Reclaiming a sporty image

STEVE ROBERTSON * photos@semissourian.com

An innovative interior in the new Grand Prix offers such features as fold down rear seats and a folding front passenger seat. The new Grand Prix, with its supercharged engine, can outrun the competition

"Get your motor runnin'. Head out on the highway. Lookin' for adventure and whatever comes our way É"

When Mars Bonfire penned those words for the famous 1968 Steppenwolf release "Born to be Wild," he very well could have been sitting in an earlier version of the Pontiac Grand Prix. Forty years ago American automakers dominated the market, and Pontiac controlled the sporty car niche. But times have changed.

The legendary Pontiac GTO, which kicked off the muscle-car market in 1964, disappeared 10 years later, while the Grand Prix soldiered on for nearly four decades. But as the imports got better, Pontiac lost some of its edge, especially when compared to more sophisticated foreign rivals. Determined to reclaim its sporting image, Pontiac offers the exciting new 2004 Grand Prix, a sleek, powerful, high-tech racer.

Many cars can spin their tires or make a lot of noise out their tail pipes. But how many can do zero to 60 in 6.5 seconds, or outrun more expensive European models on a twisty road course? The Grand Prix GTP, with its supercharged 3800cc engine can, and it will do it for less money than its competition, while still offering the amenities that Pontiac loyalists demand.

Amenities galore

Take the front passenger seat, for example. In the usual upright position it is a comfortable, side-bolstered, sports sedan seat. But pull a lever and the backrest folds fully forward, converting into a perfect workplace for a laptop. Consider the possibilities when you also fold down the rear seat to gain access to the luggage compartment. Now you have nine feet of unobstructed space! When was the last time you saw a ladder or a kayak inside your sports sedan? With the multitude of buttons and levers at your fingertips on the steering wheel you can not only control the audio and air conditioning, but also shift the transmission without taking your hands from the wheel!

I turned my 19-year-old daughter, Liz, who normally drives a relatively tame 140-horsepower Mustang, loose in the Grand Prix, thinking she'd come back gushing about the 260 horsepower supercharged V-6. But it was the high-tech stuff, not the brute power, which turned her on. "I love the heads-up display," she said. "And those gauges are so cool." Indeed, the three large circular dials in front of the driver are very neat. When you engage the starter they suddenly come alive and swing through their entire arcs, from left to right, and then settle down to their normal indications. It's exciting to watch. And the heads-up display projects your speed and other pertinent information on the bottom of windshield directly in front of you. There's a little control button on the console that allows you to "steer" the information up, down, left or right on the windshield.

A sporting bent

The Grand Prix we tested is the top of the line GTP, a $25,860 model boasting 20 more horsepower than the 2003 model, thanks to an improved supercharger and other tweaking. There are also two models without the supercharger -- the GT1, at $21,670, and the GT2 at $23,660, both using the same 200 horsepower engine from 2003. No slouches, they can run from zero to 60 in 8.5 seconds. About 75 percent of Grand Prix buyers are expected to get the 200-horsepower GT2 versions.

But to give the likes of BMW a run for its money you'll need more than either the GT1 or the GT2 offers. So Pontiac offers the $1,395 Competition Group option, which includes traction control, stiffer suspension, a lower final drive ratio, wider tires running on larger 17-inch wheels, improved steering, and TAPshift (Touch Activated Power) manual shift control of the automatic transmission via paddles on the steering wheel. Combined with the supercharged engine in the GTP, this Pontiac is ready for the racetrack. In fact, when compared against the BMW 330I, the Audi A6 3.0, the Jaguar S-Type 3.0 and 17 other competitive vehicles at the International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., the Grand Prix was the overwhelming leader.

All performance-oriented cars have stiff suspensions, and the Grand Prix is no different. You expect a supercharged car to deliver eye-popping acceleration, and this Pontiac doesn't disappoint. When you mash the accelerator from a standstill the electronically controlled throttle sends gobs of tire-squealing power to the pavement, but the traction control system assures that power is well used. Acceleration is quick. Cornering is superb, with little body lean. Enter a corner fast, add power, and the front wheel drive pulls you through with no noticeable torque steer. The chassis is taut; the body is tight and rattle-free. The engine is flawless, and the transmission shifts were quick and perfectly spaced.

Cape GMC/Pontiac holds the title to this black beauty, and they tell me that GM has up to $3,750 in rebates for qualified customers. That is exciting!

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian.