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2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Preview

Pontiac Sets 350Z and Boxster In Its Sights With Turbocharged 260 hp Solstice GXP

The Pontiac Solstice is undoubtedly one of the hottest cars for 2006. Click onto any number of websites and youll find message boards lined with praise and desire for this attractive little roadster. Outside of the virtual world its causing quite a stir too, selling 1,000 units in just 41 minutes at its 2002 debut, and it has even taken up a role in the season finale of a popular reality TV series featuring The Donald.

On the road, its quite the performer too. Initial tests have shown it to be a light, quick and nimble handler, all of which complements its deliciously good looks. How could it go wrong?

GM lights a fire under the Solstice, creating the ultra-quick Solstice GXP. (Photo: General Motors)

After all, it incorporates all the right classic roadster ingredients.

The Solstice has obviously been noticed by the competition too: so good is this car that Mazda recently downgraded the American marketplace as being its number-one sales market for the third-generation MX-5 - the little Pontiac two-seaters arch-nemesis.

For 2007, General Motors will be adding something to the Solstice that should make

In GXP trim, Pontiac hopes to go chase 350Zs, S2000s and other hot roadsters. (Photo: General Motors)

owners of the racy Mazdaspeed Miata sit up and take notice, and it isnt just a new body color or the option of a hard top. Rather, Pontiac has decided to kick the Solstice into high gear by offering it in GXP guise, giving it the performance credentials to make it a serious threat against the BMW Z4, Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z, and even the Porsche Boxster.
So, what does it take to make the tiny Solstice into something that will embarrass big-dollar sports cars? GMs solution is different than the usual, no replacement

the new turbocharged 2.0L by far the most powerful Ecotec motor currently in production, generating an estimated 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: General Motors)

for displacement answer, as it would throw the Solstices weight distribution and handling characteristics off. Instead, power for the GXP comes from an all-new 2.0-liter Ecotec four-cylinder thats been turbochaged, not unlike Chevys new Cobalt SS and Saturns ION Quad Coupe Red Line - at least in principle. This is by far the most powerful Ecotec motor currently in production, mind you, generating an estimated 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Do the (very) simple math, and thats a supercar-rivaling 130 horsepower per liter, giving it the highest specific capacity of any motor GM has ever

The new Ecotec engine is one of GMs most advanced to date, featuring a dual-scroll turbo, direct injection and variable valve timing with camshaft phasing. Wow! (Photo: General Motors)

created.

The inner workings of the Solstice GXPs engine are truly impressive - this is one very advanced powerplant, words you normally wouldnt hear describing your average GM mill. The engine found in the Solstice GXP is a second generation Ecotec motor, which has evolved from the remarkable range that includes the 240 hp 2.0 liter turbo in the Opel Astra OPC/VXR, the supercharged Ecotec in the Cobalt SS Supercharged/ION Red Line, and the naturally aspirated 2.2 and 2.4 liter engines in various other products.

For starters, the engine receives variable valve timing with dual camshaft phasing to improve efficiency and peak performance. But this is nothing new, and is technology thats already

Only 5.4 seconds to spare? Thats all the time needed for the Solstice GXP to get you to 60 mph. (Photo: General Motors)

in use on GMs 3.9 liter V6 and the first-gen Ecotec motor series. The big step forward comes from the introduction of SIDI, Spark Ignition Direct Injection, making this GMs first North American powerplant with direct injection.

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