all-new 2006 Pontiac Solstice

[Jaguar D-Type]

The GM badge seen on the lower side of the car can be removed.

Another pre-production car.




Columbia River Gorge









Steel/Sand leather seating surfaces



I think the new Solstice is the most exciting Pontiac since the 1969-1970 GTO.

For the 1969 model year, two new engines were introduced, the Ram-Air III and IV, producing 366 and 370 hp respectively. The main difference between the two, was the use of either a Carter or a Rochester carburetor. Also added to the line-up was the 'Judge' model, named after the 'Here come da' Judge' expression from the 'Laugh-in' TV-show. The package included a striking set of decals and the easily recognizable 'Caroussel Red' orange paint.

Here is a 1970 GTO Judge. It could be had with a 455 cubic inch V-8 with 360 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.



Here is a restored 1970 GTO with a 467 cubic inch V-8 that cranks out 540 hp. It also has upgraded suspension and brakes.









1969 GTO Judge



Another GTO Judge

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by Jaguar D-Type

I think the new Solstice is the most exciting Pontiac since the 1970 GTO.

Can't be leaving out the 4th gen WS.6.

The Solstice is kinda a cool little car. For the price, awesome. My girl wants one of these cars REALLY bad. And at that price, she could get one if it fit into the house. Two seater doesn't really fit right now though.
Seen the Saturn Sky?? Same platform, and slightly more attractive in my opinion.

[Jaguar D-Type]

2002 Solstice Coupe concept

[Jaguar D-Type]

GM should use styling from the new Pontiac Solstice and the new Saturn Sky with their new rwd cars.

GM reverses course, says revised version of Zeta rear-drive architecture is back on track

Automotive News

9/12/05

DETROIT - Six months after General Motors halted plans to use its Zeta rear-wheel-drive car architecture in North America, the company has revived the program.

In an interview with Automotive News last week, Jim Queen, GM's vice president of global engineering, said a revised version of Zeta is back on track.

Engineered at GM's Holden subsidiary in Australia, Zeta was expected to be the basis of the next-generation Pontiac Grand Prix and GTO; the Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo and a new version of the Camaro; and other vehicles. Vehicles in the program were expected to debut as early as 2006.

Queen did not discuss vehicles on the new version of Zeta or timing. Some vehicles that could be in the Zeta program include the next-generation Pontiac GTO as well as a Chevrolet coupe and sedans. They could debut by the 2009 or 2010 model year, say one company source and one industry analyst.

Queen said initial plans for Zeta stretched the architecture beyond its limits for some North American vehicles. "We needed to reassess and reconfigure the program," he said.

"As we started counting who was in and who was out of Zeta, we realized too late" that Zeta would not work in North America, Queen said.

Part of GM's reasoning in slowing Zeta's development was to focus on pulling forward its full-sized SUVs and pickups. GM's next-generation SUVs will debut early next year.

At the time, GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz wrote on GM's FastLane blog that GM had "canceled & plans to build rear-wheel-drive vehicles off the Zeta architecture."

"But that does not mean we've canceled plans to build rear-drive vehicles altogether," Lutz wrote. "We are simply reallocating resources (human and financial) to pull some other programs ahead and get other vehicles to market sooner."

The revised Zeta program is being developed in GM's Australian engineering center. The vehicle line executive on the program is Gene Stefanyshyn, the former vehicle line executive for GM's Epsilon, or mid-sized cars, in North America.

A GM spokesman said no product plans have been approved and that GM still is studying design themes, performance characteristics and variants for Zeta vehicles.

GM uses the term "architecture" to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.

(end of article)

The reason why I think the next generation Pontiac GTO (and/or Firebird) won't have retro styling is because Michael Simcoe, GM's executive director of body frame integral design, makes a small statement about it in the article below.

Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured

JASON STEIN | Automotive News

Posted Date: 12/20/04

DETROIT -- General Motors' next rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles will expand Buick's product line significantly and give consumers more options - sporty cars and comfy sedans.

