Apprentice Chic
By TurboDan | 04.25.05 | Talk about it in sports car forums

I should've tried out for The Apprentice!  I mean, hey, if the GM big wigs liked Kendra's photos of the Solstice enough to put them in a national advertisement - it would've been smooth sailing for a guy like me.  And I wouldn't even have made a single corny convertible-related Trump hair joke!
 

So, if you were impressed by the Apprentice shots, have a look at a few of our own snaps from the NYIAS. 

The Solstice shows its very progressive lines.

Did that one "wow" you?  One thing's for sure - if there's a car that will save Pontiac from minivan dullness and G6 overestimations, this is the one!  The Solstice is sharper than the Z4 at a lower price - and its exterior even rivals the Lotus Elise in terms of "excitement."  She'll be powered by a 177HP 2.4L Ecotec engine with 166 lb-ft. torque - not too shabby for a small two-seater.  The engine will be mated to a 5-speed manual in the base model.  We'd love to see a turbocharged sport model someday, perhaps mated to the Comp G paddle/button shifter if this car becomes a big seller.

Cooler than the Z4?  Hotter than the Elise?  The interior may make or break the Solstice for some buyers.

Pontiac is banking on the "intuitive design" of its interior to help move the Solstice.  And if the Solstice interior is as sweet as the GTO's, Pontiac may just have a hit on their hands.  From my first-hand look, Pontiac didn't skimp this time around on the interior, which was my primary complaint about the G6.  The Solstice on display at the NYIAS featured a very pleasing interior, presented in various shades of brown and black.  The plastics looked to be of the high quality grade typically found on more expensive European vehicles.  The interior as a whole is reminiscent of the Audi TT's "baseball mit" design scheme of 2002.

A little blurred - but hey, even Magna Corp. didn't get every shot to be a beauty!

Weeks ago, there was a forum discussion where members suggested that GM completely scarp the Pontiac brand.  Though lackluster sales of the G6 may still create an impetus for GM to send Pontiac the way of Oldsmobile some day, we can only hope that a car like the Solstice at an affordable price (starting around $17K) hits the streets of America soon!