First Look: 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

First photos and information on the targa fastback version of Pontiac's rear-drive roadster
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By Kirill Ougarov
Check Dealer Pricing On a New Pontiac Solstice!



Several years after unleashing the Solstice roadster, Pontiac is following up with a hardtop fastback rework of the vehicle called the Solstice Coupe Concept.
Inspired by the Solstice hardtop concept that wowed the crowds at the 2002 Detroit auto show and foreshadowed the roadster's arrival, the Solstice Coupe should arrive at dealerships in early 2009.
With the Solstice designed as a convertible from the ground up, only slight changes had to be made to the chassis to convert it into a fixed-roof coupe. There's minimal weight gain to the tune of just 31 pounds, which is equivalent to the weight of the removable, Targa-style magnesium roof panel. A soft roof cover and home storage case for the panel will be options.
The roof brackets and other mounting bits for the roof are made of aluminum, the extra weight of which, along with all the extra sheetmetal necessary for the coupe, is counterbalanced by the weight savings due to the removal of the convertible-top mechanism. ducktail spoiler and new taillight assemblies
Other Coupe-specific touches include a ducktail rear spoiler and new rear taillight assemblies. Pontiac says vehicle dynamic characteristics and other factors such as fuel economy should be virtually the same as the roadster.


While they were at it, the designers reworked the space behind the seats, adding a storage tray behind the headrests and a pass-through to the trunk. The removal of the top mechanism adds 0.2 cubic foot of cargo space via the switch to a flat floor and allowed for the addition of several storage compartments and cargo tie-down hooks. Getting into the trunk is easier, too, thanks to the large liftback glass.
The Solstice Coupe employs the same powertrain options as its drop-top sibling, the 2.4-liter Ecotec with 173 horses with a five-speed manual, or the 260 horse, 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec unit that powers the Solstice GXP, mated to a five-speed automatic.
Pontiac is silent on pricing, but it shouldn't be substantially different from that of the roadster. While it's uncertain what impact the Coupe will have on Solstice sales, it's a safe bet to say that it will be a positive one -- especially for those who have balked at the Solstice's roadster's balky top.