Solstice removable hardtop under development
05-23-2005, 08:34 AM
#1
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Solstice removable hardtop under development
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102426
I was hoping for fixed roof when I opened the link. Big thumbs up nonetheless. 
Automotive News
DETROIT -- General Motors will offer a removable hardtop on the Pontiac Solstice roadster in the first quarter of 2007, supplier and GM sources say.
The variant is part of GM's attempt to race the Solstice in Sports Car Club of America events. To race there, an automaker must have a production version of a hardtop vehicle.
During a panel discussion at the SAE World Congress in Detroit last month, Mark Reuss, executive director of GM's Performance Division, showed a picture of a car labeled the 2007 Solstice GT. The photo showed the car in coupe form with a sloping, fixed roof.
Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson says the vehicle is still under study. "We're not ruling out a lot of possibilities," Hopson says. "We're going to explore some of those."
GM insiders say Pontiac would like to add a hardtop to its lineup to stoke enthusiasm for what already appears to be a popular vehicle.
As of Monday, May 16, Pontiac had 8,177 orders for the Solstice, GM says. Pontiac says it will start building the vehicle this summer.
Reuss said he envisions a hardtop Solstice competing for the title in the Stock B-class competition against the Mazda Miata or in the Grand-Am Cup ST-class racing circuit against the BMW 330 and Mazda RX-8.
The Solstice will be built at GM's Wilmington, Del., plant on the Kappa rear-wheel-drive architecture.
Late next year GM will start building an Opel version of the Solstice in Wilmington. The Opel vehicle will be exported to Europe and will not be sold in the United States.
DETROIT -- General Motors will offer a removable hardtop on the Pontiac Solstice roadster in the first quarter of 2007, supplier and GM sources say.
The variant is part of GM's attempt to race the Solstice in Sports Car Club of America events. To race there, an automaker must have a production version of a hardtop vehicle.
During a panel discussion at the SAE World Congress in Detroit last month, Mark Reuss, executive director of GM's Performance Division, showed a picture of a car labeled the 2007 Solstice GT. The photo showed the car in coupe form with a sloping, fixed roof.
Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson says the vehicle is still under study. "We're not ruling out a lot of possibilities," Hopson says. "We're going to explore some of those."
GM insiders say Pontiac would like to add a hardtop to its lineup to stoke enthusiasm for what already appears to be a popular vehicle.
As of Monday, May 16, Pontiac had 8,177 orders for the Solstice, GM says. Pontiac says it will start building the vehicle this summer.
Reuss said he envisions a hardtop Solstice competing for the title in the Stock B-class competition against the Mazda Miata or in the Grand-Am Cup ST-class racing circuit against the BMW 330 and Mazda RX-8.
The Solstice will be built at GM's Wilmington, Del., plant on the Kappa rear-wheel-drive architecture.
Late next year GM will start building an Opel version of the Solstice in Wilmington. The Opel vehicle will be exported to Europe and will not be sold in the United States.
05-23-2005, 08:46 AM
#3
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
Yeah, that Solstice is HOT. When I get my wifes Blazer finally paid off I might look into it. It's a 2 seater sports car that a middle class family can afford. (good gas mileage to boot!) When's the last time Pontiac/GM offered something like that? = HIT.
PS. Doesn't this kind of remind you of what the corvette used to be??? (early years).
PS. Doesn't this kind of remind you of what the corvette used to be??? (early years).
Last edited by Chrome383Z; 05-23-2005 at 08:52 AM.
05-23-2005, 09:19 AM
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
Originally Posted by Chrome383Z
Yeah, that Solstice is HOT. When I get my wifes Blazer finally paid off I might look into it. It's a 2 seater sports car that a middle class family can afford. (good gas mileage to boot!) When's the last time Pontiac/GM offered something like that? = HIT.
PS. Doesn't this kind of remind you of what the corvette used to be??? (early years).
PS. Doesn't this kind of remind you of what the corvette used to be??? (early years).
05-23-2005, 12:24 PM
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
OK, 17 years ago. Been awhile. I'm 24 so basically in my lifetime there hasn't been one offered. I was 8 years old in 1988, LOL. Only thing I can remember from those years was seeing Black IROC's driving by and thinking those were the coolest things in the world!!! 
05-23-2005, 02:17 PM
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
Originally Posted by General Z
Fiero
I'd say the Vette is a closer fit to the solstice formula, only twice the price and twice the cyliders 
05-23-2005, 02:26 PM
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
Originally Posted by General Z
Well, wasn't it the last relativey cheap 2 door, 2 seater Pontiac? What about heritage? Brought back the GTO name and the Malibu and the Impala. Bring back Fiero.
J/K
J/K
Besides there actually is logic to GM's naming convensions for their two-seat drop tops. Solstice (sun) and Sky.... think about it.
05-23-2005, 03:01 PM
#13
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
Originally Posted by jg95z28
I don't recall there ever being a Fiero convertible.
Last edited by jrp4uc; 05-23-2005 at 03:03 PM.
05-23-2005, 03:06 PM
#14
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Re: Solstice removable hardtop under development
http://www.fiero.org/convertable.html
Originally Posted by jrp4uc
GM did have a Fiero convertible concept made.