2006 Mallett Solstice V8 - the one the engineers really wanted
Ever wonder what the Solstice engineers would have come up with if Bob let them raid better parts bins? Wonder no more, because according to these pics sent back from Eric at SEMA, what you're looking at is the Mallett Solstice V8 with an LS2 6.0L V-8 engine, a.k.a. the 400-hp base engine in the C6 Corvette. Yowza. And, if that's not enough for you, Eric remarked in his e-mail to us that the Z06's 500 hp LS7 takes up about the same amount of space as the LS2. Just in case you wanted to replace the tires on your Solstice every 500 miles. Says Eric: "The V8 install is extremely slick — I mean, we're talking about something that looks dead [beepin'] stock except for the exposed air filter."
Sorry about the quality of some pictures after the jump — evidently the poor exhibitors were parked in a dark corner. We nabbed some pics from Mallett's website that appear taken right before they made trip to Vegas.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DaMan 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I just wet myself!
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Corey 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
overkill!
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Ajay 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
now this is a sports car!!!
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010111 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
i like those wheels. look good on the solstice... though i did like them more when i thought they were gunmetal like the first picture sort of made them appear. i assume there will be a "SS" (or whatever Pontiacs performance group is called) version of the soltice? probably forced induction vs. V8 though... i would guess.
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Rollie 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Is this thing really available, and if it is, at what cost? I think it is over the top, and would be better off with the old 4.3 v6, or the turbo 3.8. This much horsepower in a package like this reminds me of the old 427 sideoiler Cobra. This thing would no doubt kill the old snake, which was, as I well remember, an absolute beast. (And, also well out of reach pricewise for the average enthusiest.)
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Tim P 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Rollie, having previously owned a Buick Regal T, I can tell you a turbo 3.8 would be equally over the top.
I think this is awesome, and its not over the top. Pricing will be interesting to hear.
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Nick Ragovis 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
The Corvette engine in the Solstice gets the HP to weight ratio a little over 7 lb/hp. THat's pretty crazy.
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Banker 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I want one.
This is the greatest rebirth of the muscle car era in America in decades. The very fact that the Soltice exists is awesome enough, but the Mallett brothers did what GM enthusiasts dream about... putting a Corvette V8 in a little roadster.
This is heaven... how much will this cost?
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amp 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
There's a lot more to a sports car than going fast in a straight line, especially for the smaller ones like the Solstice and the Miata. Granted the LS2 is a light weight for its displacement and power, but its a porker when compared to the Ecotec thats in there right now. Throw that big of an engine up front and youll destroy the balance of the car. A small forced induction engine would be better suited for these types of cars.
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Chris Paukert 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Were the Malletts kind enough to provide weight distribution figures?
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C_Bear 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
The price of the kit is $18,000 plus any options. See the following url: http://www.mallettcars.com/solsticedetailsorder.pdf
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Illan 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
You Hear that?? Thats the solitice making the sound of Screaming Rubber in a drifting competition.
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Engo P 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I don't know about the rest of you but I'd be more interested in this than a Corvette itself. It just looks more a appealing to me.
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SolsticeForums.Com 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
For more information and photos of the Pontiac Solstice, check out http://www.solsticeforums.com
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Rocket Punch 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Now we are talking! Never thought I would say this to a Pontiac, but nice work!
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Za 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Oh dear God. That is amazing.
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Fooman 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I want to do this to a Sky... Now that would confuse people as you own almost everything at the track in a stock looking saturn. Dreams of sleepers....
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chopps 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
this is great looking! question:
hows it going to handle?
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Chuck Mallett 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Hey guys,
Just finished a day at the track!
This package is perfect...
It ran the same lap times as a z51 2006 C6
With the same driver in both cars..
I will post some new pics Friday...
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XGC75 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
My god I don't know what to think. Wow, umm, coool. Real, really really cool. Wonderful little sleeper... imagine all those pompus V8 pickup truck drivers putting down all the slow little MX-5's and solstices as this thing dusts 'em. heheh.
400 ft/lbs on a little chassis like that does sound like overkill but only to the average driver. This thing is not for the novice, much less the faint-at-heart.
Good point, Amp, the dynamics of the car would seem to be thrown off a tall building but Mallet seems to like it...
I'm a bit worried though cause GM always has had a weak stomach - something tells me it wont go through. So here it goes: ...
PPPPLLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEE OOOHHHH PPPPLPLLLEEEAAAASSSEEEEE GM HAVE THE HEART AND THE MIND TO SEELLLL THIS THING PPPPLLLLLELEEEAAAASSSE!!!!!!
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