 Click here for the Ride&Drive Index! Posted June, 2007 Road Test: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP
And it worked. The Solstice quickly became the best-selling car in its segment, the first time a domestic product had occupied that spot in seventeen years. We looked forward to doing this road test review of the 2007 Solstice GXP. The Solstice is well-equipped with the type of comfort and convenience items appreciated by sports car drivers. The interior is surprisingly roomy, allowing for a comfortable driving position for tall drivers — a quality this driver appreciated. Standard equipment includes: • Racing-inspired sport bucket seats with convenient seat cushion and seatback storage • Leather-wrapped manual shift knob • AM/FM and CD stereo with six speakers • Rear window defogger • Rake-adjustable steering wheel • Three cupholders • Easy-to-operate cloth convertible top with glass backlight • Dual frontal air bags In addition, several option packages are available: The Power Package: includes power locks, mirrors and windows, along with remote keyless entry The Convenience Package: includes cruise control, driver information center and fog lamps The Premium Package: includes leather seating surfaces (Ebony or Steel/Sand two-tone), leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering wheel radio controls Other available equipment includes air conditioning, carpeted floor mats, MP3-capable CD player radio, MP3-capable radio with six-disc in-dash CD player, OnStar-equipped Solstice models feature OnStar dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment. OnStar's digital equipment comprises enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Hands-Free Calling that allows drivers to make and receive voice-activated phone calls using an externally mounted antenna for greater reception. In keeping with its sports car spirit, the Solstice is built on GM's new rear-wheel drive Kappa platform, which uses independent short/long arm-type suspensions in the front and rear to give the Solstice a responsive, road-gripping driving feel. Other driver-focused features include: The Solstice is powered by a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine that produces 177 horsepower at 6600 rpm and 166 lb.-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm. With a curb weight of just 2,860 pounds, the Ecotec engine helps give the Solstice a more than adequate horsepower-to-weight ratio 1. Matching the Ecotec's power is a standard close-ratio Aisin five-speed manual transmission. The Hydra-Matic 5L40-E five-speed automatic transmission is also offered as an option. A 3.91:1 axle ratio is standard with the five-speed manual powertrain. The gears are housed in a rear axle derived from the Cadillac CTS, which was chosen for its excellent performance characteristics and high torque capability. A limited-slip rear differential is available. If you want added performance, the GXP is the model for you. It comes standard with a 2.0-liter Ecotec engine that is turbocharged and produces 260 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 2500-5250 rpm. Our test car came with the 5-speed automatic transmission. Despite the added power, the EPA economy rating isn’t too bad: 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway. The GXP package also includes a lengthy list of extra equipment: power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, steering wheel controls, dual stainless steel exhaust pipes, fog lamps, electronic stability system, limited-slip differential, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, and sport tuned four-wheel independent suspension. Our test car had $4,544 worth of options on it and a final sticker of $31,659 (including a destination charge of $600). Is it worth it? Increasing numbers of buyers seem to think so. In fact, the Solstice is an example of the miracles GM can work when it has its act together. At its best, there’s no finer car company in the world. It’s a shame it doesn’t operate at that level more often. R&D
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Copyright 2007 by Ride&Drive Features, All Rights Reserved |
light for production in 2004. Less than two years later, the production model hit the street — a remarkable achievement given the fact that the vehicle's architecture was created from scratch.
