Sneak peek: GM's Pontiac Solstice racer?
An alert member of the Solstice Forum attended the March Madness/Final Four Pontiac demofest at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Sunday, and got a brief glimpse of the newest offspring of the GM Performance parts bin - a Pontiac Solstice racer!
The car appears to be outfitted for SCCA Showroom Stock 'B' racing (basically a stock car with minimal modifications allowed) and features a nice little add-on hardtop.
GM Performance put a lot of effort into enhancing the Chevy Cobalt for drag and road-racing... let's hope they give Pontiac's little two-seater the same treatment. In any event, it looks like we can look forward to some Miata/MX5-Solstice duels this summer. More pics after the jump...
(Thanks, David F!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Proud Japanese 10:15AM (4/07/2006)
Looks ugly. Also I highly suspect MX-5 will be charged with rape.
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Kamil 10:18AM (4/07/2006)
Nice. I take it that SCCA Showroom Stock 'B' does not allow for suspension modification? Ride height looks very factory.
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Leo 10:43AM (4/07/2006)
Good for Pontiac. I suspect they'll learn a lot about the car by racing Showroom stock over the year.
The GM Racing folks are very competent and proactive. They put the rest of the organization to shame.
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EGS Machine 11:12AM (4/07/2006)
why do american cars have huge wheel arches? like mustangs and such. the GTO is tiht, but is made in Oz. all the foriegn made american cars are tight, but the americans are huge in comparison.
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cynthia 11:18AM (4/07/2006)
i am so glad to see pontiac put out such a beautiful and affordable roadster i've been so looking forward to this can't wait to own one
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Corey W. 11:49AM (4/07/2006)
Hummm, concerning ride height, you have to look at what class/category it's in. (sports sedan, GT...etc)
I've seen many, imports/foreign built domestics, with the same ugly setup. Also, those are not the stock tires, which makes the gap even worse
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Shoeman 12:38PM (4/07/2006)
Irrespective of speculation about which marque will be charged with inappropriately handling which one, this can only mean that both will get better and sportier. Of course, here's hoping GM brings back some knowhow from the experience to the manufactured, mainstream version. This is something Mazda has always done and are well-respected for!
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Manny Fold 12:52PM (4/07/2006)
I wonder if they fixed all the problems with the car with all these mods and sticker:
1. Awful interior materials
2. Suicide cup holder (have you seen the thing? it is at your right shoulder)
3. Handles like a minivan
4. Looks like a Pontiac...probably hard to fix
5. Power-less wonder
Drive the Solstice back to back with a Miata....no comparison.
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PJ 3:25PM (4/07/2006)
I didn't drive the Solstice and MX-5 back to back, but I've driven both cars, and would guess they'll make close competitors on a track. I didn't find the Pontiac's handling the least bit "minivan-like"... if anything, it corners flatter and with better grip than the Miata. It doesn't let you play with slip angles like the MX-5 does, thanks to those big 245-width tires, though.
Similarly, the Pontiac's Ecotec has a broader powerband and pulls better down low, but the MX-5 revs much faster and perks up at higher rpm.
Slip vs. grip, revs vs. torque... it'll make for some interesting racing.
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JimR 5:55PM (4/07/2006)
I don't think GM intends to leverage the weight of factory support on a losing car in SSB.
Were already seeing the beginnings of a close fight in the autocross domain, where the '99 Miata rules C-Stock. The Solstice has wider stock wheels, more engine, and room to develop. When you can't modify much of anything, the Solstice doesn't look bad at all. I'd definitely gamble on a Solstice, especially with the force of factory backing, support, and contingency.
The NB Miata is at the end of its development cycle. Both the Solstice and NC MX-5 are brand new, nowhere to go but up. To the dismay of ignorant armchair racers (numero #7), the Solstice may come out on top.
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caffee 11:07AM (4/08/2006)
WOW! I'll take two, make one red.
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Mike 1:00PM (4/08/2006)
Looks like a Pontiac?? This is what a Pontiac should look like, does anyone think there's anyting to really fix in the looks department? I'll concede the wheel arches they just look too big or like it needs to be lowered. All in all, this is one great looking car and while I'd probably stick with the MX-5 (I currently drive a 10th anniversary edition MX-5) I'd venture a guess that in Beauty contest the Solstice would win the favor of 7 out of 10 judges.
This car is meaningful for a lot of reasons.
1. It's conquering in a market that has previously been dominated by the Miata. The last 15 years are littered with failed attempts at this(Civic del Sol, MR-2 Spyder, MG-F, The Mercury Capri Cabrio was a half hearted attempt.) No direct competitor has had the impact that the solstice is now enjoying.
2. The fact that GM has produced this car is in itself significant, and it will be interesting to see how the GXP variant fares when it debuts later this year.
3. It's pretty obvious that GM is pushing the right buttons with this car.
I wanted desperately for this car to be just a little bit better so I could justify it to myself over a new MX-5, that's how much I like the looks. So far I'm still in the MX-5 Camp, but the hot new GXP could chip away at my loyalty. It will be interesting to see if Mazdaspeed has an answer.
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Axel 5:03PM (4/08/2006)
The Solstice GXP/Sky Redline will be a tons of fun. Like Mike said, most people prefer the looks of both of these over the subdued, and now aged, look of the Miata. I also had the deep blue 10th anniv. Miata, and enjoyed it a great deal... but I'm now looking for torque that will push me back into the seat on command.
I prefer the "classic" curved look of the GXP, while some prefer the more modern look of a Sky. What both will have going for them is an engine that is simply amazing! It makes those two cars genuine "pocket rockets" that will also be economical and smooth. The MX-5, S2000, and Z4 will be no competition for that engine, or fun-for-the-buck.
Looks, Power, Economy, Top-Down Fun... they're a homerun for GM.
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