2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP First Drive
Design

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TO THE POINT What's New? 260 turbocharged horses, a sport-tuned suspension, subtle GXP visual treatment, a 0-60 mph time of about 5.5 seconds
Selling Points: Performance, style, price
Deal Breakers: Low-budget materials, manual transmission sometimes clunky
Our Advice: If you can get past iffy interior materials and build quality that's average at best, you'll have a blast smoking pricey rivals in your $26,995 GXP.

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RELATED LINKS 2006 Pontiac Solstice Driving Impressions
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2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Preview

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Click to enlarge. 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Design Exterior enhancements include a new front fascia and dual exhaust

From a visual perspective, very little separates the turbocharged GXP from the normally-aspirated 2007 Pontiac Solstice, so if you love the styling, as many do, and don't mind the awkward top that swallows every bit of storage capacity when stowed, as many do, the Solstice GXP might be your perfect ride.

Though the finishes are different, all Solstice models roll on 18-inch alloy wheels and the exterior styling is almost identical. However, the keen observer will notice the GXP's revised front fascia, accented by an additional lower grille and enlarged turn signal cutouts, which like the main grille, feature a black egg crate finish. The rear fascia is standard issue across the Solstice line, though it is decorated with a chrome GXP badge below the right taillight and dual exhaust pipes that serve as bookends to the lower black egg crate insert. It's an especially attractive ride from a distance, but get up close and you'll notice wide and irregular gaps, suggesting that Pontiac still needs some practice with fit and finish.

Interior enhancements are similarly minimal, largely confined to GXP lettering on the integrated headrests, floor mats, and speedometer. Our particular test car, dunked in Aggressive (a.k.a. red) paint, also featured an optional black leather interior with red stitching on the seats and shift knob. Hard plastics, used liberally throughout the cabin, offer a less than perfect fit, though our particular GXP's interior build quality was markedly improved versus previous Solstices we've driven.


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