Official GM pictures of the new Solstice Coupe in GXP trim.

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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.”


The coupe is expected to arrive in Pontiac dealerships in early 2009.


The making of a coupe

The new coupe was inspired by the Solstice coupe concept shown at the North American International Auto Show in 2002. True to the concept, it is a modern sports car with classic lines. The roofline has a “fastback” shape with stylized “rails” that run from the front of the roof to the rear, culminating in a stylish and functional ducktail-style rear spoiler.


The coupe’s roof is fixed aft of the B-pillars, with side windows and a rear liftglass for access to the cargo area. The roof panel is easily removed from the passenger compartment, and an optional soft roof cover stores in the cargo area. A home storage case for the roof panel will be offered through GM Accessories.


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.”


Lightweight structure

The roof’s structure was strengthened with additional support elements, including an aluminum roof bow attached with aluminum brackets. The bow and brackets are stiff, yet low in mass, a design feature that pervades the coupe’s overall construction. The roof includes a lightweight sheet molding compound cover affixed to a rigid aluminum frame for additional lightweight support. A lightweight magnesium roof panel frame weighs just 31 pounds (14.2 kg) and can be removed by one person. The cover is also made of sheet molding compound.

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).


Interior additions

Much of the coupe’s interior remains the same as that of the convertible. However, the area behind the seats was redesigned for easy access to the cargo area, and a storage tray was mounted directly behind the headrests.
Removing the folding-top mechanism made way for a new, flat cargo floor and several storage compartments. The cargo area’s covered bins provide secure storage for smaller items. Cargo tie-down hooks help secure irregularly shaped items.

High-resolution pictures here: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=559

"We originally wanted to do it as a coupe," says Jim Fleming, who oversaw the car's design. "But there are a lot of legal ramifications to taking a convertible and making it into a fixed hardtop. It would be much more involved, because you'd have to change all your front header structure, windshield, and all those pieces. We'd have to look at roof-rail air bags, pieces like that, and that gets into a big technical challenge. So as we started working on the program and what it would take to do it, a targa became the natural choice."

Nice , reminds me of the Z4 coupe. Cheaper of course.:)

why do I see some....**gasp**...CROSSFIRE in that?!

it does look a little like a crossfire...i still hate the front pontiac grill...other than that i looks sweet.

i wonder what a tuned gxp could put down?

Looks good...they just need to work on their brakes

Looks very nice, expect the front bumper kills it. The Sky looks 100 times better.

The computer isn't fully cracked yet, but some cars are pretty close to 300rwhp with bolt-on's [cai, exhaust, larger intercooler, tune] and the stock turbo. I think the highest I've seen so far was at 286rwhp. Dejon Powerhouse [well known DSM tuner] has a 16g kit available and has made 375hp at the crank with it. He is now working on a GT30R turbo.

I like it but then I like the styling on the Convertible. Still amazes me that the storage is non-existent. I had hoped the removal of the top would have opened up more room. The Z4 has a ton more room than this, and what’s with only the glass hatch access? Also surprised that it weighs more than the vert.

M Coupe rip-off! Thanks for cheapening the M Coupe Pontiac!

I test drove the solstice, and it was a POS IMO. Took like a minute to take the damn top off. and 3rd gear is long as shit. Might as well leave the car in 3rd and make it an auto. No driver feed back, and the car has no soul. But that coupe does look nice

“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.”

I always thought that the top selling roadster was the MX-5's? I remember reading that somewhere but I guess I was wrong...

I always thought that the top selling roadster was the MX-5's? I remember reading that somewhere but I guess I was wrong...

Your right it is the MX-5 (top selling roadster of all time) :Eyecrazy:

Excellent rear visibility.. :lol: Pointless car.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061214/FREE/61211012/1024/MICROSITE

The swoopy $20,000 Pontiac Solstice has a commanding sales lead over the venerable Mazda Miata.
By AUTOMOTIVE NEWS


For the first time since it debuted in late 1989, Mazda's MX-5 Miata is not America's favorite budget two-seat sports car.

That honor now belongs to the Pontiac Solstice.

Heading into the final weeks of the year, the swoopy $20,000 Pontiac sports car has a commanding sales lead over the venerable Miata. And there are no asterisks, either: Both cars came out in 2005, so this is their first full year of head-to-head competition.

Through November, Pontiac sold 18,361 Solstices, compared with 15,873 Miatas. Pontiac padded its lead in November, chalking up sales of 1,305, compared with just 995 Miatas.

This race could be even more interesting next year. Expect greater availability of the high-performance 260-hp Solstice GXP. And Mazda will offer a Miata with a folding metal roof.


www.autonews.com

For the second straight year, the Pontiac Solstice roadster is America's favorite moderately priced sports car.

The Solstice took the checkered flag over the Mazda MX-5 Miata in the 2007 U.S. sales race, outselling the Miata in a photo finish. Pontiac sold 16,779 units in 2007 compared with 15,075 for the Miata. The Saturn Sky, a close relative of the Solstice, came in third with sales of 11,263.

