1988 Pontiac Grand Prix Manufacturer Promo – Motor Trends Car of the Year
The GM10 project was to General Motors what the right hand was to Sugar Ray Leanoard: the second half of a one-two combination intended to restore the championship to its rightful owner. The first was the GM25, Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta. Now it was the GM10 coupe, which bowed in the fall of 1987 as the Buick Regal, followed by the Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
This was the new leaner, meaner, thoroughly reorganized GM that promised us high-quality, contemporary cars right for a fast-changing marketplace. Specifically, the 4-year, $5-billion GM10 was designed to make life miserable for the Japanese competition and, when 4-door were introduced in 1990, put the kibosh on runaway sales of Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable.
The ultra-sleek Grand Prix SE sailed smoothly and silently through the wind with a drag coefficient of .287, the lowest ever in a high-volume production automobile. In addition, the SE got a special front fascia, tail lamp design ,bodyside moldings, aero extensions and monochrome paint with color-keyed cast aluminum wheels.
High-speed stability and cornering were excellent thanks to an all-independent suspension which included struts, coil springs and anti-roll bar in front and a totally new tri-link design with fiberglass leaves in the rear. Power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering were standard for all models.
Initially, all models would be equipped with the 130-hp, 2.8-liter multi-port fuel-injected V-6. A 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission was standard in Grand Prix and LE models, while the SE came standard with a manual 5-speed.
Inside the SE there was a full analog gauge cluster with LCD speedometer and fuel gauge, and fully-adjustable, supportive bucket seats for front seat occupants. The sporting theme continued in the rear with individual bucket seats with separate headrests and folding, “pass-through” console that would accept your skis. All in all, it was a very pleasing package that made a lot of cars look old quickly.
Another interesting video. Thank you for sharing the Grand Prix video. I do not know where you get these great videos. I enjoy watching them.
Wasn’t that great? I don’t remember where that one came from. Had it a while.