Gearheads surely feel the void of a Pontiac GTO in today’s market, but we explain why the original muscle car should make a comeback in 2023.
The Pontiac GTO is one of the all-time great muscle cars and is widely considered by many gearheads as the original muscle car. Even to this day, collectors spend copious amounts of time trying to locate vintage Pontiac GTOs to add to their prized collections. The GTO was manufactured by Pontiac from 1963 to 1974, with many gearheads having a penchant for the early ‘70s models.
The GTO was the epitome of a muscle car and sports car all wrapped into one. It was a sad affair when GM shut down the Pontiac subdivision at the end of the 2000s due to the repercussions of the financial crisis.
Given that it is the start of a new year, it is certainly a fitting time for the GTO to make it’s much anticipated and needed comeback. We previously shared how artist Rostislav Prokop exclusively rendered a futuristic design of what a Pontiac GTO would look like today for Hotcars.
Well, given that it is the start of 2023. It is only fitting that we can once again dream of what this beast of a car would look and feel like if it went back into production.
The Powertrain Of A Modern 2023 Pontiac GTO Would Be A Beast
The designer Rostislav Prokop has turned a ‘70s model GTO into a futuristic-looking muscle car. While we can only imagine what the powertrain would look like, it is only fair that we equip this behemoth with an engine that truly does it justice. One thing is for sure, and that is that if this fantasy GTO was ever released, or a new GTO, then it would have to be packing heat, as anything else would be a tremendous let-down to any Pontiac lover out there and would be akin to the Pontiac GTO that was released in 2004.
One would surely envisage that under the hood, the GTO would be equipped with a 6.2 liter V8 which is of the Alpha 2 platform. This is the same engine that powers the current Chevy Camaro.
The Interior Would Rival That Of Any Muscle Car Today
While we all know that every gearhead only cares about the power that a new GTO would be able to generate, given that it is 2023, it would also need to have an interior that matches its power and its beautiful exterior lines and design.
If this GTO was to become a reality, the interior would be fitted with a mammoth 21-inch infotainment system with a plethora of options to keep even the most pedantic gearhead enthralled. The bucket seats would be in black or red leather as standard, and the thought of turning on the ignition would send chills down the spine of the GTO driver.
If the modern GTO was to become more eco-friendly like many of the contemporary muscle cars, then it could utilize the Ultium battery platform and the highly desirable E-Ray powertrain.
A New Pontiac GTO For 2023 Would Be A Gearhead’s Dream Come True
If a new Pontiac GTO was released in 2023, it would be imperative to keep enthusiasm levels high. The best way to achieve this would be to release only a few units in 2023, which would be followed up by an even smaller number in 2024. The GTO would make its triumphant return to sit on top of the pile as the king of the muscle cars.
As always, it would face strong competition in the form of Ford’s new Mustang model, and in particular, the Dark Horse iteration.
As good as the new Mustang looks and is set to perform, there is something that ensures that the GTO remains indelible in the back of gearhead’s minds, and we are certain that if a new GTO was ever released that it would find its niche in the Muscle car market of today. It is nearly indisputable that all models would be sold-out before production was even finalized, especially if numbers are limited, as per the suggestion in this article.
Overall, maybe gearheads the word over could start an online petition to GM to bring back the Pontiac GTO to give it the sendoff it deserved as the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO mostly disappointed diehard fans of the brand. Just thinking of this mountain of muscle cruising along Route 66 is enough to have gearheads salivating at the very thought of it. Another advantage of the release of the GTO is that it would create a whole new legion of advocates for the GTO and help keep the likes of Ford honest with their future muscle car iterations.
Well as Christmas has passed, let’s hope that as gearheads, we at least see one of our wishes coming through this year, and that is for a new GTO to be released in either 2023 or 2024.
