By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Pontiac Bonneville was synonymous with V-8 power for years – through the tailfin era of the late 1950s and later with the big floating boats of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Huge engines in big sedans and coupes marked those glory days of American iron at General Motors. And the Pontiac division was not short changed in the horsepower department.

The Bonneville entered the world in 1957 as a special edition Star Chief convertible. And it has been in existence ever since, now one of the longest continuously used nameplates in the automotive business.

It was turned into a full-fledged line in 1958 with a coupe and convertible.

The Bonneville, which sold for $5,782 as a convertible in 1957, was endowed with a 370-cubic-inch, 310-horsepower V-8. It received a 333-horsepower fuel injected V-8 in 1958. And the first Bonneville Sport Coupe sold for a base price of $3,481 and was manufactured in limited numbers. Just over 9,000 units were built for 1958.

The Bonneville rolled through its first 30 years with V-8 performance, albeit watered down in later years. The Bonneville was downsized in the 1980s, and 1986 was the last model year a V-8 was available.

From that point, the ancient workhorse 3.8-liter V-6 has carried the load, that is, until a few months ago.

The 3.8-liter pushrod engine generating 205 horsepower is still standard fare in the SE and SEL Bonneville trim levels. But the newly named GXP, on sale for the past couple months, gets Cadillac’s famed 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 pumping out 275 horsepower and 300 pound feet of torque. Pontiac’s “Luxury with Attitude” slogan has been given some real teeth.

The supercharged 3.8-liter V-6 and the SSE trim level have been dropped from the 2004 lineup.

In addition, the GXP gets 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and bigger brakes with 14-inch front rotors.
 
Gone is the plastic cladding that gave the Bonneville somewhat of a cartoonish stance. The cleaned-up side panels give the Pontiac a more sophisticated and aggressive appearance. A new front fascia with a bigger grille helps the overall looks of the big sedan.

It’s surprising what a few minor changes can do to alter a car’s image. In this case, the alterations are definitely for the best.

But really, the big news for 2004 is that V-8 power has returned to the lineup. The not-so-good news is that the new-found horsepower is directed through the same 4-speed automatic transmission that has been used on the Pontiac lineup for a decade, and the front wheels still drive the sedan.

An upgraded transmission and a new drivetrain must await the next complete redesign of the Bonneville.

In the meantime, the new GXP equates itself quite nicely. Make no mistake, this is a relatively big car and it feels big and it drives big. The new power belongs in a sedan this big.

When you drive big, you want the feeling that you can move big, too. General Motors measures 0 to 60 performance in 6.8 seconds. Hit the throttle and some torque steer (the bugaboo of higher performance front-drive cars) is evident, but not annoying. Northstar power comes on in big gobs through the rev band, whether surging from a stop or passing at 70 miles per hour.

More surprising is the way the GXP performed on the winding rural roads considering its size and old architecture. GM did a masterful job beefing up the suspension, which included adding DeCarbon gas shocks and a strut tower base.
 
The Pontiac’s “wide track” stance – a class-leading 62.6 inches front and 62.1 inches rear and good performance tires also help keep the car planted on the high-speed ins and outs.

General Motors’ Magnasteer system gives the driver a decent feel of the road. The numb steering of so many of GM’s big cars has been successfully eliminated. The GXP can be driven with confidence that it will go exactly in the direction that it’s pointed.

The GXP interior has been given some upgrades but Bonneville’s signature dashboard with its sweep down into the center console, and gauges canted toward the driver, are still there. It has always been a handsome setup to our eyes. But the seemingly endless array of buttons can be a bit disconcerting at times.

That being said, we commend the stereo layout that features easy-to-use pre-set buttons and an old fashioned tuning knob. Bless General Motors for being one of the few automakers still using the easiest and best way to find a radio station.
 
Our GXP came with XM satellite radio. Most General Motors’ cars and trucks can be outfitted with XM radios, and XM is well worth the money with more than 100 commercial-free stations featuring a wide variety of music, news and information formats. And they can be heard coast-to-coast without interruption. There is a $10-a-month fee.

The red glow at night is in evidence in the Bonneville, the traditional Pontiac lighting scheme. It’s easy to read, but not our favorite color. Perhaps Pontiac in the future can give drivers a choice of hues.

The Bonneville front seats are wide and comfortable. Big bodies will fit nicely. Rear-seat legroom is adequate, but not exceptional for a car of this size. The GXP seats are very neatly adorned in a pleasing combination of leather and suede.
 
Other nice touches include a brushed aluminum shifter handle and carbon fiber trim pieces.

One disappointment – we found that the outside edge of the rear seat cushions tend to lack support, leaning a passenger into the door. To gain a firm seating position, an outboard passenger must sit a few inches away from the door. Otherwise, rear passengers are afforded reading lights, air conditioning vents in the back of the center console, two drink holders in a fold-down armrest and storage pockets in the front seatbacks.

The GXP is pricey compared to the standard Bonneville, which starts under $28,000. The GXP begins at $35,995 well equipped. Our test car came in at $37,020 with a handful of options including the very useful head-up display and glass sunroof.

The Bonneville does not have navigation or DVD options.

We’re glad to see Pontiac returning Bonneville to its roots with one of the best V-8 applications anywhere. It feels great and the new smooth look has eye-catching appeal. Pontiac has done a good job outfitting the new top-of-the-line Bonneville but buyers must now decide if all the upgrades are worth 36 grand.