Pontiac Solstice 2012

Something wonderful happens when you ease into Solstice's form-fitting driver's seat, drop the top, then drop the hammer. The workaday world and all its associated trials and tribulations seem to melt away. It's just you and the road, intimately connected by one of the purest sports cars on the planet. Available in your choice of two performance levels, which you might think of as "Excellent!" – that's the original 173 hp Solstice – and "Whoa!" – that's the turbocharged 260 hp Solstice GXP – Solstice is all about style, responsiveness and sheer exhilaration. There's also a very cool new Coupe GXP with a removable Targa top** for the coupe enthusiasts out there, so there's now a Solstice for every sports car fan. Solstice. Get in, and feel free.

Solstice GXP takes the Solstice concept to thrilling extremes. With a peak output of 260 hp, its turbocharged 2.0L engine produces more power per litre of displacement than any powerplant in General Motors history. Think zero to 96 km/h in under 5.5 seconds.

Running up the gears is a blast with Solstice's standard short-throw 5-speed manual transmission. If you prefer, Solstice and Solstice GXP also offer the convenience of a smooth-shifting electronically controlled 5-speed automatic gearbox.

Let's face it, Solstice is one of the most beautiful, most eye-catching cars on the road. The lines are clean and taut, and the stance – accented by standard 18" aluminum wheels – is both balanced and powerful. There's even a standard hard tonneau cover for an uncluttered top-down look.

Solstice's standard StabiliTrak TM electronic stability control system significantly reduces your risk of being involved in a single-vehicle crash. † Any time StabiliTrak detects that a lateral skid is underway, it steps in automatically, to help you bring the car back under control.

†According to information published by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), July 2007.

The Solstice Coupe** delivers awesome fastback style, open-air fun and all-season versatility, all in one car. Roof off, you enjoy a true topless driving experience. Roof on, Solstice Targa Coupe GXP has the dramatic coupe profile of a classic, low-slung GT car, along with a highly usable cargo area under the opening rear liftglass. It's a whole new way to break free.

**Interim availability. See dealer for details.

Solstice gives you 2 ways to experience the sheer joy of driving a sports roadster. Solstice captures all the essentials – a 2-place cockpit, a folding roof and a car engineered to invigorate. Solstice GXP adds the excitement of a 260 hp turbocharged engine and a host of other performance upgrades. For more details, see below. Or check out options and specifications. Choose a model to learn more or compare complete options and specifications.

A sports roadster in the purest sense, Solstice is all about the pure joy of driving. When the sun shines, the top folds away in seconds. In the cockpit there's room for you and one fortunate friend. The seats are comfortable and supportive. The driver ergonomics, impeccable. Light up the ECOTEC engine and 173 horses come to life. Add in Solstice's advanced sports car architecture, rear-wheel drive, near-50/50 weight distribution and sophisticated chassis and you've got something special - a car you'll love to drive.

Solstice GXP puts the priority squarely on performance. Thanks to advanced spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) technology, the turbocharged 2.0L engine puts out 260 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque – astounding numbers for a powerplant of this size. To help you keep all that exuberance firmly under control, a Sport suspension and W-rated high-performance tires are standard equipment. Solstice GXP even has a powerful sense of style, with unique front and rear styling, standard fog lights and a gleaming dual-outlet exhaust.