Michael Simcoe, GM's new executive director of body frame integral design, says the automaker's new Zeta architecture will extend Buick's product portfolio.

"We will play at both ends," Simcoe says. "We can have prestigious luxury and prestigious sport."

Within two years, Zeta will debut on a Buick sedan. A coupe and possibly a convertible will follow.

Simcoe says Zeta, which will be engineered by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden Ltd., will be a key component in GM's overall strategy for global products.

Simcoe should know. Before being appointed to his position on Aug. 1, Simcoe was executive director for design in GM's Asia-Pacific region. He was responsible for the design strategy at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Holden.

Zeta is an evolution in the way GM thinks about product development, he says.

"Zeta is the classic case of GM seeing an architecture around the globe," Simcoe says. "The way it used to work was if it wasn't North American, it wasn't appropriate.

"But there is a lot of potential there with Zeta. There is freedom to do more."

As such, Zeta will offer that freedom to GM's product planners."We are getting encouragement coming from all sides to do as much as we can with it in terms of flexibility," Simcoe says. "That means more variants and more ability to move up and down when it comes to price."

Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.

"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."

GM uses the term architecture to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.

[Jaguar D-Type]

A high-performance 2007 Solstice will be available with either a turbocharged or a supercharged I-4, but not both.

Hydroformed body panels

All of the Solstice's shapely panels, except for the small panels behind the front wheels, are shaped by presses employing 2,000 to 4,000 psi of water pressure.

[Jaguar D-Type]

The 2006 Solstice's chassis has a bending frequency of 20.9 Hz and a torsional frequency of 18.8 Hz.

[Jaguar D-Type]

I wonder if an orange exterior color would work well with the Solstice or if it would age quickly.

AC Cobra replicas shown.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Pontiac has 13,000 orders for the Solstice.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Mallet's V-8-powered Solstice

The Mallet embroidered headrests and exterior decals can be deleted.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Kappasphere will make parts for both the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky.

http://www.kappasphere.com/

According to detnews.com, GM "will add a third production shift in January 2006 at its Wilmington, Del., plant to meet growing demand for the Pontiac Solstice and build two additional roadsters. More than 15,000 orders for the Solstice roadster have been received to date, GM spokesman Dan Flores said."

[RedLightning]

Heres some pics I have of it.

Images hosted by National Lightning Owners Club Member Galleries











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[Jaguar D-Type]

Robert (Bob) Lutz was named General Motors vice chairman of product development on September 1, 2001. On November 13, 2001, he was named chairman of GM North America and served in that capacity until April 4, 2005, when he assumed responsibility for Global Product Development. He also served as president of GM Europe on an interim basis from March to June 2004.

Lutz received his bachelor's degree in production management from the University of California-Berkeley in 1961, where he earned distinction as a Phi Beta Kappa. He received a master's degree in business administration, with highest honors, from the University of California-Berkeley in 1962. He received an honorary degree of doctor of management from Kettering University on June 21, 2003, and an honorary doctorate of law from Boston University in 1985.

He also served as a jet-attack aviator in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1965 and attained the rank of captain. Lutz was born on February 12, 1932, in Zurich, Switzerland.

Lutz was also one of the main people behind the Dodge Viper while working at the Chrysler Corporation.

[Jaguar D-Type]

[Jaguar D-Type]

The Pontiac Solstice has won Automobile Magazine's 2006 Design of the Year award.

"No need to beat around the bush: the best attribute of the Pontiac Solstice is its brilliant Franz von Holzhausen styling. Even if its appealing appearance were all the Solstice had going for it, the car still would have been a strong contender for this award, because it possesses all the visceral appeal that made the original 2002 concept so desirable. It's cool, it's smooth, it's exciting, and, thanks to some clever engineering under its skin, it's a good drive, too."

- Automobile Magazine

[SuperHighOutput]

I absolutely love the Solstice. The more I see it the more I like it.