About Pontiac Trans Sport
GM tried to use the "Trans" badge for a minivan and bring the hype from the Trans Am to the MPV segment. In a way, it succeeded since the Trans Sport didn't look dull at all. Even though it was not a sports car, it looked better than most other minivans on the market.
But the Trans Sport was not the only minivan in GM's stable. It had two siblings named Oldsmobile Silhouette and the Chevrolet Lumina APV. But the other two didn't have the same stance as the Pontiac.
The Trans Sport featured a sportier design than the classic-looking minivans made by Ford or Chrysler. Its sleek front fascia with slim headlights and the grille moved on the lower bumper and apron, it resembled more of a sports car. It debuted on the market with hinged doors, but later on, a sliding door was added to the options list. The back of the vehicle was still flat and wide, half-covered by the rear windscreen.
Inside, the base version featured five seats, with those three in the back being removable so the car could either carry more loads or the occupants could place them on the ground and sit there. As an option, the carmaker also offered a seven-seat layout, while the top-of-the-range version featured six seats.
Under the hood, Pontiac installed a 3.1-liter powerplant, but that was too weak to carry such a heavy vehicle. A 3.8-liter V6 was added later on and provided the punchy behavior that could match the half-bullet look of the car.