Teresa’s View

It is said the car was named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, but since the’50s, “Bonneville” has meant an enthusiastic – yet comfortable – driving experience to American consumers.

For 2004, parent company General Motors gave the green light to ratchet up the enthusiasm quotient, giving its Performance Division permission to replace the supercharged Bonneville SSEi with a new high-performance version. It’s the first Pontiac to bear the all-new GXP performance label. Look for further GXP’ed Pontiacs over the next few years.

The Bonneville GXP features a 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 that generates 275-horsepower, compared to the 240-horsepower V-6 from the discontinued SSEi. Yeah, it’s noticeable.

Torque is what you feel when you jump on the gas from a complete stop. The higher the torque, the faster your lips flap. On the new GXP, torque has been increased from 230 to 300 pound-feet. That’s some good flapping right there.

The folks at Pontiac didn’t forget the “comfortable” part of the Bonneville equation. Leather seats feature suede inserts that are neither shockingly cold in winter nor searing hot in summer. Plus, that patch helps keep one’s bum in place during spirited driving.

Spots of suede on the doors blend well with the carbon fiber trim, and the aluminum-handled shifter lends a classy touch.

Thankfully, Pontiac’s new exterior designs have also been toned down. Gone are the showy ribbed side panels and ostentatious scoops of the’90s. Our GXP tester was sweetly sleek.

What Is It?: The Bonneville is Pontiac’s flagship sedan. The full-size 4-door seats five or six, depending on the trim – SE, SLE or GXP. Prices range from $27K to $30K for the Se and SLE, and just over $35K for the GXP.

Gadget Rating: 7 of 10. I’m giving mixed reviews for the dashboard redesign. Buttons and knobs are larger and fewer, but somewhat confusing. And although it’s the nicest Pontiac in awhile, there’s still room for improvement in gadget and gizmo quality. The standard equipment list is lovely. All trims include air conditioning, cruise control and CD player, plus power windows, seats and door locks. XM satellite radio is a $325 option. Remember, after the first three months, there’s a fee for the service.

Grocery Sack Test: Paper or Plastic? Excellent room, but there’s no handle to help close the lid.

Safety Rating: ABS, daytime running lights and side airbags are standard. Traction control is optional for the SE and standard on the SLE and GXP. Stability control is standard on the GXP.

Gas Bummer: The larger engine means GXP owners will take a fuel-economy hit – the six gets 20 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, the eight just 17/city and 24/highway.

Trivia: Pontiac, the company, has been around longer than automobiles. Founded in 1893, it was called the Pontiac Buggy Company.