The Pontiac Solstice ($22,455) is powered by a 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It comes standard with five-speed manual transmission, an automatic is optional. Solstice comes standard with hand-cranked windows, manually adjusted outside mirrors and manual door locks; although the driver's seat features a power height adjustment. The glass rear window has a defogger, and the urethane-clad steering wheel has a tilt adjustment. The shift knob wears leather, but seats and door panels are covered in cloth. Tires are generously sized 245/45VR18 Goodyear Eagle RSA all-season radials on 18-inch painted aluminum wheels. The six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo includes XM Satellite Radio and an iPod interface. OnStar is standard, along with GM's Driver Information Center. And the acoustic lining for the convertible top is standard.
The Convenience Package ($395) adds cruise control, an enhanced Driver Information Center, and fog lamps. The Preferred Package ($625) includes power windows, door locks and body-colored power outside mirrors, along with remote keyless entry.
The Solstice GXP ($28,135) gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque matched to a five-speed manual transmission. The GXP comes with more standard safety features, including ABS, GM's StabiliTrak skid-management system and a limited-slip differential. The GXP also gets power windows and mirrors, cruise control, audio controls on a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote keyless entry, fog lamps and polished aluminum wheels. Tires are the same size as the base model's, but are Goodyear Eagle F1 high-performance units.
A five-speed automatic transmission ($925) and air conditioning ($960) are optional on both models. Leather upholstery is available for the Solstice base model ($690) and GXP ($525) and comes as part of the Premium Package, which upgrades the base model with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. Audio upgrades include a high-watt Monsoon system with subwoofer ($395). There's also is an in-dash six-CD changer ($295), which retains MP3 capability and a separate input jack. Also available are metallic pedals ($115), a rear spoiler ($275), and carpeted floor mats ($80). The base model can be ordered with polished aluminum ($545) or chrome ($795) wheels.
The Solstice can be ordered with the limited-slip rear differential ($195) and a rock-hard Club Sport suspension ($1,095) for road racing. There's also an SCCA SSB Championship Edition package ($6,235) that combines nearly all available options except automatic transmission and the Club Sport suspension. Appropriately, Championship Edition models are available only in Victory Red.
The Solstice is equipped with the minimum passive safety features required by federal regulations, which means seat belts and dual front dual-stage airbags. Anti-lock brakes ($400) and StabiliTrak ($495) are optional on the base model. A tire pressure monitor has been added as standard equipment for 2008.