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Pontiac Grand Prix stands on a wide track for sporty action
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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ORANGE CITY, Fla. -- Pontiac revives Wide Track, the sporty broad-stance car concept from decades past, in the revamped mid-size coupe and sedan which bear a legendary name: Grand Prix.
Wide Track refers to the wide stance of Grand Prix's wheels, which stretch to outer limits of a rectangular plan. A head-on check of the aggressive prow reveals a profile with walls of tires extending to curvy sides of the body.
The wide stance of Grand Prix sets up a stable platform for the vehicle which, when combined with independent suspension and quick steering system, enables Grand Prix to perform well in road challenges like twisty chicanes and ripply curves.
Then mix into this equation a zesty supercharged engine for GT editions and Grand Prix becomes one sweet sportster.
A recent encounter with a current Grand Prix GT took place in Florida for a speedy cross-state dash from Daytona Beach to Orlando, following back routes and freeways to play with all of that supercharged energy.
From the outset with throttle-up on Speedway Boulevard at Daytona, this Pontiac promised automotive action as assertive in thrust as all of that curvy sheetmetal seems daring in design.
Climbing on I-4 on the outskirts of town, driver aims for the freeway's fast lane, and the car performs eagerly, displaying more than enough muscle to peg the speed limit.
More importantly, it produces solid sensations when lipping over pavement bumps and reacts quickly and athletically when asked to whip clear of slower traffic.
That broad stance, with wheels spread wide and thick tires canted to negative camber, creates a sensation of stability which feels secure and entirely agreeable.
As a bonus, the in-your-face design looks gorgeous.
Swoopy lines of the muscular front include bulging shoulders of wheelwells and low front fascias with foglamps shoved to outer edges of the low horizontal strip. A rakish windshield sets up a low arch roofline that's essentially the same for sedan or coupe.
Even bold side mirrors look racy: They're big but aerodynamically sculpted and pinned to body by dual stalks.
Grand Prix's slick skin conceals important ingredients which make it behave so lively, beginning with a safety cage whose underbody has extra longitudinal and cross-car bracing for extra rigidity and torsional stiffness when the vehicle moves down the road.
The unibody structure encases a passenger compartment with steel beams designed to absorb and deflect forces of impact, should the car connect with another in a crash.
Special engineering measures merge to create a cabin where road and engine noises are locked out, with road bumps and resultant vehicle vibrations dampened.
The concept extends even to Grand Prix's sport-sized steering wheel, due to the flexible coupling of a steering column which isolates harsh vibrations from the road so the driver won't absorb these shocks in hands and arms.
Still, the rack and pinion steering setup feels assertive and firm to handle.
To prevent a mushy steering reaction, designers added variable-effort power assistance through a device called Magnasteer, which uses magnetic torsion to raise or lower the degree of effort required to turn the steering wheel. At lower speed, as when parking, Magnasteer slackens pressure so the wheel turns easily, while at higher speed on a highway, pressure increases so only a slight movement of hands on steering wheel turns the car quickly.
In the power department, Grand Prix can be outfitted with three different engines.
Neck-kicker Grand Prix GT sedan and coupe pack the supercharged 3.8-liter V6 as an ultimate option. It races to 240 hp with redline pegging at 6000 rpm.
The supercharged engine comes in a special GTP performance kit that also applies a heavy-duty automatic transmission with Normal or Performance shift modes, plus sport suspension settings, a decklid spoiler and speed-rated tires mounted on 16-inch aluminum wheels.
The 3.8-liter V6 engine without forced air induction of the supercharger serves as standard plant in GT sedan or coupe, spiking at 195 hp.
Then, as an economical alternative, Grand Prix's base SE sedan stocks a 3.1-liter V6 rated at 160 hp.
An automatic 4-speed transmission links to each V6, with no option for a manual shifter.
Grand Prix's interior layout orients toward an active type of driver.
Twin front bucket seats stand in front of a bench that's made for three but best for two.
Driver's sporty bucket, firmly bolstered, faces a cockpit rigged with easy-to-see instruments.
Analog gauges, which glow in red light at night, evolve around a bold speedometer and tachometer. A standard graphic module displays information such as door-ajar, low tire pressure and low oil pressure.
Pontiac's head-up display, optional on all models, projects the car's speed, expressed digitally in a soft green glow, on the windshield in front of driver's field of view. Other data also appear when desired -- directional signal, high beam headlamp, low fuel condition, radio tuning, even information about operation of a CD player.
Consoles on floor and ceiling add controls, including handy dual map lights overhead.
The ceiling console contains a power outlet -- ideal plug for a high-mount radar detector to prevent the cord from dangling down the dash.
Safety systems in place across the board for Grand Prix include anti-lock brakes, traction control and the depowered front airbags. With safety cage surrounding the passenger compartment, extra steel bracing fills side door cavities, and the front and rear bumpers will withstand an impact of 5 mph without structural damage.
Rear doors of the sedan use child-proof locks, and an integrated kiddy safety seat is available optionally.
Current pricing for the SE sedan holds below $20,000, with the GT going for $21,000.
1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SEDAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SEDAN Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size sports coupe, sedan |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size sports coupe, sedan |
| Wheelbase: |
110.5 inches |
| Overall Length: |
196.5 inches
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| Engine Size: |
OHV 3.1-L V6
OHV 3.8-L V6
OHV 3.8-L V6 SC
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
3.8: 19/30 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 19,350 to $ 26,000 |
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