PONTIAC CONFIRMS GTO PRODUCTION
"The Great One" will return to U.S. highways in late 2003 when General Motors and its Australian subsidiaries, Holden, begin production of a modern version of the legendary Pontiac GTO. Beginning with the 2004 model year, up to 18,000 GTOs will be produced annually at Holden's Elizabeth plant for sale in the United States. Bob Lutz, chairman of GM's North American Operations, was a key player in bringing back the GTO. After he drove the Holden Monaro during a recent trip to Australia, he knew he had found a vehicle to serve as the basis for the new GTO. "I love driving this car," Lutz said, raving about the Monaro's 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed manual transmission. "It shares that V8 heritage and a brawny, muscular stance with the classic GTO, and it will make a fine flagship for Pontiac."