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'Keep it simple, pure, and beautiful and it will be easy to love'. These were the basic inspirations set down by Bob Lutz, GM’s chairman of North American Operations, in creating a 'sketch-off' for the first concept vehicle commissioned by GM’s new product chief. The call went out at the end of September and by mid-October, the Pontiac Solstice roadster was under development. The program was executed in just under four months from the first sketch, to the drivable vehicle. The thesis is an affordable roadster that would sell for about $20,000, which would be very easy to build in a flexible manufacturing environment. This was accomplished using existing componentry from the GM system. The first sketches for the vehicle actually hit Lutz’s desk as a stunning coupe penned by designer, Franz Von Holzhausen, a recent addition the GM California design studio. The Solstice is powered by a rear-wheel-drive 2.2-liter DOHC supercharged EcoTec four-cylinder engine generating up to 240 horsepower with premium fuel. The supercharger is an off-the-shelf unit supplied right out of the GM Service Parts performance catalog. The engine is mated to a Borg-Warner performance six-speed manual transmission, the same one used in the Corvette. The front end uses a simple and reliable strut configuration with a rack-and-pinion steering system derived from the Subaru WRX, one of GM’s alliance partners. The all-aluminum independent rear suspension is derived from GMs mid-size crossover SUV family and also doubles as the mount for the rear differential, which was derived from the new GM mid-size SUVs. Unique fabricated drive-shafts power the rear wheels.
Company press release, last updated before 12 / 01 / 2004
I love the coupe version. Finally, a roadster we all can afford especially with rising gas prices. When I look at this beauty I imagine myself driving along Pacific Coast Highway in the summertime. This would definitely be a fun car to own for the weekends.
I love it!
solstice_lover 9-5-2003
The first time I saw this, I knew right away I had to follow it. Does anyone know if they have announced when it will be produced? Or how far they are in the process.
Sexy and hot.
Adrian 26-4-2003
"Sexy and hot. Curves in all the right places. But... Looks like the previous Nissan 350Z concept? This car however wouldn't age well would it? It could be dangerously outdated in looks not too long in the future I fear. This impl;ies the car isn't too much of a 'concept' perhaps? That I can actually drive one on the road soon? Then I'd better start saving up..."