1998 PONTIAC Grand Am 3.4L V6 4AT FWD (173 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After retiring the successful previous generation of the Grand Am, the fifth generation of this nameplate came alive in late spring of 1998 and shared its underpinning with the Oldsmobile Alero and Chevrolet Malibu.

Pontiac named the concept of this new vehicle Solid Form Design, which had to be beautiful, practical, and reliable. The vehicle was built to satisfy customers looking for a nimble sedan with enough power under the hood and a comfortable ride.

The design was completely new and featured a pair of teardrop-shaped horizontal headlights flanked the Pontiac-specific grille with a vertical slat in the middle. In the lower bumper, the carmaker added a secondary air intake split by a flat bar to enhance the engine cooling. Thanks to the cab-forward design, the sedan looked more like a fastback due to its racked-forward rear windscreen. At the same time, the short and tall trunk was fitted with triangular, corner-mounted taillights that resembled a coupe.

Inside, the cabin provided enough room for four adults. Even the carmaker was reluctant to say that it was a five-seat vehicle. Since Pontiac was a brand focused more on the sporty side of GM’s products, the dashboard featured a binocular-style instrument panel with individual clusters for the speedometer and tachometer.

Grand Am’s platform was 32% more rigid than its predecessor, and the independent suspension in all corners with McPherson struts at the front ensured its customers that they would have a pleasant time behind the wheel on a winding road.