Pontiac introduced the last generation of the Grand Prix in 2003 as a deluxe sport sedan with increased interior quality and a better suspension.
The Grand Prix lineup was born in 1962 in the muscle-car era and evolved as a personal luxury car, but had more in common with Pontiac Catalina. Over time, its designation in the Pontiac lineup changed and became just another sports sedan. By 2003, GM’s management decided not to offer the vehicle in a rental car spec. But that came with the cost of a drop in sales, which eventually led to the model disappearance in 2008 when the G8 replaced it for the four-door sedan and the GTO for the coupe version.

While it shared the same W-body platform from the third generation as its stablemates Chevrolet Impala/Monte Carlo and Buick LaCrosse, the Grand Prix looked sportier. Its split grille was very recognizable, while the big, triangular headlights resembled a pair of angry eyes. In the bumper, Pontiac installed wide fog lights on the outer section. The cab-rearward left the impression of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, even though it lost that feature since 1987 when the carmaker launched the fifth generation. Its sloped rear windscreen made the car looked more like a four-door coupe than a regular sedan.

Inside, the carmaker dropped the cheap plastic dashboard and door cards from its predecessor and installed Audi-like materials. Pontiac improved even details such as door handles, gear selector, steering wheel, and buttons. Pontiac left no stone unturned and replaced or improved 80% of the car over its predecessor.

Under the hood, Pontiac still used the old pushrod 3.8-liter V-6 as the base version, upgraded with the help of a supercharger for the GTP trim-level. Both were paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The 1997 edition of the car actually represents the sixth generation Pontiac Grand Prix which came with multiple exterior, interior and engine upgrades.
Assembled in Kansas City, Kansas, the new Grand Prix featured an entirely new look, including a redesigned front with new headlights, a two-section grille and circular fog beams, and a more aerodynamical body which adopted the same design line as other Pontiac models of that time. The engine line-up now included three variants, including a supercharged 3.8 V6 which was capable of releasing a maximum power of 240 hp, a top speed of 139.8 mph and a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in approximately 8.5 seconds.

Along with the sedan version of Pontiac Grand Prix, the Coupe underwent a facelift in 1996 which actually marked the beginning of the sixth generation of the car.
Both the sedan and the coupe had a completely new design, with a reshaped front based on restyled headlights as well as a new grille split into two parts which provide a more modern and stylish look. The front bumper has also been restyled, with circular fog beams and reshaped air intakes. The engines were upgraded as well, two engine configurations being now available for all the 1996 Coupes: a 3.8 V6 and a 3.8 V6 supercharged, which produced 200 and 240 horsepower respectively.

The Grand Prix was already a classic contender in the sport sedan market and was one of the carmaker’s best-selling products.
Pontiac was one of the most successful American car brands for decades. Models such as the Trans Am or the Grand Prix were on the sporty side of the brand. Starting with 1988, Pontiac installed the new front-wheel-drive W-Body 1st Gen platform shared with the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and the Chevrolet Lumina. Just two years after the car’s launch, Pontiac introduced a refreshed version for the four-door sports sedan.

The design team made the car’s front fascia with a tilted nose and narrow headlights. On the lower side of the bumper, Pontiac installed its specific split grille with a vertical slat in the middle. Its sides revealed a three-window profile with a large triangular glass area behind the rear doors. At the back, a flat trunk lid and corner-mounted taillights completed the car’s sporty look.

Inside, Pontiac dropped the digital instrument panel and installed an analog one with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, plus another four gauges for additional information. At the front, the Grand Prix featured two power-adjustable bucket seats.

Pontiac offered the four-door Grand Prix in two trim levels: LE or STE. The former was powered by a 2.3-liter inline-four, while the STE received a 140 hp 3.1-liter powerplant. Both versions sent their power to the ground via a four-speed automatic transmission.

In 1990, Pontiac ranked third in U.S. car sales, and it described itself as an exciting brand, confirmed partially by the Grand Prix Coupe model.

Pontiac was one of the most successful American car brands for decades. Models such as the Trans Am or the Grand Prix were on the sporty side of the brand. Starting with 1988, Pontiac installed the new front-wheel-drive W-Body 1st Gen platform shared with the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and the Chevrolet Lumina. But people more often saw the Grand Prix Coupe on the track days than in front of the Opera. In 1990, the carmaker refreshed the two-door vehicle.

The design team made the car’s front fascia with a tilted nose and narrow headlights. On the lower side of the bumper, Pontiac installed its specific split grille with a vertical slat in the middle. Its long doors allowed a comfortable ingress and egress for all passengers. At the back, a flat trunk lid and corner-mounted taillights completed the car’s sporty look. For the Turbo version, an aerodynamic bodywork cladding package and functional hood louvers screamed for attention and became highly controversial, together with the car’s golden light-alloy wheels.

Inside, Pontiac dropped the digital instrument panel and installed an analog one with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, plus another four gauges for additional information. At the front, the Grand Prix featured two power-adjustable bucket seats. The carmaker placed two individual seats in the back, divided by a fixed center armrest instead of a bench and a folding armrest.

Under the hood, Pontiac replaced the former 2.8-liter V-6 with a new 3.1-liter powerplant, with or without a turbocharger. The turbocharged version provided almost 80 ponies more than its non-turbocharged version. Both versions sent their power to the ground via a four-speed automatic transmission.