and maybe it's just a case of wanting to bring the past to present times, and having a retro can help give them that feeling.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe I'm way off base. Just a personal observation.

[highperf]

I understand how you feel, but look at it this way...I think there is something to be said for "retro" design. I think that retro takes you back to when you first looked at cars and said "WOW"!!!

For many people the feeling is the same "WOW" feeling they had when they were younger. It is a way psychologically for people to reach back to simpler times, when they may have gone to the races with their parents, or went to a cruise-in, or went to the car lot with their Parents for the first time...looked at all those shiny cars, and saw their first sports car.

I'm sure they were like I was, saying..."when I have the chance, I'll have one some day". Well now we have the chance to have "ours", and maybe it's just a case of wanting to bring the past to present times, and having a retro can help give them that feeling.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe I'm way off base. Just a personal observation.

3/4 of the people that are doing all the WoWing today never even owned one of those old cars when they were younger. It's cool to be retro and in to be cool, that’s why everyone "has to have it" not because they actually owned one when they young. Or have memories of their families going to the dealer.

"Liking" the retro thing is fine nothing wrong with it, not my thing but it's cool cause it's cars.

The whole thing with people remembering these cars from their youth is crap, not in volumes at least. It's kind of like the opposite of voting for Nixon, Nobody voted for him but he won in one the biggest landside victories ever.

[Longtaddy]

I think GM is taking the criticism about the GTO retro styling too seriously! The rendering that is included here looks a lot like the the GM bodies from the late 60's. Cars don't need to be retro! Not that it looks bad, it's just that we've been there and done that!! I hope they take a cue from the reactions posted here on the G-8 which looks great!

[RobertHammen]

FYI, the illustrations here aren't from GM... just some fanboy "concepts" of what they think Pontiacs in general, and the GTO in particular, should look like...

[04 Impulse]

to each his own but all i say is this could work:
http://ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attachment id=43628&stc=1&d=1158980305
have to do more with the hood as well, but...

yes that is a bad photochop and yes this conversation is for nothing.

This would look much better, there are a few other areas that need some tweeking as well, but this nose would look much nicer in production.

[WI-GTO]

Looks more like a retro TransAm. Cool.

[longhornbsbll15]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/naias/pontiacria/image s/G-TO2.jpg

I got Wood!

I love it. They should make it available with a zl-1 package-Supercharged LS9 pushing 600hp. GOO!

[Jontall]

I'd buy that GTO.

[SStolen]

Every single Retro-like design I have seen, including the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger, look like CRAP, Build a new car people, not something that looks 30-40 years old!

-Dennis

+1... they would have to have some originality then, and we know that doesn't come cheap. they would also have to get a new name which are hard to come by as well.
:gr_devil:

[Pro GTO]

I've got to chime in here. I've been hearing the for/against arguments on retro styling and it seems no one is seeing the underlying philosophy behind this trend.

The cars of the early 70s were the last gasp of styling from Detroit, and nothing came along for the next 20 years or so to wake things up. Sure, the C4 Vette was ok, nothing great but it was ok. The third gen F-bodies were spartan at best. Really the only thing I saw back in those days that impressed me were the Grand National and the late 80s Mustang GT's with the ground effects package. What else was out there? Nothing. The big three shipped some boring stuff, and a lot of it should have resulted in a massive class-action suit on the grounds they sold junk.

What if GM and the rest had kept the 60s designs and held on to them until some worthy technology came out? What if the LS motors hit back in the early 70s? What if modern crash worthiness had been implemented back then? You'd have cars that look just like the new Camaro, Mustang, etc. The Corvette didn't stand still in all that time but I think that its somewhat with the C5 but mostly the C6 that GM caught back up to the pre-Stingray styling of the C2 Vette.

Now, we're going to forget that everything in the past 30 years happened. No chunky bumpers, no square lamps, no air pumps, no 55mph limit. Its the new wave of automotive design. With the retro styling movement entering full swing, its like they are saying "We screwed up and now its time to reset things."

People are going to complain about design no matter what. The new TBird came out and people said it didn't look like a TBird. The GTO came out and people complain it looks nothing like a GTO. It does look like an overinflated Cavalier to some people, or a sport version of a big coupe, which is right in line with what Mike said several posts above - take a mundane sedan and make it a fast beeyatch. Of course, no one saw that and people were angry. The new Mustang looks so much like a Mustang that people were angry. The Charger doesn't look like a Charger, and it seems to completely avoid looking like the Charger Concept, and that makes people angry (including me).

Now we'll have a new Camaro and new Challenger, and it looks like a 1-2 punch for the domestics. Of course, people are angry.

[RobertHammen]

One of the reasons for the retro/heritage styling trend is not because U.S. makers screwed up their designs (well, the box-on-wheels 70's/early 80's, and the bulbous/aero later 80's/90's might not go down as the greatest in history). It goes to two issues:

a) middle-age and older baby boomers wanting to recapture their youth, AND
b) it gives them a competitive advantage over Honda/Toyota/Nissan/Hyundai et. al. Those companies can't come out with "heritage" designs because, either they weren't around then, or what they produced then was crap (who pines for a 1977 Honda CVCC?).

The New Beetle and the Thunderbird (which looked like the first-gen from the 50's, not the big coupe of the late 80's/early 90's that most people were familiar with) started the trend, and on it goes...

I have said this before, but I feel GM did a good job of mixing heritage (1969) and futuristic (i.e. Caddy knife-edge) styling cues with the Camaro Concept, not just cloning the old car (like DaimlerChrysler did with the 1970 Challenger)...