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2006 Pontiac Solstice Photo Gallery

Pontiac drops the top on its hot new ride

AS
by Autobytel Staff
July 6, 2005
4 min. Reading Time
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With the exception of the Chevy Corvette, it’s been quite awhile since General Motors has been able to cop an attitude like that. There’s the thoroughly capable Pontiac GTO, but its lackluster styling has left the buying public polarized. From that GTO to the Chevrolet HHR, GM has been criticized for either missing the mark or bringing a product to the market unfashionably late. That all may change with the 2006 Pontiac Solstice. We’ll reserve our final opinions until after a test drive, but from what we’ve seen thus far, this first-ever Pontiac roadster ain’t screwing around. It wouldn’t have been a stretch to expect a new GM model like the Solstice to show up unprepared for battle with the outgoing 2005 Miata, let alone the thoroughly updated 2006 model. But the Solstice stands ready to compete with today’s Mazda Miata, and it’s ready for the redesigned MX-5. Will the 2006 Pontiac Solstice beat down its competitors? It’s too early to tell. But whichever company rolls away the victor, at least it will have been a fair fight.

Stiff Platform

Pontiac’s 2006 Solstice roadster rides on GM’s so-called Kappa platform. Running along the center of the Solstice is a tunnel, inside which reside the transmission and driveshaft. GM engineers claim that this design makes for a stiff structure that limits body flex.

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Suspension

Under the 2006 Pontiac Solstice’s skin is a rack-and-pinion steering system and a fully independent suspension setup. Bolted on both front and rear are short/long-arm suspensions, featuring Bilstein shocks and stabilizer bars.

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Soft Top

Standard on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is a manual soft top that folds neatly under the rear clamshell lid. Incorporated into the cloth top is a glass rear window with defroster.

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Engine

Powering the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that rides on hydraulic mounts and features variable valve timing. This all-aluminum, dual overhead cam powerplant cranks out 177 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 166 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm.

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Transmission

Power for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is delivered to the rear wheels by a standard five-speed manual transmission. For drivers with an aversion to clutches, the Solstice can be outfitted with a five-speed automatic transmission.

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MPG

Running on premium fuel (recommended), the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is expected to return 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg in mixed driving. Of course, keep the hammer down to extract all 177 horses and those figures will surely drop fast.

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Weight

At 2,860 pounds, the 2006 Pontiac Solstice is about 300-400 pounds heavier than the redesigned Mazda MX-5. However, with a near-50/50 distribution, the Solstice carries that weight well.

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Standard

Among the list of standard features on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice are sport seats, three cupholders, a leather-wrapped shifter, tilt steering wheel, and a six-speaker sound system with a single-disc CD player.

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Options

When it comes to roadsters, it’s all about the driving experience. However, for buyers interested in upping the amenity ante, Pontiac has you covered. The 2006 Solstice can be equipped with air conditioning; an MP3 player; an in-dash, six-disc CD player; a seven-speaker Monsoon sound system; XM satellite radio; and OnStar telematics.

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Packages

In addition to the stand-alone options on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice, there are three package groups. The Power Package includes keyless entry and power locks, power mirrors, and power windows. Included in the Convenience Package are fog lights, cruise control, and a driver information display. The Premium Package offers leather seats and steering wheel-mounted radio controls.

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