How A lot Horsepower Does A 2006 Pontiac GTO 6.0 Have?

Simply because a automobile model goes the way in which of the dinosaur doesn’t suggest that it may possibly’t be fondly remembered for years after. Take, as an example, Pontiac, which rose to prominence all through the twentieth century underneath the Normal Motors umbrella after beginning out underneath Oakland Motor Automotive within the Twenties. It got here to mild in 2009 that GM was retiring the model, shifting focus primarily to Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. With that, Pontiac was a factor of the previous by 2010. However, there are a number of traditional Pontiac automobiles we would wish to see make a comeback sometime, with the Pontiac GTO deservedly amongst them. 

These trend-setting luxurious automobiles first hit the streets within the early Nineteen Sixties, with 2004-2006 serving as the ultimate years of the GTO — technically a tweaked model of a Holden Monaro at that time. The 2005 and 2006 fashions packed a 6.0L LS2 V8 engine with tons of grunt. Within the horsepower division, the Pontiac GTO 6.0 engine would not disappoint: it clocks in at 400 horsepower, with 400 lb-ft of torque in addition. With this engine, the ’06 GTO has been recognized to go 0-60 mph in underneath 5 seconds.

All of that’s to say the 6.0 may give a few of probably the most highly effective Pontiac engines ever constructed a run for his or her cash by way of sheer energy. Nonetheless, how did it stack up in opposition to its direct predecessor, the 2004 GTO?

The Pontiac GTO grew to become acknowledged because the automobile that launched the Nineteen Sixties muscle automobile growth, but it surely modified rather a lot by the point its ultimate yr of gross sales rolled round. The fifth era, which kicked off in 2004 — a whopping 30 years after the fourth unceremoniously wrapped up its run — took on a extra fashionable design sensibility. It has a smoother, much less angular physique and resembles extra of a sedan than a muscle automobile. It will not be amongst the best trying Pontiac fashions ever made, however do not let the look of this GTO idiot you. It displayed progress underneath the hood, with the 2004 GTO boasting a formidable engine that simply falls in need of that of the 2005 and 2006 mannequin.

The GTO’s massive comeback in 2004 was powered by a 5.7L LS1 V8 engine, which options some fairly respectable stats. This engine has 350 horsepower along with 365 lb-ft of torque. It has been recorded as going from 0-60 mph in simply 5.3 seconds, in keeping with MotorTrend. Evidently, these numbers pale compared to these put up by the 6.0 engine, but it surely does deserve some quantity of credit score. It laid the groundwork for the superior engine of future GTO fashions, paving the way in which for the automobile’s farewell.

Although it will not be probably the most spectacular or highly effective automobile Pontiac ever launched, the 2006 Pontiac GTO greater than has its deserves. It is marks the tip of an period, sending the GTO title using off into the sundown at nice pace with its spectacular LS2 V8 engine.

[Featured image by Jason Lawrence through Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]