2009 Pontiac Solstice

With Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac named as GM's "core" North American brands, the Internet is rampant with all sorts of speculation about what General Motors plans to do with its "Excitement Division." Fact is, GM isn't there, yet. GM can't develop a plan until its finances are certain enough to take all its projects from being on hold, and then it has future corporate average fuel economy standards to consider. However, GM has said Pontiac is to become a "specialty" brand, while Saturn and Saab are under strategic review and Hummer is up for sale.

If GM doesn't cancel its Alpha small rear-drive program for a BMW 3 Series-size Cadillac, that platform could support a second-generation Solstice. GM's hope would be to make the Solstice a "world" sports car, like the Mazda Miata, and kind of like the Chevrolet Corvette. If there is a second generation, though, the Solstice is likely to continue in Europe as the Opel GT. This fits in nicely with plans we revealed last month for GM to combine Opel and Buick design.The G6 is older than the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura, and its replacement has been put on hold. It's Pontiac's volume car, so simply dropping it from the lineup makes Pontiac a "specialty" brand by definition. Vibe probably has another four years to its lifecycle.

Longer term, Pontiac will need sporty cars on small, lightweight platforms for fuel-efficiency if it's to remain viable. Consider a version of the Chevy Volt with a handling package, a coupe built on the Cruze platform and with more turbo boost, a U.S.-built car off the Delta platform or the Mini-fighter, still apparently in need of a division, that was spotted in late 2007 on GM's drawing boards. Better to update the brand with cars like these.

If GM defines Pontiac's "specialty" as baby-boomer-oriented cars like the G8, the division won't last much longer than that car's lifecycle.

© Source: motortrend
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2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

(from General Motors Press Release) PONTIAC UNVEILS 2009 SOLSTICE COUPE: Hardtop Extends Appeal of Classic Design

NEW YORK – Drawing inspiration from classic sports cars, the 2009 Pontiac Solstice coupe was created for drivers who appreciate both dramatic styling and balanced performance. Unveiled at the New York Auto Show as a GXP model, the Solstice coupe builds on the success of the convertible model while offering a greater range of all-season driving opportunities.

For drivers still wanting an open-air experience, the coupe also features a removable roof panel, fully opening the cockpit to all of the sensations of the road.

“Today’s Solstice is the top-selling roadster in the U.S., and we believe this new model has even broader appeal,” said Jim Bunnell, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager. “The coupe has all the design cues and pleasing performance of the original roadster, and is an all-season alternative for people who enjoy open-air driving.”

Engineering the design
Despite its dramatic new look, engineers made only minor structural changes to create the Solstice coupe. The rear fenders and rear fascia are the same as those on the convertible. New taillight assemblies flow more smoothly into the tapered roofline.

“The Solstice coupe represents a major collaboration of design and engineering,” said Bruce Kosbab, chief engineer. “The sleek lines of the new roof give the car a fresh appearance, yet only minimal changes were made to the body structure – it’s a great example of building on an already solid foundation.”

Powertrain and suspension
Because the change to a coupe body style resulted in only a slight increase in curb weight, no drivetrain or suspension changes were necessary to shift from the convertible body structure. Initial tests have shown that the Solstice coupe will deliver ride and handling, acceleration, braking and fuel economy comparable to the convertible model.

The coupe is powered by a standard 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine that generates 173 horsepower (129 kW), while the GXP version is equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec engine with 260 horsepower (194 kW).

© Source: seriouswheels
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Mallett Cars Beefs Up Pontiac Solstice

BERERA, Ohio — Mallett Cars already offers more power for the Pontiac Solstice with its LS2/LS7 V8 engine conversion kits. Now it's adding more show to the go with its aggressive-looking Pitbull wide-body kit.

It adds 4 inches of width to the front and 5 inches in the rear, giving the Solstice a considerably more menacing look. More importantly, the six-piece body kit allows the use of ultrawide wheels so you can put all that V8 power to good use. The specially designed front fascia also improves airflow to the engine.

The fiberglass upgrade is expected to cost $16,000-18,000 fully installed and painted. A carbon-fiber package will also be available by special order.

Only a limited number of Pitbull Edition Solstices will be built. The official debut is scheduled for the 2007 SEMA show.

© Source: article on insideline
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