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We Got Their Goat February 2, 2004 The Pontiac GTO became an instant legend when it set new parameters of street performance in 1964. Now Pontiac has brought the legend back with an all-new GTO for 2004, a car that integrates exciting straight line performance with a sophisticated chassis and suspension tuned to deliver a new standard of driving sophistication on BFGoodrich® g-Force T/A®KDWS tires. A rear-drive car like the earlier GTOs, the 2004 GTO shares a six-speed manual transmission with the Corvette, with an optional four-speed automatic. Power is the aluminum 5.7-liter LS1 V8 rated at 350 HP and tuned for maximum torque, for 5.3-second 0-to-60 times and quarter mile times under 14 seconds. "There's no doubt that outstanding power and launch feel was the priority for this vehicle right from the start," explains Dave Himmelberg, GTO program engineering manager. "The original GTO was the standard bearer of its class in terms of power — and that's exactly the standard we set for ourselves when developing the modern version. "Anyone who drives this vehicle is going to know it's a GTO from the moment they turn the key and press that accelerator and hear that throaty Pontiac exhaust note — this car will definitely push you back in your seat." Himmelberg says the BFGoodrich® g-Force T/A®KDWS tire was chosen as exclusive original equipment because it was the right tire for what Pontiac wanted the GTO to be. "We needed an all-season tire," Himmelberg says, "and we wanted as much rubber on the road as possible. Our ride and handling engineers tried the BFGoodrich® g-Force T/A® KDWS and thought it was superior to any of the other tires we tested in overall ride and handling and in on-center feel. Overall, the tire is very well matched to the car and powertrain." "The tire really grips the road well under transient maneuvers," Himmelberg says. "Besides providing the all-season capability that we needed, the 245 size fills up the wheel well, and we really liked that, too." BFGoodrich® tires are also exclusive original equipment on the new 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Comp G. Photo courtesy Pontiac |
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