Grand Am's bold exterior theme is carried through inside with a sporty retro dashboard. Circular hoods shroud the instruments and ventilation ducts and remind us of sports cars past. It's an attractive look that adds to the Grand Am's appeal. Warm, red light illuminates the instruments, which are large and easy to read. Audio and climate controls are angled toward the driver for easy access. Big round knobs adjust heating, ventilation and air conditioning. An eight-speaker Monsoon stereo is standard on the GT1 and optional on GT and SE1 models.Strapping on the new Grand Am reveals that the seating position is slightly higher than in previous-generation models. Coupled with a lower cowl and thin A-pillars, that makes it easier to see out front. Our SE1 was equipped with a four-way adjustable driver's seat, which we found to be comfortable during our travels around greater Miami. A six-way power driver's seat is standard on GT1 models. Several features add convenience to the Grand Am. Automatic headlights can be set to switch on at nightfall, then turn off 20 seconds after the ignition is shut down, giving the driver some time to unlock a house or garage door. Battery rundown protection automatically turns off all accessory lights after 20 minutes, in case they were left on by mistake. A delayed locking feature can be programmed to automatically lock the doors within seven seconds of closing the last door. That eliminates the need for trusting passengers to lock their doors and permits quick retrieval of forgotten items. When the driver removes the key from the ignition, three chimes indicate the system is activated. It locks the car seven seconds after the last door is closed. If a door is opened before that time, the timer stops and starts over when the door is closed again. Exterior lights flash twice and the horn beeps to confirm the doors are locked. A related system automatically locks the doors when the shifter is moved out of the park position. The doors automatically unlock when the shifter is placed in park and the ignition is turned off.
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