2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe: Heir to the roadster

Seven years after being introduced as a concept at the NAIAS in Detroit, the Pontiac Solstice Coupe finally got the green light. Today, during a news conference at the New York Auto Show, GM presented what the upcoming GXP production coupe will look like.

This 2009 model stays true to the 2002 prototype. However, in terms of aesthetics, the rather massive B-pillars have disappeared in favor of seamlessly integrated side windows.

The overall shape is enhanced by a swooping roofline which retained the concept's huge tailgate window -- à la Volvo C30. Lifting this tailgate up allows you to access the small 159-liter trunk, which is barely 6 liters more than the Solstice roadster with the roof up. The beltline nicely flows toward the back where it merges with a subtle, duck-tail shaped rear spoiler.


The 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe borrows most of its design cues from the current roadster, particularly the grille and fenders. The brake lights, however, had to be redesigned to better fit the coupe body style. The interior is basically the same as the roadster's.

Despite the fixed hardtop, drivers can also enjoy the cool breeze thanks to a removable roof panel made of magnesium. According to GM, this 14.2-kg panel can be manipulated by a single individual. That said, a lighter soft top that's easier to install than the aforementioned rigid roof panel is available from the options menu -- as is a special bin to store said panel.

Both the roadster and coupe will use the same 4-cylinder Ecotec engines. Base models are powered by a 173-hp, 2.4L unit, while GXP models add a turbocharger to the 2.0L mill to generate up to 260 horsepower.

And since the development of this coupe did not result in any significant weight gain, the overall weight distribution remains at 50/50. Therefore, GM promises a driving experience that's very much like the roadster's.

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe will hit Canadian showrooms in the first quarter of 2009.