2005 Pontiac Solstice Weekend Club Racer Concept review

Pontiac Solstice Weekend Club Racer Concept review:

Pontiac’s exciting new 2006 Solstice roadster is an exhilarating performance vehicle with the DNA of a pure sports car. A car this athletic is a natural candidate for the weekend amateur racer.

GM Performance Division built the Solstice Weekend Club Racer concept to showcase how a racing version of the car might be configured. This aggressive package would allow Solstice owners to compete in amateur track events with a minimum of upgrades. By competing in sanctioned, off-highway amateur events, Solstice owners can enjoy spirited driving in a safe environment – and the special components of the Weekend Club Racer concept would let them experience the car’s maximum performance.

The most noticeable changes are external, starting with a removable hard top. The concept top makes a bold styling statement and transforms the Solstice into an enclosed car, which is what many amateur and professional racing classes demand.

A new larger rear wing dominates the view most competitors will see – the tail of the Solstice. Front and rear fascias were modified, and new rocker panels, complete with molded-in rear brake cooling ducts, were fabricated. An air extractor-style hood helps keep the engine compartment cool. Aggressive five-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels and matching tires – Goodyear Eagle F1 255/45 ZR18’s – aid both performance and eye appeal. The whole package sports a custom bronze paint job.

Some interior upgrades were made in keeping with the car’s performance nature. The execution of the interior trim and colors reflects a race-inspired, Ebony Suede theme, including the IP top pad, center console and door panel inserts. Also complementing the Ebony Suede appointments is a carbon fiber trim bezel that surrounds the gauges and wraps around the center console. Sparco racing seats were recovered to match the Solstice upholstery, and the underside of the new hard top was trimmed to match the rest of the interior.

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine rated at 325 horsepower. A cat-back performance exhaust system enhances engine performance and provides a sporty exhaust note. A T-2 race suspension package was added, along with larger diameter disc brakes. End of Pontiac Solstice Weekend Club Racer Concept review.