Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Pontiac Solstice Coupe

For those who can't stand the nightmare contraption that is the Solstice top, Pontiac now has an answer for you. Behold the Solstice Coupe. Those who want some fresh air without the hassle of the Solstice soft top can partake in this car's removable roof panel of the targa variety. The new coupe has looks derived from the original coupe concept that debuted at the same time as the roadster in 2002. While the roof panel doesn't fit in the car when removed, there's no need to be concerned (too much) about getting caught in the rain. A soft roof cover can be stashed in the back and put in place in case of a sudden downpour. The hard roof panel has a magnesium frame around the SMC plastic shell and weighs just 31 lbs. Aside from the top, the coupe is pretty much mechanically the same as the roadster. It gets the same 2.4L normally aspirated and 2.0L turbo direct-injected four-cylinder engines with five speed transmissions of the self-shifting or manual kind. If you're hankering for this hard-top Solstice, you'll have to wait alongside the Camaro fans until early in 2009 to get one.


[Source: General Motors]