2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP Preview

New V8 Sports Fuel Saving Technology

During last month's California International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, Pontiac unexpectedly announced at that it will

Pontiac's second GXP production car is the Grand Prix, and it packs a walloping 290 horsepower punch. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

produce a more powerful Grand Prix, the brand's sporty midsize sedan entry.

For the past few generations top-of-the-line Grand Prix models have been equipped with forced induction via a supercharger, but for 2006 the top model won't be supercharged at all. Rather, following the newly introduced theme of 'Total Performance', the new GXP will feature V8 muscle, just like its bigger Bonneville GXP sibling.

With 30 percent of all Bonneville sales comprised of this top-line

Quad tailpipes, revised styling and GXP badging subtly disguise the all-new LS-4 motor under the hood. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

performance model, it's only logical to think that Pontiac would want to duplicate the successful formula in its midsize sport sedan. While the Grand Prix GXP will feature V8 power, incidentally for the first time since 1987, the motor being used is of a completely different nature than that in the Bonneville GXP. Rather than the Cadillac Northstar derived 275 horsepower 4.6-liter unit with 32 -valves, dual-overhead cams and a resultant 300 lb-ft of torque, the Grand Prix GXP debuts General Motor's all-new '5300' 5.3-liter 'LS-4' V8 powerplant.