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EDAG Set To Wow at Detroit with Solstice Hardtop

German Coachwork EDAG Puts a Lid on Popular Solstice Roadster 

EDAG is a German coachworks firm, a sort of automobile customizer or tailor. In its small facilities, EDAG makes specialty vehicles for those with big wallets and a taste for something out of the ordinary. While EDAG has never before shown its creations on North American soil, at least to the mass public, it will be making its debut this year with a tiny two-car stand at Detroit for 2006s North American International

EDAGs Solstice Hardtop is stylish, and offers a little bit more room over the soft-top convertible. (Photo: EDAG)

Auto Show, and weve got a sneaking suspicion that its going to the be the talk of the town.

The car that EDAG will be showing at Detroit is a reworked version of Pontiacs star roadster, the Solstice. As one of 2006s hottest cars, the Solstice has it all - beauty, style, handling, and now that the 260-hp turbocharged GXP model has been announced, performance. The one thing about the Solstice roadster that seems to have everyone moaning and groaning, is its absolutely miniscule trunk space (3.8

The roof of the Hardtop doesnt change the bodys structure or the initial design. (Photo: EDAG)

cu-ft when the roof is up and worse when its down), has been solved by EDAG with this clever hardtop station wagon.

Where the Solstice features a soft-top roof that retracts and stows away under a clamshell-like tonneau cover cum trunk, the roof on EDAGs Solstice is permanently shut. The new roof extends beyond the front window, curving ever so slightly at an upward angle, before turning downwards abruptly at it mates with the tail. Using dark tinted glass and black-painted pillars, EDAG has given its Solstice wagon a wraparound look, while access to the rear trunk is through a lift-up glass window. Because the roof is a direct add-on, there were no changes made to the

The concept behind the Hardtop works a little like this... (Photo: EDAG)

Solstices hind portions, retaining its curvy flanks, flat tail lights and circular reverse lamps.
EDAG hasnt released the cargo volume or carrying capacities of their modified Solstice, but theres probably a good reason for this as it probably wont be particularly large. Despite the new structure, its unlikely that the car will be able to hold very much considering the fact that much of the Solstices tail is taken up by the fuel tank and rear differential, though with a fixed roof, the removal of the folding soft top would undoubtedly free up some volume. To boost the on-board cargo capacity, EDAG will showcase an attachable hard plastic carry-on box that snaps onto its roof (see gallery).

EDAG claims that the inspiration for their Solstice comes from the big, finned Pontiac Safari wagons of the 1950s and 1960s, a contrast

Inspiration from the Pontiac Safari? Chevrolet Nomad Concept, more likely. (Photo: General Motors)

to the Solstice as their family-friendly size and comfort made them the antithesis of sporty. A more likely source is the Corvette C1-style Nomad II Concept from 2004, which featured a similar roof and tail setup. This is of course, is a given, considering the Nomad II was wrought from the same concept car chassis that the original Solstice Concept and Saturn Curve Concepts came from.

Having applied a classic-style roof to a contemporary production roadster, not unlike classic roadster-to-coupe modifications such as MGs MGB GT or Triumphs GT6, EDAGs Solstice Hardtop provides a solution of (some) added space without losing any style; a unique approach that should strike a chord with show-goers.

The German firm hasnt announced whether or not it will be producing the car on a limited scale, and nor have they announced a price. For the time being, the Solstice Hardtop is a mere concept car for EDAG, a vehicle in which to attract attention amongst the industry giants.

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