GM Got the Memo: 2009 Pontiac Firebird

[Pontiac Ninja]

Quote:

GM, Pontiac. The GTO will be be discontinued at the end of this model year, with the last deliveries arriving at dealers by the end of September. The reasons behind the GTO's demise are many, but ultimately it came down to the fact that the architecture that the car is based on (from GM's Holden division in Australia) is going out of production in preparation for the company's newly revised ZETA RWD program. The GTO was one of the first things that Bob Lutz did to jump-start the Pontiac Division when he came on board at GM. Even though the plan was well-intentioned, the GTO suffered from unfair comparisons to the original GTO (not that any of the hard-core GTO enthusiasts could actually define what a modern GTO should look like), among other things, but the biggest problem for the car from our perspective was that it just cost too much money. If GM could have brought the car in for the mid-$20,000 range at intro, it would have taken off, big time. We made no bones about the fact that we loved the GTO, and the plain looks of the car never bothered us. After all, the original was a Pontiac Tempest with dog-dish hub caps and a couple of fake scoops in the hood, about as bland of a car as you could get back then. But the proof of the original was in the performance, just like the current GTO, which, if you haven't driven one you're missing out, because it is simply a blast to drive. The current car also has one of GM's finest interiors, and we find the overall package to be outstanding, which is why we called the GTO our Autoextremist "High-Performance Value of the Year." The retirement of the GTO presents a real quandary for the Pontiac Division, as the GTO is really the only other car besides the Solstice that is true to the brand's mission within GM's divisional structure. Pontiac had a narrow window of opportunity with the car, but now that's gone, which is a shame. So if you like RWD high-performance, you owe it to yourself to check out the GTO before it disappears. And by the way, Pontiac enthusiasts shouldn't give up on the brand just yet, as there is a RWD performance car coming for the division. After the new Camaro makes its street debut as a 2008 model, watch for an all-new Pontiac Firebird to debut 12 months later as a 2009 model. You read it here first.

Source:
http://www.autoextremist.com/page6.shtml#table

The info at the above link changes weekly. DeLorenzo, the webmaster, has long-time connections inside GM.

All the rumors and news are starting to come together. I think this may just happen yet!!

[doodad]

l think firebirds are history anymore.. l dont believe these comments..

[Pontiac Ninja]

Originally Posted by doodad

l think firebirds are history anymore.. l dont believe these comments..

Mr. Luos will say the same, and thats fine. This link is like 8 pages deep already at gminsidenews.com also. Things are looking more like reality for this to happen, though, and that's my point!

[FormulaForce]

Cool, this is good news. Now if only it doesn't look dorky. GM is fixing to lose it's collective ass to foreign competitors like toyota anyway, they need to come up with something tasty or it will only get worse for them. Hopefully it will be LS2 or LS6 powered and 400+hp, it will have to be to compete with the Challenger and Mustangs.

[1FASTws6]

Not happening. The firebird was put to a rest in 2002 and probably will never come back. Everybody wants the to bring them back but we have to be realistic. This is all BS media hype.

[CWW17]

Not entirely... the TRANS AM name was put to rest in 2002, not the firebird.

[NineEightxFirebird]

why are they getting rid of the GTO already? Not selling enough or what

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by NineEightxFirebird

why are they getting road of the GTO already? Not selling enough or what

Bingo.
It hasn't sold anything close to what any one of the 98+ F-Body's sold. Meaning I am very surprised the GTO made it this far.

I still can't see a new Firebird. Believe me, I am all for it. But GM will fuck it up.

[97cavalier]

they messed up with the gto because they had NO options what so ever, i know it is a "gto" and should have a good power plant, but they should have a good v6 option to lower cost and for your daily driver. And they did not desing it well at all. The should taken a extera year and desing it better.

[Pontiac Ninja]

Originally Posted by NineEightxFirebird

why are they getting rid of the GTO already? Not selling enough or what

In the first post it explains very well about its demise also. Did you read that?!?!

[tri-power]

Aren't you the same guy they chased out of the GTO forums?

BTW why would Pontiac ditch the GTO? Since leaving NASCAR, they have taken the GTO out to other types of racing from drag to road racingto drifting and have been racking up wins and championships. Honestly the car is the best thing to happen to pontiac in a while.

Don't hold your breath waiting for this.

[Mr. Luos]

GM has officially announced that the GTO is no more.

[doodad]

guys...

l read on a forum web site.. guys were being so happy and they were saying, ford proved itself with 03-04 cobras to f-bodies and to vettes..

so if GM would make a 400+ hp. trans am or whatever u say, that time cobra owners would cryy!!! (l wouldnt give a damn.. l dont have these kind of complexes )

Erdal

[Mr. Luos]

I will argue that point tomorrow morning when I am sober.

[Formyla]

The end of GTO was planned at the start.
It is an imported car and because of the Unions they are only allowed to import it 3 years....

Now why the import companys dont have these restrictions I dont know. May be GM's union?