Automobile magazine had a short blurb covering the changes found in the '05 GTO, this month. Interestingly, they suggest that one possible reason that the '04's failed to sell was that enthusiasts who remembered the 1st generation goats - particularly the late '60s models - refused to buy the new version since they lacked the visceral appeal i.e. in your face appearance, loud exhaust, etc. The magazine suggests that the new generation GTO would have sold better if it had been given a different name - maybe an entirely new one or one that is not tied to the legendary first generation GTO.
I doubt the magazine's claim but maybe there is a grain of truth to what they stated. If I had to pick a name for the americanized Monaro other than GTO, I would probably have chosen a long forgotten Pontiac model - the Can Am. It wasn't a particularly appealing car when it was introduced in 1977 but it did sell well and it conjures up images of Can Am vintage racing.
I doubt the magazine's claim but maybe there is a grain of truth to what they stated. If I had to pick a name for the americanized Monaro other than GTO, I would probably have chosen a long forgotten Pontiac model - the Can Am. It wasn't a particularly appealing car when it was introduced in 1977 but it did sell well and it conjures up images of Can Am vintage racing.
