LOL, I love that Bonne GXP, I think they could have done a bit more w/ the styling though. I beleive the prototype I saw in Car and Driver would have beed the design to go w/. They always soften the design when they come out w/ the final product.

http://www.arifleet.com/production.html

Shows (as of today):

Pontiac Grand Prix
6-8
2WC69 GXP model is on hold

Odd . . .
- Ray
Curious . . .

http://media.gm.com/division/2005_prodinfo/powertrain/engines/05_car_engine_specs.html#ls4

Looking at the Graphs for 3 motors (the LS4 5.3L V8, the Northstar 4.6 and the ‘old’ L67) I find the following of interest:

= = = = = = 5.3L . . . . 4.6 . . . . L67

HP @ 2000 . 115 . . . . 100 . . . . 100
TQ @ 2000 . 300 . . . . 265 . . . . 250

HP @ 3000 . 180 . . . . 150 . . . . 160
TQ @ 3000 . 310 . . . . 275 . . . . 270

HP @ 4000 . 245 . . . . 225 . . . . 220
TQ @ 4000 . 320 . . . . 295 . . . . 280 (past peak)


[these numbers are approximate, from these dyno curves - trying to line this data up as a chart . . .]

Point being, compared to the L67 (a known and appreciated torque generator) and the Northstar (I have driven the new STS with this version of the motor – it is technically sophisticated, expensive to produce and I certainly respect it), this new 5.3L V8 quoted output is quite impressive. At least on paper.

I end up spending a LOT of my drive time with the motor turning between 2000 and 4000 rpm. The torque available in this range is more important to me (most of the time) than peak horsepower.

The 5.3L LS4 generates more torque and more horsepower at every point from 2000 to 4000 rpm than either of these other motors.

I am looking forward to driving this car.

- Ray
Admitted torque addict . . .

First GXPs have been delivered to customers.
Just f.y.i.
- Ray
With none shown in stock (according to GMBuypower) closer than 100+ miles from Atlanta yet (sigh) . .

Motor Trend sayeth:

0 – 60: 6.0
Quarter: 14.3 at 98.1

No “Estimate” (theirs or GM’s)

Interesting.

Now I must go read the article . . .

- Ray
Glad to see the 14.3 . .

I drove the hell out of one at the DC gm autoshow-in- motion. The car blows away the GTP comp G and bonnie GXP. Im sure the motor is going to be torque managed so 1/4 times will be slower than they "should" be just like the 04 GTP but if you can keep the tranny in it, its the best thing going next to the GTO. BTW it does have 303 hp, but I forget the torque number.

I loved it.

"I forget the torque number. "

323.
- Ray
Maybe test driving tomorrow PM . . .