2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
By Casey Williams www.car-data.com
Pontiac’s two-seat Solstice roadster has been a hot seller since it stormed into showrooms acouple of years ago, giving the Mazda Miata fits.
With a body structure that was modeled on the Corvette, it is structurally stiff wile providingoutstanding handling – all at a bargain price.
However, if you remember back to the 2002 Detroit auto show, you’ll remember an exciting orangeSolstice coupe. It took almost 7 years, but the production version of the Solstice Coupe is uponus. And, it is much better than the concept.
According to Jim Bunnell, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager, “Today’s Solstice is thetop-selling roadster in the U.S., and we believe this new model has even broader appeal. The coupehas all the design cues and pleasing performance of the original roadster, and is an all-seasonalternative for people who enjoy open-air driving.”
The biggest complaint about the roadster is its lack of luggage space. Problem solved – thehatchback coupe harbors enough space for a reasonable number of bags. Borrowing another popularoption from Corvette, the coupe is a proper targa design with a full-width removable panel abovethe passengers. While the standard top will not store in the trunk like the Vette’s, a foldableinsert will be available to protect from poor weather.
Although the coupe looks vastly different, engineers basically removed the top and decklid fromthe roadster, installed the fastback rear, and designed a roof insert. All in all, a fairly simpleconversion.
As with the roadster, two powertrains will be available. Base models come with a 173-horsepower2.4-litre four-cylinder engine while GXP editions step up to a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinderthat generates 260 horsepower. Keeping that in perspective, a 1990 Corvette generated 245horsepower from a 5.7-litre V8. Expect 0-60 mph runs for the GXP to fall below 6 seconds.
Nobody knows how to build a sports car like General Motors.
Corvettes are comfortable, fast, solid, and reliable. By leveraging all it learned from theSolstice, and looking up to its big brother from Chevrolet, the Solstice Coupe does everythingright. If only the painted top would fit in the trunk. Maybe next time. When the Solstice Coupearrives early next year, competitors will include the BMW Z4 Coupe, Mazda Miata Hardtop, and Nissan370Z coupe.
