2000 Pontiac Grand Prix Venerable classic grows modern. By Sam Moses, New Car Test Drive .com

Pontiac's Grand Prix catches your eye with wild styling that harks back to muscle cars of a bygone era. It's thoroughly modern, though, with great brakes and excellent handling. The GTP version puts enough horsepower through the front wheels to keep drivers interested and alert. Yet its price is impressively low when compared against imported sports sedans.

The Grand Prix line includes the SE Sedan, GT Sedan, GT Coupe, GTP Sedan and GTP Coupe. Three different V6 engines are available, along with two automatic transmissions.

SE comes standard with the trusty 3.1-liter V6 with an aluminum cylinder head. It has been massaged for 2000, resulting in more power and better fuel economy. It now produces 175 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque.

GT models are equipped with an iron-head 3.8-liter that produces 200 horsepower and 225 foot-pounds of torque. The GTP Performance Package takes the GT's 3800 V6, but adds a civilized supercharger that boosts horsepower to 240 and torque to 280.