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The 2006 Pontiac GTO is an Australian-made GM car. It was manufactured by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden at Elizabeth, South Australia, and was the fifth generation of the GTO, which was first launched in 1963. The 2006 model was the last of the GTO line, with GM halting imports due to the inability to meet new airbag deployment standards. The car was built using the chassis of the Australian Holden Monaro sport coupe, which was derived from the GM Opel Omega from Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GM |
| Model | Pontiac GTO |
| Year | 2006 |
| Engine | 6.0 L, 400 hp (300 kW) |
| Transmission | Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed automatic, Tremec T56 six-speed manual |
| Drive | Rear-wheel |
| Assembly | GM's Holden subsidiary, Elizabeth, South Australia |
| Chassis | Holden Monaro sport coupe |
| Weight | 415 lbs. less than the 2008 Challenger, 124 lbs. less than the 2010 Camaro SS |
| Length | 198.8 inches |
| Width | 1.4 inches narrower than the 2006 Mustang |
| Colours | Spice Red Metallic, Brazen Orange Metallic, Fusion Orange, Spice Red |
| Production Numbers | 13,948 |
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What You'll Learn
The 2006 Pontiac GTO was manufactured in Australia
The 2006 Pontiac GTO was indeed manufactured in Australia. It was produced by GM in collaboration with GM Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary. The car was assembled at the Holden Elizabeth plant in South Australia.
The 2006 GTO was the final model year of the fifth generation of the Pontiac GTO, which was manufactured from 2004 to 2006. This generation of the GTO was based on the Holden Monaro, a two-door coupe variant of the Holden VX Commodore. The Monaro was transformed into the GTO with relatively few changes, including a switch to left-hand drive and some regulatory refits.
The decision to base the 2004-2006 GTO on the Holden Monaro was made by Bob Lutz, the powerful product boss at General Motors from 2001 to 2009. Lutz saw the potential for a rear-drive, V8-powered sedan in the Australian VX platform, which aligned with Pontiac's focus on performance. Lutz also pushed for the importation of the Holden Monaro coupe to be sold in the American market, resulting in the creation of the 2004 Pontiac GTO.
The 2006 GTO featured several updates, including revised blacked-out tail lamps, illuminated steering wheel radio controls, faster-power seat motors, and an interior power door lock switch. It was equipped with a 6.0 L engine producing 400 horsepower. Despite its performance capabilities and sophisticated design, the 2006 GTO faced challenges in meeting GM's sales expectations due to factors such as pricing and competition.
Overall, the 2006 Pontiac GTO, with its Australian origins, represents a significant chapter in the evolution of this classic American muscle car.
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It was built by GM's Holden subsidiary
The 2006 Pontiac GTO was built by GM in Australia, using the chassis of the Australian Holden Monaro sport coupe. The Holden Monaro coupe was transformed into the first Pontiac to wear GTO badges since 1974. The car was assembled by GM's Holden subsidiary in Elizabeth, South Australia.
The 2006 GTO was the last of its kind, with GM halting imports of the model in September of that year. The final production numbers of the 2006 Pontiac GTO amounted to 13,948 cars, an increase from 11,069 vehicles from the previous model year. The last Pontiac GTO came off the assembly line in Australia on June 14, 2006.
The Holden Monaro was derived from the GM Opel Omega from Germany. The Corvette engines and transmissions used in the GTO were built in the United States and shipped to Australia for installation. The GTO design involved more than 450 changes to the Monaro, engineered by a team from GM's North American operations.
GM's Holden subsidiary in Australia was known for producing high-performance vehicles, and the GTO was no exception. The car was praised for its performance and handling, with a powerful V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. It offered excellent value for money in the modern muscle car world and had the potential to become a classic.
Bob Lutz, the chairman of General Motors at the time, was a key figure in the development of the 2006 GTO. He advocated for importing a re-badged version of the Holden Monaro coupe to be sold in the American market. Lutz recognised the potential of the Australian VX platform for Pontiac, which was rebuilding its image as GM's performance division.
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The car's base price for 2006 was $32,995
The 2006 Pontiac GTO was the last of its kind. GM announced that it would halt imports of the GTO in September 2006, making it the final model year for the car. The 2006 model was manufactured by GM's Australian subsidiary, Holden, and was priced at $32,995.
The 2006 model was the fifth generation of the GTO, with the previous four generations being produced from 1963 to 1974 in the United States. The car was a two-door, four-passenger automobile with a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine. It was rear-wheel drive and had an independent suspension.
