Pontiac engineers ventured to the Nürburgring to take some hot laps in the hot version of the Solstice roadster. Several styling differences set this prototype apart as the turbocharged version of Pontiac's halo car. The high-performance additions to the Solstice clearly require more breathing ability. The large round lights set into the Solstice's bumper fascia - surrounded by bodywork on the standard 170-hp model - are set within additional honeycomb grillework on this prototype. Sharply sculpted edges outline the added grilles, giving more definition to the Solstice's face. The Turbo Solstice's more chiseled look is furthered by a deeper, squared-off jawline, which incorporates another thin air-intake slit at the bottom.

The changes at the rear are less pronounced: a subtle lip spoiler sets this more muscled model apart from the standard version. By applying a turbocharger to GM's 2.4-liter Ecotec engine, this Solstice will generate at least 240 horsepower, and rumors suggest it may even exceed 250 horses. Regardless of the final output numbers, this car should give serious competition to the likes of Mazda's new Miata, as long as the Solstice's final execution manages to live up to the promise of the car's sexy lines.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A9269.html

Overall it's looking pretty neat, but I'm still not quite sold on the Solstice. I like the Saturn Sky a little better, and I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that this Solstice GXP will spawn a Sky Redline.

Also, the new Miata's engine is from the same family as the 271 hp 2.3 liter direct-injection turbo motor in the Mazdaspeed6. Maybe this car will put the spurs to Mazda to drop it into the next Mazdaspeed Miata. Now THAT would be an RX-7 replacement, well, except for the whole rotary thing.

 

those giant fog lights, or whatever they are, ruin the clean, simple front-end, imo. a little extra venting may be okay, but those things are pretty huge. :down:

 

Saturn Sky looks much better anyways. Sky redline would be one sweet car, performance should be in the S2k range. Hopefully price will be below $30k though.

 

the need for a front license plate in most states ruins the front end already

 

The lights are the same units as the regular Solstice, it's just they're mounted in those grilles which are mounted in bigger cutouts in the bumper. So technically it's not the lights themselves which disappoint you. h:

 

are those trying to vent the brakes or somthing then?

 

yeh, i just realized that too. so :down: to the grilles

 

reminds me of pontiac's fiero fiasco to battle against the MR2...

 

The difference here is that while the Fiero was clearly a piece of crap, the Solstice looks to be at the very least halfway decent.

 

Saturn Sky > Solstice :chuckles: