From the moment it was first introduced, the Fiero has been a polarizing car. While some enthusiasts have fallen in love with its unique exterior and interior design, others have found the Fiero to be nothing more than an eyesore. But no matter what side you fall on, there’s no denying that the Fiero was a game-changer for Pontiac. With its world premiere in 1978, the Fiero was Pontiac’s first small car since the ill-fated G8 GTO of 1964.
The original Fiero used a version of General Motors’ new front-wheel drive system called ‘Ecotronic’ which combined an electric motor and hydraulic traction control system to allow it to move without using gasoline or propane. This gave it an impressive EPA rating of 27 mpg combined which was nearly double most other compact cars back then. In addition to being an incredibly efficient car, it also had one other significant benefit: reduced emissions.
With its hybrid powertrain system and rear-wheel drive layout, the Pontiac Solstice is one of the very few ways to experience an all-new hybrid engine like those found in many new cars today. With this guide, you will learn everything about these great sports cars including when they were first released, their specifications, differences between generations, and much more!
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Overview of the Pontiac Solstice
The Solstice is a small, front-wheel drive, two-seater sports car manufactured by an American automaker, Pontiac between 2009 and 2016. As of May 2017, this car has been discontinued and will no longer be produced. The Solstice was introduced by Pontiac as a 2009 model to a very enthusiastic audience. The new car received very high acclaim from automotive critics and praise from the public.
It sold very well, earning a reputation as one of the most desirable small cars in America. It was even named the “Coolest new car” of 2009 by ‘Consumer Reports’. Unfortunately, it was also negatively affected by the recent economic downturn. Poor sales meant that the car was discontinued after the 2016 model year.
New 2018 Solstice
The Solstice has been re-introduced in the form of the new 2018 Solstice. This car has been completely redesigned and now comes with several significant upgrades. These include a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a new fully integrated electric powertrain, redesigned interiors, and more. The Solstice’s new turbocharged engine is now a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit instead of the previous 1.5-litre. This engine is now capable of producing 301 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
The torque increase is significant because the previous model was notorious for being underpowered. The increased torque allows the new Solstice to get up to speed more quickly and provides more oomph for passing and other aggressive driving manoeuvres. Another substantial upgrade on the new Solstice is its fully integrated electric powertrain. The new powertrain features a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a new inverter and motor that have been redesigned to improve performance and longevity, and a new braking system that allows for regenerative braking and improved performance.
2017 Pontiac Solstice GXP
The second-generation version of the Solstice was released in 2017 as the Pontiac Solstice GXP. This car has also been completely redesigned and now comes with several significant upgrades. These include a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a new fully integrated electric powertrain, redesigned interiors, and more. The Solstice’s new turbocharged engine is now a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit instead of the previous 1.5-litre. This engine is now capable of producing 301 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
The torque increase is significant because the previous model was notorious for being underpowered. The increased torque allows the new Solstice to get up to speed more quickly and provides more oomph for passing and other aggressive driving manoeuvres. The new Solstice also comes with an all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The previous model only had rear-wheel drive. Another substantial upgrade on the new Solstice is its fully integrated electric powertrain.
The new powertrain features a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a new inverter and motor that have been redesigned to improve performance and longevity, and a new braking system that allows for regenerative braking and improved performance. The new Solstice also comes with several aesthetic upgrades to help give it a more aggressive and modern appearance. These include a new front-end design, new LED headlights and taillights, a new rear wing design on the GXP model, as well as a new decklid spoiler.
Differences Between the Generations of the Solstice
– All-wheel drive standard on all models – New 2.0-litre engine standard on GXP models – New fully integrated electric powertrain standard on all models – New front-end design standard on all models – New rear wing standard on GXP models – New decklid spoiler standard on all models – New taillights standard on all models – New LED headlights standard on all models
Summary
The Solstice is a small, front-wheel drive, two-seater sports car manufactured by an American automaker, Pontiac between 2009 and 2016. As of May 2017, this car has been discontinued and will no longer be produced. The Solstice was introduced by Pontiac as a 2009 model to a very enthusiastic audience. The new car received very high acclaim from automotive critics and praise from the public.
It sold very well, earning a reputation as one of the most desirable small cars in America. It was even named the “Coolest new car” of 2009 by ‘Consumer Reports’. Unfortunately, it was also negatively affected by the recent economic downturn. Poor sales meant that the car was discontinued after the 2016 model year.
