Pontiac launched show car versions of the 2004 Holden Australia-built GTO at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. Production versions, not expected to differ except in detail, will be available in late 2003.
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“The public’s interest in the GTO has been everything we hoped it would be, and more,” said GM vice chairman of product development Bob Lutz.
The show cars arrived only seven months after GM announced it was bringing back the GTO.
Sporting a special high-gloss paint in red or yellow, the show cars have the Pontiac signature dual-port grille and ride on 18-inch alloy wheels.
The engine is a specially tuned LS1 5.7-litre aluminium block V8 putting out an estimated 340 horsepower at 5200rpm and 360 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm with an ‘appropriately tuned’ exhaust note.
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Sharing the same basic engine configuration with the base-level Chevrolet Corvette, the LS1 engine in the GTO has been modified with a high-lift camshaft and increased airflow induction to create greater horsepower and low-end torque than the Holden Monaro to address the needs of US drivers.
Either an electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission or the six-speed, close ratio manual transmission available on the Corvette ZO6 will be offered. Both transmissions feature the same low-geared 3.46 final drive axle ratio in a rear-wheel-drive configuration to maximise off-the-line performance, a limited slip differential, and a three-channel traction control system.
The production GTO is expected have a zero-to-60 acceleration time of less than 6 seconds and run the quarter-mile in approximately 14 seconds at a speed of 105 mph. The top speed of the vehicle is estimated to be about 160 mph.
Stopping power is supplied by power-assisted four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with a standard four-channel anti-lock braking system. Additional standard safety features include: dual front air bags, side air bags, three-point seat belt systems at all seating positions and an emergency mode, which automatically shuts down the engine, turns off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and turns on the interior light any time the air-bag system is deployed.
The GTO seats four adults in 2+2 bucket seats and US customers will choose between standard leather seats in black or colour-coordinated to several exterior colours. In addition, the colour-coordinated interior extends to the door panels and the instrument cluster.
A six-disc CD-changer with a premium 10-speaker sound system is standard, as is cruise control, a multi-function driver information centre and keyless entry.
Production of the 2004 Pontiac GTO is scheduled to begin in September 2003 at Holden’s Elizabeth plant. Up to 18,000 GTOs will be produced annually.
