Artist Imagines A Modern Day Pontiac GTO Based On The Buick Regal GS
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The Pontiac GTO went out of production back in 2006 following a brief three-year resurgence that was spearheaded by former GM North America Chairman Bob Lutz. The chances of the Pontiac GTO coming back are zero, with GM discontinuing the Pontiac brand way back in 2010, but enthusiasm for the iconic muscle car nameplate still remains high among General Motors enthusiasts.
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A digital rendering artist on Instagram recently used his talents to try and envision what a current-day recreation of the Pontiac GTO might look like. He envisions this fictitious new GTO as being based on the E2XX platform and sharing many parts with the Buick Regal GS, such as the headlights and front intake vents. Unlike the Buick Regal, though, the GTO is a two-door coupe and incorporates unique touches like a split two-segment Pontiac grille, the wheels from a Chevy Camaro ZL1 and a vented hood with an integrated GTO Judge-style tachometer.
The artist also envisioned what this new Pontiac GTO would look like after receiving the full Pro Stock drag racing treatment, kitting it out with wide rear beadlock wheels shod in sticky drag slicks, skinny front wheels and tires and a V8 engine with a blower sticking through the hood. The massive ‘The Judge’ vinyl decal on the doors is also hard to miss.
While the Pontiac GTO is as dead as can be, it’s interesting to see that some members of the online car community are eager to see the nameplate return. The current Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger are great vehicles, but we wouldn’t complain if we had another option available in the way of a new GTO.
Let us know what you think of this modern-day Pontiac GTO rendering by voting or commenting below, readers.
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GTnO
Always thought GM should have borrowed Pontiac cues over at Chevrolet. We see the various Dodge Challenges so why not a Camaro Trans Am Special Edition (or for that matter a classed up sheets metal reskin for a Buick GNX based off Avista concept)? Why wasn’t the Pontiac G6 kept as a G6 as opposed to a Boomer SS with an ugly front fascia?
Nah I’m a Firebird guy.
A GTO would require Pontiac to return as a niche brand, maybe a G8 with a hybrid option as the volume model or even return the Torrent as a performance CUV.
I agree, GM should bring back Pontiac as a performance sub brand like how they did Hummer for GMC. As for that rendering, that’s no GTO as it is FWD/AWD which fits more to being a updated Grand Prix GT or GXP.
I’d have expected to read a couple dozen poison-posts about how insulting a FWD based GTO would be. Am I the only one who noticed the “based on the Buick Regal GS” part?
The 18th through 20 Buick regal GS was all wheel drive.
Mister Torque:
My words were: “..FWD ….BASED..”
The 5th Gen GTO was a good thought by Mr. Lutz, but simply using a rebadged Holden Monaro is a different story. The 60’s and 70’s were way ahead of my time, but it was during these years that the GTO cemented its legacy as one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time. When GM decided to bring it back in 2004, it should have been a one-off design and not simply a rebranded Australian buggy. I understand that not having to engineer, design and develop a special vehicle saves a manufacturer tons of money, but when you’re dealing with a legendary model, it should be common sense.
Yes GM did try to correct the looks by the 6th Gen, the problem was Pontiac defuncted by the time the stillborn ’10 GTO was to be introduced.
It’s long overdue. Make it a reality!!!!!
The Holden Monaro was a 100% owned and designed GM car based on the Chevy SS built in a GM owned factory. For those of you not yet convinced that this car was a worthy contender just google Bathurst, Holden, Supercars.
Rob the Chevy SS WAS a rebadged Holden Commodore SS not the other way around.
It seems like everyone would love Pontiac to return…except GM.
Steve Clinton:
” Everyone”? A handful of posts on an internet forum?
The last thing GM or the world needs is another auto brand. Especially one so narrowly focused.
Definitely creative, but no… I can still see the ugly orange interior lighting and big gray, plastic buttons lol
If it can replace my Chev SS I’d buy one If it meets or exceeds the quality of that SS?
rear wheel drive only.
If Buick were to die-off, it would be nice if Pontiac were to return (just a bunch of hype talk) the portfolio should start from the top down; GTO, Firebird and Solstice. The Sedans: Bonneville, Grand Prix and Grand Am . A possible Crossover: Vibe. but the vibe would have to be larger and would certainly have to be done right. Unfortunately, all of those vehicles would be electric, but once again, just fiction talk and no, imagination doesn’t have to be a crime.
The car is gorgeous and needed. But, I’m not sure youngsters would buy it if it was a Buick. I am a Buick lover and owner, but don’t know about the buyers of this car. Bringing back Pontiac is not a possibility. Don’t give up on the idea though.
R Lorey:
I’m curious why you think it’s “needed”?
Youngsters wouldn’t buy it regardless of brand. They don’t care about 1960s throwbacks.
Honda can pull this kind of car off with the Type-R. Mazda, adding power to a 3, could. The designer misuses the term muscle car.
Buick would have needed the Vauxhall/Opel tie-up + Holden, and a commitment to the idea, with Verano/variants not Regal. And with the last gen Cruze being focused as an economy/rental sedan. People don’t buy fwd based mid-size for performance.
I have an 06 gto and people always ask me about it they even ask me if I wanna sell it and I gave them a big fat no way I plan on keeping it for a long time
The Goat had its time and failed decades later. No need to bring it back to fail again. The demographic that would buy it are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s…and now driving Prius’s, Civic’s, and Camry’s.
Their great grandchildren in their 20s are more interested foreign turbos .
Leave the GTO and other famed logos die a historical death…
JMO
It would have been more than okay for Pontiac to have evolved into just sporty but nice front-drivers. They were the GM brand to most able to pull it off, pre-Aztek.
That rendering is hideous and DOA
I love it !!!!
Makes me think they should do a modern version of the GN or GNX.
It’s beautiful. Bring back Pontiac.
Had a 66 and a 68 GTO. Wish I still had the 68. Would be in the market for a remake. Keeping my ear to the ground.
Make it electric and that would be hot. 🔥🔥
I think if the Modern day GTO is brought back it should be designed from the ground up and this time put some high horse power in it. Start with 550 hp all the way up to 750 hp. Make a race versions with over 1200 hp. The GTO I remember in the 60’s and 70’s was a beast. And don’t leave out the performance exhaust. It had a sound of its own, you could hear it coming before you saw it. If you bring back the GTO, ground up redesigned with high HP.