The 2006 GTO featured some notable changes from the previous year's model, including revised blacked-out tail lamps, illuminated steering wheel radio controls, faster-power seat motors, and an interior power door lock switch. The car had a sporty look, with 17-inch alloy wheels, a spoiler, and leather seats.
The GTO was known for its performance, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under five seconds and a quarter-mile time of around 13 seconds. It was also quite large, with a total length of 198.8 inches. The car had mixed reviews, with some criticising its conservative looks and others praising its understated styling.
Today, used 2006 Pontiac GTOs are available for sale at various price points, ranging from $17,995 to $26,995. The average selling price on CARFAX is $22,836, while the average CARFAX History-Based Value is $19,785.
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It was the last GTO in history
The 2006 Pontiac GTO was the last GTO in history. It was produced in Australia by GM's subsidiary Holden. The 2006 model was the culmination of the fifth and final generation of the GTO, which was first manufactured and marketed by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1963 to 1974 in the United States.
The revival of the GTO in 2004 was initiated by GM North America Chairman Bob Lutz, who advocated for a re-badged, imported version of the Holden Monaro coupe to be sold in the American market. The Holden Monaro was a two-door coupe variant of the Holden Commodore, developed in Australia. The 2004 GTO was the first Pontiac to bear the GTO badge since 1974, and it was initially priced at around $25,000. However, due to the appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar, the price rose to over $30,000, impacting sales.
The 2006 GTO featured a unique exterior design, blending style and performance. It had a long slanted hood, a typical Pontiac grille, round fog lights, and skinny headlights. The rear end was wide and short, a characteristic feature of muscle cars at the time. The interior of the 2006 GTO was spacious and comfortable, accommodating four passengers. It included sporty gauges and comfortable seats with "GTO" stitched on them.
Under the hood, the 2006 GTO packed a 6.0-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This made it one of the most powerful cars in its class, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in around 5 seconds and reaching a top speed of approximately 180 mph. The car was available with either a four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
Despite its performance capabilities and unique design, the 2006 GTO was met with mixed reactions. Some criticized its conservative styling and lack of muscle car attitude. Additionally, the climbing Australian dollar pushed the car's price above the initial target, affecting its sales performance. On February 21, 2006, Buick-Pontiac-GMC General Manager John Larson announced that GM would halt imports of the GTO due to the inability to meet new airbag deployment standards for 2007. The last GTO ever produced rolled off the Holden Elizabeth plant assembly line in Australia on June 14, 2006, marking the end of an iconic American muscle car.
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The car was based on the Holden Monaro coupe
The 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO was produced in Australia and was based on the Holden Monaro coupe. The Holden Monaro was first introduced in 1968, with the HK Holden Monaro, which was a significant step forward for Holden in terms of classic American sports car styling. The HK Monaro was updated quickly to address performance improvements in the competition, making it highly sought after due to its high expense and limited production time of just eleven months.
The Holden Monaro was used as the basis for various concept cars and was utilised by several different brands, including HSV in Australia, Chevrolet in the Middle East, Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom, and Pontiac in North America. The Monaro name was chosen in 1967, derived from a region in New South Wales, Australia. The car was developed to help Holden win the Australian Touring Car Championship, including the Bathurst race.
The Holden Monaro coupe was transformed into the Pontiac GTO, marking the first time the GTO badges had been used since 1974. The Australian VX platform was ideal for Pontiac, which was rebuilding its image as GM's performance division. The Holden Monaro-based GTO was equipped with a 5.7-litre LS1 V8 engine, the same engine found in the Chevrolet Corvette. It offered a choice of a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
The 2006 Pontiac GTO featured revised blacked-out tail lamps, illuminated steering wheel radio controls, faster-power seat motors, and an interior power door lock switch. It was the last model year for the GTO, as GM halted imports due to the inability to meet new airbag deployment standards for 2007. The Holden Monaro-based GTO was well-regarded for its performance, handling, and functional and roomy interior, despite some criticism for its conservative styling.
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Frequently asked questions
The 2006 Pontiac GTO is a front-engine, rear-drive, two-door, four-passenger automobile. It was manufactured by GM's Australian subsidiary, Holden, from 2004 to 2006.
The 2006 GTO features a 400 hp (300 kW), 6.0 L engine, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds. It has a new taillight design with a gloss black background instead of red, and two new exterior colours: fusion orange and spice red.
GM halted imports of the GTO in 2006 due to the inability to meet new airbag deployment standards for 2007. The model also failed to meet sales expectations, with dealers complaining about the high price.
