Autoblog

Click above for high-res live shots of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

A self-effacing and impeccably dressed Bob Lutz took shots at the old Pontiac during the live reveal of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe. Busting on the arrowhead's former taste for cladding and Iron Dukes in the "excitement" product line, Lutz confidently strode alongside a silver 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe as it rolled out amidst fanfare provided by the Young Lords. Strobe lights flashed, music blared – it was like catching the last act of Kimmel, complete with Pontiac Garage signage. The Solstice Coupe replaces the world's flimsiest soft-top setup with a composite targa panel. 50-Cent also made an appearance and touted the performance of the GXP-trim Solstice, saying "It's faster than a Porsche Boxster. For $30,000... pick this one, not that one," while pointing at the Porsche display. The look of the Solstice Coupe is definitely zoomy - think of a C3 Corvette left in the dryer too long and you get the idea. Inside, the feeling is perhaps slightly less claustrphobic, but the general low-budget interior continues, though the GXP on the stand was wearing leather on the seats. The price of entry will still be a bargain when you look at the style it buys (official pricing hasn't been announced) - and the Coupe may even have enough trunk for an overnight bag.

The Autoblog team has hit the summer season with a fury, with more news than you can shake a stick at. We saw plenty of car shows last week, and we got behind the wheel of some of the Chrysler group's hottest new products and concepts, too. We also got to drop the top of the hot new Solstice GXP and get some drive time with the Saturn Outlook.

The last week was packed with information, and four minutes will give you an update on anything you might have missed by clicking on the video above. We've also added links below to some of the more significant galleries from the last seven days. This week we have some incredible music from Brian Buckit with "Rocket Science". Enjoy!

Whoa, is that an intercooler we see buried deep in the lower front bumper of this otherwise quotidian HHR? Indeed it is, and Winding Road is guessing it's connected to the Pontiac Solstice GXP's direct-injected turbo-four that makes 260 hp and 260 ft-lbs. of torque. SS also means bigger wheels and this mule has much larger shoes than the standard High Heritage Roof. The HHR will be refreshened in the near future, so it's not known whether the SS badge will be affixed to the current body style or an updated one. Still, props to Chris Doane for snapping this shot of the HHR's intercooler peaking out. Good eye, kid. Good eye.

[Source: Winding Road]

As we reported last week, General Motors officially decided to take the Solstice racing on a national level by entering it in the Sports Car Club of America road racing series. The first race was last weekend at the New Hampshire International Speedway and the Solstice placed third in the Showroom Stock B class behind a pair of Miatas. The car was prepped by Phoenix Performance and driven by 18-year old Andrew Aquilante. Aquilante is a phenom racer with a few titles already under his belt, and it would appear he's also related to the president of Phoenix Performance, Joe Aquilante.

Aquilante and the Solstice were only 1.3 seconds out of first and the kid recorded the fastest lap time during the race and was the second fastest qualifier of the day. John Heinricy, GM's sultan of speed, was reportedly quite pleased with the outcome of the race and the first outing of the Z0K Club Sport  package on the car that adds a limited-slip differntial, better power steering cooler and the FE3 suspension that will standard on the Solstice GXP.

Check out GM's full release with some more deets after the jump...

[Source: GM]