The GTO in Pontiac GTO stands for gran turismo omologato, which is an Italian term indicating a car is built to specifications can be driven in competitive racing. According to The Huffington... The GTO in Pontiac GTO stands for gran turismo omologato, which is an Italian term indicating a car is built to specifications can be driven in competitive racing. According to The Huffington Post, former General Motors executive John DeLorean named the car in homage to a Ferrari model. Continue Reading