2000 Pontiac Bonneville

2000 Pontiac Bonneville
CHICAGO - What a great time to be an American. Within the short span of six months we learn that the Ford Mustang (well, one model, at least) will finally have an independent rear suspension, and that the Pontiac Bonneville will finally get four-wheel disc brakes. Maybe that Clinton guy's bridge to the future really is working.

Or maybe the guys in Detroit are finally learning what the Europeans and Japanese knew years ago: Man need no longer ride around in solid-axle ox carts with drum brakes.

As for the rest of the Bonneville, it appears to be a fully competent full-size sedan in the rather expressive Pontiac design idiom. Viewed broadside, the all-new Bonnie reflects rather strongly the profile of the Grand Prix four-door. From the front, the big Poncho wears a family face complete with the division's signature round driving lights and BMW-esque grille. This rendition, however, is much more refined than those of the Grand Prix and Grand Am. From the rear, the Bonneville looks less in the family way. The taillights look more like something from Japan or Italy than from Warren, Michigan.

Inside, the new big Pontiac's instrument panel has been designed along a traditional vein. Traditional for Pontiac, that is. Rather than resort to the form-follows-function logical layout of Honda, or the Spartan Teutonicism of BMW, the Bonneville relies on visual excitement. This time around, though, the myriad of switches and plethora of buttons is rather tastefully done, save for the red fighter-jockey readouts of the gauges and dials.

Pontiac considers the Bonneville to be a luxury sport sedan with an attitude. The attitude is deserved if the engines are any indication. Both versions of the corporate 3800 V6 are carried over from the previous-generation car. The base engine is rated at 205 horsepower and 230 foot-pounds of torque. The optional engine is supercharged and generates 240 horsepower, 280 foot-pounds of torque and a 0-60 mph time in the low seven-second range. The only transmission available is GM's 4T65-E four-speed automatic.

Three trim levels are available: SE, SLE and SSEi. The top-level SSEi wears the sportiest dress inside and out, as well as the sportiest option. Called the Integrated Chassis Control System, this is a slightly downgraded version of Cadillac's StabiliTrak computerized suspension control system. The device uses sensors that monitor steering, wheel speed, and yaw. Inputs from these sensors go into a computer that adjusts the brakes during sudden maneuvers in order to avoid skids and spinouts.

The SSEi's other high-tech trickery includes two key fobs that can be set to remember the preferences of a driver apiece. Settings include driver's seat position, outside mirror position, and radio memory. The radio can even be programmed to seek out the type of station -- rock, rap, news, classical -- that a driver prefers.

The new Bonneville now shares GM's G-Body that debuted with the 1998 Cadillac Seville. The Seville's front struts and rear trailing arms also carry over to its Pontiac cousin. All, in all the 2000 Pontiac Bonneville -- especially in supercharged SSEi form -- appears a worthy competitor for Chrysler's standout 300M.