By 2006, Pontiac may add a 4.6 or 4.8 liter Gen-3 V-8 to the Grand Prix in the neighborhood of 275HP. Anything above 5.0 liters would cause too much torque steer. In addition, the supercharged V-6 will be added to the Impala and Monte Carlo SS's. That will happen in 04.

My next GTP will have a V-8. I've been waiting for a V-8 for years! I just wish it were going to be RWD.

I'll buy another Grand Prix when they make them in RWD, V8 or V6. I'm actually in the market for a Trans Am WS6 for that reason. Love those Pontiacs.

The Bonneville is going to be RWD with a big Northstar V-8 in a year.

If you want a RWD Grand Prix with a V8, why not buy the GTO? That's what I'm going to do

(got to save my pennies, hence why I'm so cheap with the mods on my GTP right now

"The Bonneville is going to be RWD with a big Northstar V-8 in a year."

I do not believe that this is accurate - at least not the RWD part.

See link - info from GM:

http://media.gm.com/division/2004_prodinfo/pontiac/bonneville/index.html

Cheers,
- Ray
Still might be fun to drine . . .

Taken from the Sept Motor Trend, page 94.
"Early next year, the Bonneville gets a V-8 in a new GM Performance division GXP model, and the V-8's are likely for the Buick Park Ave replacement and LeSabre as well. Buick is said to be sniffing around rear drive, a new chassis, and a likely name change for its Park Ave flagship...the 05 Bonneville GXP will launch early next year with a 4.6 liter/300-plus HP, 300 ft/lbs of torque V-8--much the same unit as in the Cadillac Seville SLS. In Pontiac trim, it'll retain the Northstar's high-tech architecture, including all alluminum construction, double over-head cams, and four valves per cylinder. The GXP also features 18 inch wheels and suspension upgrades."

You are correct. I misread the article. However, with the trend returning to rear drive in the Chryslers, Caddys, pontiacs(GTO), and possibly buicks, it is not unreasonable for someone to think that we will see rear drive Grand Prixes(sp?) and Bonnevilles.

Thank you for the correction.

Hi everyone,

Whew, it's been a while since I've posted, however, I really hope for an RWD GP but I doubt that we would see that until 2008 or later. I read the article in Motor Trend and right now it's just a rumour about the V8's. Hopefully, with Uncle Bob behind the wheel that dream may become a reality. I suspect, that if these V8's were to come out, they would be FWD first and then move to RWD.

GM was quick to move to FWD with the the 88 GP - when everyone jumped on the FWD bandwagon - but they're not being as quick to move back to RWD.

With stiff competition from Ford and D.C. (going back to RWD) the General will surely take the fight back to them!


All the best, fellow GP'ers!
~Krishna

A-HA! Turns out I didn't misread the article. I revisited the article while on the throan and the caption reads "Chevy's Monte Carlo SS, Impala SS, and the Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe will get small block V-8's". The article under GM Midsizers says that talk among Detroit insiders has V-8's finding there way under the hoods of the Carlo, Impala, and GP by '06. If you didn't notice, the caption said "COUPE". Either a mistake or the coupe is making a come back. Page 94 Sept Motor Trend.

The reason they said there using a small cubed V-8 in these cars is to minumize torque steer. Sounds like a FWD to me.

I can't see them putting a V-8 in the GP anytime soon. They already have a huge following with the GTP at 260 HP. The GTO is just coming out now also.

What's the point of a V-8 in a FWD car anyway?

Does anyone believe they will ever replace the 3800 series engine with a different one. I have read a lot of magazine articles and many of them have talked down about the 3800 hundred engine.. Does anyone know why???? Just wondering ?

How about a four valve, twin cam, supercharged V-6 for a replacement engine?

You really think GM can kill the 3800 series? They keep putting it in new cars like the GP, Monte, Impala, etc...

The 3.8L is a strong and reliable engine and has been around for a long time. As much as I like it and as wide spread as it's use is, don't think that GM wouldn't replace it with a different engine.

Not too long ago, a couple of GM reps gave some of us at GPG2000 a presentation that showed the 2004 GP with a 3.6L, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder engine making @ 260hp. I can't remember the torque rating. At that time it was pretty much a done deal. Some of us weren't too happy to hear that, but... what are ya gonna do?

We now know that didn't happen. But... they seriously considered it. So... don't think they wouldn't think about it again.

Marc

Marc, was that a non-S/C car? I love my 3.8, but if they want to start with 260hp and S/C, I'm cool with that too. They should do that. Think about it. The GTP has 240 horsepower. This was done for several reasons, keep it out of the sports car territory (unless it comes to insurance rates) cause that would be competing with the T/A, Camaro, Firebird. But those are gone. The 240hp was also to provide direct competition with the Taurus SHO. Which has been gone since '99 (I think). I think it might be time for some more hp. Look at the Maxima's climb through the hp levels to now be competing with Mustangs in a couple years. I can see GM considering a similar path for the GP.

-Andrew

No... that was a NA engine. They were doing away with the L36 and the L67. I'm glad they kept them (particularly the L67). Sure... the other cars are increasing in HP at probably a slightly quicker rate, but they can't find the HP we can with a simple $80 pulley. Our engines take to modifications better than most... even if the aftermarket isn't as deep. However, since the Monte and the Imapla now have L67's mabye we'll see a marked increase in aftermarket vendors and parts.

Marc

Hey Marc,

Wasn't it a 3.7?

But yep - people shot the "high-revving quad cam" idea down.

Reason: Torque down low would have sucked compared to the supercharged L67. Thats why they pushed back the redesign - then Bob Lutz showed up and they pushed it back again after he redid the front end himself. It sucked even worse than the production 04s we see today.

It may have been. I'm old and CRS disease is taking it's toll.

Marc

Yeah, blame it on being old Marc. God Damn, I'm 19 and I can't remember shit either....can't wait til I get older...

Caddy has a 3.2 V-6 that makes 220hp and 220 tq, and a 3.6 that makes 260hp and 255tq in the CTS. I would love to see one of those motors in a grand am. Can you say bye bye Altima?

You never know what's going to happen. I wouldn't be too surprised if the top model Grand Am has one of those engine. It's about time they boosted the Grand Am GT from 175hp. Hopefully the new successor will be a little quicker and still fall in line beneath the GP's.

b

To me it wouldn't matter if they put a 250hp engine in the grand am. The Grand Prix is still a better ride. The GA is a fun car to drive, similar to the fun you would have in an altima or an Acura r or any other little fast car like that --- but, the GP is bigger, more comfortable, quieter, better riding, and still very quick. Except, GM has that pecking order thing. You know. The sunbird can't be faster the grand am, can't be faster than the GP, can't be faster than the firebird or GTO, ca't be faster than the vette. Come on now GM, stop being so anal and give people what they want. If you can make a car better, then do it. Don't worry about the pecking orders you peckers.

GM is merely trying to differentiate among their lines so they don't have to compete with themselves. They do have to do this to a certain extent because of their vast subsidiaries, but they do try to avoid it in their individual lines. You're a Grand Prix nut. Don't feel bad, we all are. Say Pontiac comes out with a Grand Am that's faster, lighter, and just overall better. Say bye bye to the Grand Prix. There's only a small population of us that will buy it because it's a Grand Prix. And of course there's the people who will just like the Grand Prix better. But it's gonna struggle. The Grand Prix has a long heritage, but I don't think it's a strong heritage to keep it in production. GM makes a better car than the Corvette one year and people will still buy the Vette. It's heritage will keep it alive. The GP just isn't that strong. Coupple bad years and it's gone.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a new Grand Prix. They're FUGLY.

-Andrew