Despite new versions and equipment, sales were down for all three cars in 2007. Pontiac and Saturn offered performance-oriented Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line versions, while Mazda rolled out a Miata with a retractable metal roof.

Mazda offered special lease deals on the Miata. GM offered no incentives on the Solstice or Sky in 2007.

It looks like a TVR

The interior of the solstice looks VERY cheap.
________
Ocean View Condominium (http://pattayaluxurycondos.com)

Chicks love the Solstice. That's all I see these days. The Solstice has a more interesting look than the bland Miata.

God bless GM! If the MSRP for the GXP is under $30k I may have to seriously consider this thing.

I don't see how you can be a sports car enthusiast and not love this idea.

I like it, I remember seeing the original concept car which was a coupe... very similar to this, and I agree, TVR/M Coupe ripoff, but as noted, 260hp and under $30k is a pretty attractive combo. Much like our own choice in vehicle. Similar depreciation as well by then. The ragtops held their value while "hard" to find new, but now have taken almost a typical american car dive. I'm sure the coupe would follow a similar path.

Lets consider some of the good things about this car...

Turbocharged engine; will be easy to make more power than you need
Competition proven chassis; the convertible is doing quite well in the SCCA
Under 3000 lbs
RWD
Five year, 100k mile powertrain warranty

It's only fixed roof, RWD competition in this price range is the RX-8 and 350Z. I personally dislike the 350Z, and every time I research the RX-8 thinking I might go buy one I come away dissatisfied after reading about the car's dismal fuel economy and questionable powertrain reliability.

nice

why do I see some....**gasp**...CROSSFIRE in that?!

Couldn't agree with you more... It's originality is gone...

not bad. they will have the same buck tooth front license plate problem that we have with that grill design tho.

Veeerrrryyyy nice. Always preferred a coupe over a roadster. Like the mid-year Corvette. The coupe look so much better than the soft top, in my humble (but correct) opinion :)

Veeerrrryyyy nice. Always preferred a coupe over a roadster. Like the mid-year Corvette. The coupe look so much better than the soft top, in my humble (but correct) opinion :)

I love roadsters, but the fact is that hard top cars are easier to get on a race track.

Didn't Jaguar used to make this car?

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/1964_Jaguar_XKE_E_Type_Coupe_Side_1.jpg

Why cant there be any room for a trunk? The design looks really nice, but you can't live with this car day to day. I've driven a Sky Redline, and it's cramped even in the cockpit.
If I'm going to have a impractical "toy" that only comes out on the weekends, it isn't going to be as butt-ass slow as this thing is. I'll take the RX8 with a sunroof anyday.

wow, great try, but well short.

the front end is h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e. gd, it's really bad.

the back end is nice, but like others said, it's just a mix of crossfire and z4 coupe, and the z4 has a bunch more room in the back.

love the targa top, wish more cars would go to that, but man, pontiac did not get it right here...

I'm not really a fan. I think the vert looks much better.

Fugly.

I think its great!
A little geeky!
I don't like the side marker copy cat BMW/RX8

Looks Great!

This is a win for GM, and lets be honest, they need all the wins they can get.

Here's a video of a yellow coupe driving around. It also has the regular 5-spoke wheels on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAj3Yv67vto

Any news of a Sky coupe?

I read they aren't going to make one.

some cars just look better without a roof....

:puke:

Talk about one hell of a blind spot. lol

The car looks good, though.

z4 coupe rip off.

Mazda, Nissan, and Honda are about to see competition like never before from Asia and the USA. Don't think Europe has anything except maybe the 1 series which can compete for sports car honors under or near 30k. I can't wait to see if Toyota gets back in the game.

shape reminds me of a crossfire.

i love teh front- especially in the silver above

The ducktail screams Japan, but overall it's...OK. Nothing to trade-in my 8 for.

The ragtop is definitely a chick car. I only see women driving them around here.

Now this is a hot American car. Damn nice!

Now if only they had a version with back seats.... I think it would make me switch. Until then, though have to keep the 4 seat RX-8 and go FI.

It is like they hired some Italian car designer or something to head that project. This is the kind of style American cars need more of.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/gallery/data/559/medium/sols11.jpg

I think it looks pretty decent (I see a little modern TVR in the side profile and rear) and is way beyond anything Pontiac has attempted as far as small and sporty goes in recent years. Targa top is always cool. I still think the Sky looks much better and if this coupe had the Sky's front end it would look really good. A pity Saturn won't get a Sky coupe...

It'll broaden the potential buyer base. Not everyone wants a convertible. It still has a crappy interior though.

...It still has a crappy interior though.

and will probably feel like driving a bus compared to driving a Miata.

I like it. For some reason looks way better than the convertible. I like it, way better appearance than the bland miata, plus it's new, that's why it out sold the miata (though not by much).

I can see it continuing to outsell the MX-5/Miata as the average buyer of something like the Soltice/Sky would primarily be concerned with flashy looks, price, power and perhaps an American nameplate - not handling, refinement, build quality, and reliability which are some of the MX-5's strongest quality's.