The Pontiac Solstice is a small sports car from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. The exterior styling of the production Solstice is similar to that of the 2002 Solstice concept that preceded it. Production of the Solstice was to be running before summer 2005, but delays at the Wilmington plant pushed volume production to the fourth quarter The new hardtop targa 2009 model was announced in mid 2008 The Solstice uses the GM Kappa platform, which also underpins the Saturn Sky and Opel GT.

The Solstice was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for 2006. It has been a runaway hit for Pontiac, with 7,000 orders in the first 10 days of availability and 6,000 more orders before winter. Although first-year production was planned at 7,000, GM apologized to customers for delays and increased production, delivering 10,000 by March 1. The base price was adjusted upwards to $20,490 in mid-December, but most buyers report paying $5,000 or more over sticker to get a Solstice. The Solstice currently has an MSRP of $22,115.

GXP

The GXP version of the Solstice debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2006. It is powered by a new 2.0 L I4 Ecotec engine equipped with a dual-scroll turbocharger. The engine's output is 260 hp (193 kW) and 260 ft·lbf (353 N·m). This is the highest specific output of any engine in the history of General Motors at 2.1 hp (1.6 kW) per cubic inch, and it is the first gasoline direct injection engine from an American automaker.

Other GXP features include standard Stabilitrak traction control, a limited-slip differential, and anti-lock brakes. Summer tires on 18 inch wheels are standard.

Targa Coupe version

A targa coupe version of the Solstice was unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show. When it goes on sale for 2009, it will include a revised four-cylinder engine with an increase in power, as well as a removeable roof section, which is too large to store onboard and cannot fit in the trunk. To remedy this Pontiac has announced an optional cloth top that can fit in the trunk.

Motorsport

• Pontiac works and Red Bull backed driver Rhys Millen replaced his GTO for a Solstice GXP to compete in drifting events, particularly in Formula D and in the US rounds of D1 Grand Prix
• SCCA Club Racing 2006 National Championship Runoffs the Pontiac Solstice placed first place in Showroom Stock B (SSB).
• SCCA Club Racing 2007 National Championship Runoffs the Pontiac Solstice GXP placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in Touring 2 (T2) and the Pontiac Solstice placed first place in Showroom Stock B (SSB) even after being penalized 200 lbs between the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

In Popular Culture

The Pontiac Solstice made its film debut in the 2007 blockbuster toy-based movie Transformers as the Autobot Jazz. His vehicle mode is simliar to the weekend race concept car.

Trivia

• The Solstice was featured in a challenge on the third season of The Apprentice television program. Winner Kendra Todd also won a Solstice as part of her victory. The Pontiac Solstice challenge required the candidates to produce a sales brochure for the then upcoming sports car. Kendra Todd developed the winning brochure for her team. In it, she decided to use emotions as descriptors for the car, which all became the names of colors used by Pontiac in marketing the car:
• "Aggressive" (Red)
• "Sly" (Dark Silver Metallic)
• "Cool" (Silver)
• "Pure" (White)
• "Envious" (Dark Green)
• "Deep" (Dark Blue)
• "Mysterious" (Black)
• "Mean" (Yellow)
• "Brazen" (Metallic Copper/Orange)

• The Solstice shares major components with nearly every GM division:
• The rear axle and differential are from the Sigma-based Cadillac CTS
• The interior storage bin is from the Cadillac XLR
• The passenger's side airbag, steering column, and exterior and interior door handles are from the Chevrolet Cobalt
• The backup lights are from the GMC Envoy
• The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning modules are from the Hummer H3
• The front fog lamp assembly is from the Pontiac Grand Prix
• The steering wheel is from the Pontiac Torrent, Pontiac G5, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Malibu
• The 2.4 L Ecotec engine is shared with the Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Chevrolet HHR
• The five-speed manual transmission is from the Hummer H3, GMC Canyon, and Chevrolet Colorado
• The five-speed automatic is from the Cadillac CTS, STS, and SRX
• The side view mirrors and AC vents are from the Fiat Barchetta
• The seat frames are from the previous generation Opel Corsa

References

• AutoWeek.com (2004). Drive of preproduction Solstices. Our first drive in Pontiac's new drop-top leaves us longing for more
• MotorTrend.com (2004). We asked for it and we got it: a good-handling Solstice
• CanadianDriver Communications, Inc. (2004). GM to produce Pontiac Solstice at Wilmington, Delaware assembly plant Retrieved January 11, 2004
• MPH Magazine (Oct. 2005). drives the Solstice in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
• Media.GM.com (Jan. 2006). Pontiac Debuts 2007 Solstice GXP at LA Auto Show
• Automobile Magazine (Oct. 2005). Long before his roadster dream began, Lutz worked at BMW
• Road and Track Magazine (Oct. 2005). When it was introduced as a concept car at the January 2002 Detroit auto show...
• Car and Driver Magazine (Oct. 2005). We were worried in a big way, worried that the Pontiac Solstice would turn out to be a cost-cut, watered-down...
• Motor Trend Magazine (Oct. 2005). Move Over, Sunshine: This is no Fiero; this is the Pontiac of sports cars
• Autoweek Magazine (August 29, 2005). What a Concept: Solstice gives Pontiac—and GM—a much needed shot in the arm
• CNNMoney.com (quoting from Consumer Reports). Least reliable 2007 sporty car.

External links

• Official Pontiac Solstice site
• Solstice GXP Owners
• Solstice Forum
• Pontiac Forum with special Pontiac Solstice section
• North American Solstice-Sky Owners Association
• GM Roadster Club for Pontiac Solstice, Saturn SKY, Opel GT & Daewoo G2X Owners