GM Launch Pontiac Monaro in LA

General Motors has revealed show car versions of the Holden Monaro-based Pontiac GTO coupe at the Los Angeles motor show last week ahead of its December 2003 launch.

The 5.7-litre, V8-powered rear drive GTO is "the rebirth of a legend," according to Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of product development. Lutz, who first sampled the Holden Monaro on a trip to Australia in February 2002, said the Pontiac GTO plays an especially large role in Pontiac's plans for North America.

"This car is a strong statement from both Pontiac and GM that we are determined to re-energize the car market with vehicles that command attention and excite the customer's senses."

General Motors confirmed it would import the Australian designed and built Holden Monaro to North America as the 'reborn' Pontiac GTO in June 2002. It is scheduled for the 2004 model year, sales beginning in December 2003. The GTO is based on the Holden Monaro, and is the result of an additional $60million investment by Holden to customise it for US consumption. Major changes include the relocation of the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle, engine and transmission modifications, and unique Pontiac styling.

Pontiac first built the GTO in 1964, selling more than 500,000 in the ten years before production ended. The 1964 GTO is often credited with inspiring the term 'muscle car.'

"We considered bringing the GTO back a number of times, but we never had the right product," said Pontiac general manager Lynn Myers. "We knew it had to be a V8, rear-wheel drive and offer outstanding performance, but, until GM's leadership team looked at the Holden Monaro, nothing really fit."

The Monaro has been a major success in Australia for Holden since it launched in December 2001, and was updated in December 2002 with a new dashboard and interior. Roughly 4750 Monaros were sold in Australia in 2002, though that number is expected to drop in 2003. Holden has committed to building 20,000 Monaro/GTO coupes in annually, with the USA taking the balance once Australia's relatively small volume has been accounted for.

GTOs shown at last week's Los Angeles show are not production specification, though they are extremely close. For example, the production car will ride on 17inch wheels and tyres, not the 18inch examples on the show car.

The GTO's engine is the Monaro's 5.7-litre, aluminium block V8 engine, retuned for 253kW (340hp) and 488Nm of torque. Changes to the induction and exhaust systems, and fitment of a high-lift camshaft have increased peak power and torque over the Australian version, also moving it further down the rev range. General Motors said the changes to the Monaro's engine - which is a US-sourced engine in the first place - are necessary "to address the needs of US drivers".

In addition, the GTO gets the Corvette's close ratio six-speed manual gearbox, which features a shorter first and second gear for improved off the line performance. The manual 'box also includes a 'skipshift,' which forces the gear lever to go from 1st to 4th during low throttle inputs, in order to meet California's strict CAFE emission regulations.

Automatic versions of the Pontiac GTO have four ratios, though unlike the Australian automatic, the final drive ratio is the same as the manual. A limited slip differential and traction control system are standard on both.

At this stage none of the changes done for the Pontiac GTO program are scheduled to be included on the Australian Monaro, though Holden does not rule out the possibilities.