04-01-2006
The Solstice GXP pushes the production Solstice to the next level with a 47-percent boost in horsepower, and demonstrates how GM is working on all fronts to build and sell exciting products for diverse audiences,” said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. Solstice GXP features GM’s all-new Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo, the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family.* This turbo with direct injection kicks a
V-6’s worth of power out of a four-cylinder engine, an estimated 260 horsepower (194 kw) and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque.*
The performance roadster will feature GM’s StabiliTrak four-channel electronic stability control system. It will debut in the summer and is expected to be priced about $4,000 to $5,000 above the base Solstice.
Solstice GXP will be on display with the Solstice, which features a powerful Ecotec 2.4L engine rated at 177 horsepower (132 kw) and is matched to a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. The driver-oriented cockpit interior features motorcycle-inspired instruments.
F rom its 2002 auto show introduction to an early-order program that sold 1,000 cars in 41 minutes, the Pontiac Solstice has always invoked a passionate response from customers. Now, Pontiac is taking the vehicle’s combination of sensuous styling and driving exhilaration to a new level with the announcement of the turbocharged 2007 Solstice GXP.
“Creating a GXP performance edition of the Solstice is a natural extension of the capabilities of this car,” said John Larson, Pontiac general manager. “On its own, the base Solstice offers all of the qualities one would expect from a classic roadster – style, crisp handling, and spirited performance. The Solstice GXP takes that pure roadster DNA and pushes it to a new level, with a 47 percent boost in horsepower and other enhancements for a more thrilling driving experience.”
The heart of the Solstice GXP is the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo engine, GM’s first direct injection offering in North America . It produces 260 horsepower (194 kw) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm),* making it GM’s highest specific output engine ever, at 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch of displacement (130 hp / 97 kw per liter), and the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family.
A dual-scroll turbocharger with a lightweight turbine provides nearly instant power, and an air-to-air intercooling system boosts the turbo’s performance by reducing inlet temperatures. Dual cam phasing complements the turbocharging system by optimizing valve timing at lower rpm for best turbo response and quick access to engine torque.
Direct injection technology helps the Ecotec engine produce more power while maintaining the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement port-injected engine.
With direct injection, fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn of the air/fuel mixture. Less fuel is required to produce the equivalent horsepower, especially at normal cruising speeds, of a conventional port-injection combustion system.
The GXP’s high-performance Ecotec turbo engine is connected to a standard five-speed manual gearbox, or an optional five-speed automotive transmission. Either transmission can propel the car from zero-to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds.
Text and photos courtesy of General Motors
