What Engine Is In A 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix & How Much Horsepower Does It Have?

Production of the often-sporty Pontiac Grand Prix spanned multiple generations. The 1997 model year launched the debut of the sixth generation, with coupe and sedan variants and two trim levels, SE and GT. While it was still based on the GM W-body front-wheel-drive platform, engine options offered various levels of V6 performance. The 1997 Grand Prix SE only came in a four-door sedan configuration. In its most basic form, the SE sedan featured a 3.1-liter V6. An engine similar to the one used in the final generation of the Pontiac Sunbird (not to be confused with the Firebird), a model Pontiac discontinued in 1994. However, there was an optional 3.8-liter V6 available for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE.

That same 3.8-liter V6 (GM's 3800 Series II engine) was the standard engine for the GT-trimmed Pontiac Grand Prix in 1997. Along with the larger standard engine, the Grand Prix GT also added the two-door coupe body style to the sedan version, carried over from the SE. The final engine upgrade for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix came from the addition of the GTP package to the GT trim. The GTP package, destined to become a stand-alone trim in later years, added an Eaton M90 supercharger to force-feed the 3.8-liter V6 increased volumes of air and a button to increase the transmission shift points to higher engine rpm.

[Featured image by MercurySable99 via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]

With its base 3.1-liter V6, the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix SE delivers 160 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive routes power to the front-wheel drive system. The 3.8-liter (231 cubic-inch) 3800 Series II V6, optional in SE trim and standard in GT versions, delivers 195 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 3.8-liter V6 uses the same ratio of four-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The EPA-estimated fuel economy comes in at 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Opting for the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT with the GTP package provides an Eaton supercharger mounted atop the 3.8-liter V6. The forced-air induction system increases the 3.8-liter's horsepower to 240 measured at the same 5,200 rpm as the other ratings here. However, the peak torque of 280 lb-ft comes in sooner at 3,200 rpm compared to the other variations. The GTP's four-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive system retain the same gear ratios. While there's no option for a manual transmission, the additional shift mode increases transmission performance.

[Featured image by MercurySable99 via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]