NEW-GEN GOAT - BOSTON ACOUSTICS TEAMS UP WITH GRAVANA TUNING TO TURN PONTIAC'S UNDERPERFORMING GTO INTO THE CAR IT COULD HAVE BEEN

摘要

In 2004 Pontiac returned a fabled nameplate to the U.S. market, the legendary GTO. First introduced in 1964 and generally recognized as the first true American muscle car by the purists who define these things, the GTO marked an era in which increasingly large pushrod V8s were stuffed into smaller and lighter cars. The results were predictable: faster and faster cars, most capable of running from zero to 60 mph in about six seconds and covering a quarter mile in less than 15 seconds. And while they were quick in a straight line, the combination of 60 percent of their weight hanging over the front axle combined with bias ply tires and marginal brakes conspired to insure that on a twisty road comparatively underpowered European sports cars like the Jaguar XKE and Porsche 356 would show them their taillights. Into this vacuum, Holden in Australia built the new LS1-powered GTO on one of the few rear-wheel-drive platforms in the worldwide GM product portfolio Quickly establishing itself as a competent performer, the GTO offers BMW M3 performance and handling at a bargain price but lacks one important element - an exterior design as exciting as the mechanical package. And the GTO had the misfortune of being introduced a scant year before Ford's all-new Mustang here in the United States, As a result, sales have met less than half of GM's original expectations.