2004 GTO's styling certainly isn't aggressive. But let's put the body
lines into context. The car on which this new GTO is based, GM's
Holden Monaro built in Australia, was a styling concept for the
1998 Sydney motor show. Sketched on paper by Holden staffers
during off hours without approval by production management.
One might think the concept was inspired by the 1994-98 Mustang
GT if you were to park both cars side by side...


GM needed a MuscleCar or PonyCar platform to replace the Firebird.
A perfect competitor for the Mustang GT and SVT Cobra. The Monaro fit the template of what a GTO should be better
than any other vehicle in GM's current global lineup. It's rear wheel drive, it's relatively  inexpensive, and it's already
designed to accept a 350hp Chevy small block LS1 V8 and six speed tranny...and a perfect blank canvas for the
aftermarket! what other GM cars fit that description? Nothing! GM scrambled to fit the new GTO into the wide open
performance market, and in 2004, the GTO was hitting the streets, and clicking off 13 second 1/4 mile times on tracks all
around the U.S. Critics raved about performance, but trashed styling, and the following year GM listened with the
production of a much nastier GTO...

2005 GTO was a whole new refined beast! Even more performance with the 400hp LS2 6.0L engine, continued over
6-speed manual gear-box, and new, more aggressive styling. With 12 second 1/4 mile times, the new GTO was smoking
everything on the street. The only cars that were showing up for a rural Saturday night Street Fight was the supercharged
4.6L 2003-04 SVT Cobra Mustangs (codename: Terminator) to represent and keep the Ford name respected... honestly
these were the only factory cars in its class or market that had a chance against the new LS2 powered 6.0L GTO
monsters...

2006 model was another year of the same exciting Pontiac GTO, critics were now raving about GTO's brawnier styling,
European inspired posh interiors and same eye-ball flattening performance. But it would be the last. With GM struggling
with a frugal market, high gas prices and an economy near recession, Pontiac put the axe to GTO, and a couple years
later, General Motors would close shop on Pontiac all together. Internet rumors have surfaced about a new production
from GM-Holden, but we'll just have to wait and see the success of the 2010 Camaro...
GM delivers the goods with 2004, 2005-06 GTO power!