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Grand Prix GTX Ram Air
If the Firehawk comes pretty well decked out in standard trim, the Grand Prix GTX Ram Air is an opportunity for individual expression. First of all, you can have the GTX package laid on practically any Grand Prix you can wrangle from the local dealer. also, any color on the factory Grand Prix color chart is okay with SLP, but you're going to pay a little more for anything other than Arctic White, black, or bright red. Nor do they care which engine you choose, the base 3.1-liter V6 or the normally aspirated or supercharged version of the 3800 V6.The major component in the standard GTX package is a new composite hood with an integral airbox and twin hood scoops, which deliver cold air to a new airbox and K&N filter. SLP promises 5 extra horsepower for the normally aspirated 3.1-liter and 10 more with either of the 3.8-liter V6s.Other equipment in the standard package includes cloisonne nameplates on each door and decklid, and two key fobs (hey!). When you step to hte option list, you add 17-inch chrome-plated aluminum 6-spoke wheels and Michelin P235/55R17 tires. The Michelin Pilot Series tire is specifically engineered for this GTX Ram Air package. It does a superb job of maintaining ride quality (this is a sedan, after all) and gripping the road. If there is a compromise here, it's in the area of road noise. These are definitely not Atlas Bucrons.
Another contributor to the interior noise level is SLP's optional Cat Back stainless-steel exhaust system, worth another 10 horsepower. The growly, aggressive exhaust note is a little surprising at first, but you'll get used to it...just about the same time you fall in love with the blown 3800's dash-mounted boost gauge, which climbs to 7.5 pounds if you even think of goosing it on the freeway onramp. If this car didn't look so trick, it'd be in the running for Q-ship of the decade. As it is, it's a pretty fair stealth fighter, and it's going to freak out a lot of mid-60s muscle car owners if they should tangle with one. I wonder if NOS is making a nitrous kit for the blown V6 yet?
The GTX Ram Air is, according to SLP's own verbiage, "targeted at the mid-size coupe and sedan buyer looking to take this already outstanding vehicle to the next level of performance and distinctiveness. "Read:Older buyer. Read:family-car needs. Read: 5-series Bimmer or Audi A-4. Oops. Sorry. Wasn't supposed to say that. The party line on this car is exactly the same as the Firehawk's - great car to start with, helped out with some engineering tweaks aimed at the American car buyer who wants a little more in the way of performance and specialness - not a rich-guy's toy. It is a natural mistake. The sonofagun just looks and feels like it'd kick butt on both of those "furrin' cars"...and maybe that's the beauty of the whole thing.
Reg Harris, Marketing Director for SLP Engineering, is the leading proponent of keeping these cars friendly to that second category of enthusiast. He rejects any notion that his products have "snob appeal". Quite the contrary. He maintains that the prime appeal of the Firehawk and GTX is their non-esoteric nature. According to him, these are just good ol' American factory hot rods, made just a little better by a careful application of engineering and aerodynamics in the right places. My own reaction might be indicative that they're on the right track. In a million years I'd never consider putting a nitrous kit on an Audi...but on the GTX it sounds like fun!
So in the final analysis, the cars from SLP aren't quite "rich kid's toys" yet; they just behave like they are. The production run is limited enough to stimulate rare-car collectors into a mild tizzy. Stir in a little old-fashioned hot rod appeal, and you have cars that straddle the line between esoteric and down-and-dirty. That's a tough thing to do, and even tougher to do well.
As Elwood Blues once said, "God bless the United States of America and the internal combustion engine." That bit of wisdom must be hanging on the wall in somebody's office at SLP.
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