2009 Solstice Facelift
Draws from G6 GXP

Link to Original Article on Autoblog

Oh no. Blogger Mickey Kaus says that he's seen an updated Pontiac Solstice ('09, presumably, since the '08 is unchanged), and that the new front clip sports the unbecoming, "tongue-thrusting" look of the current G6 GXP. Let's hope what Kaus saw was just some driver with poor taste rolling with an aftermarket nose, because the Solstice is not in need of a factory-prescribed rhinoplasty. GM would do well to focus on further refining the next generation of the car and not engage in ill-advised interim facelifts just for the sake of having them.

Hopefully what he saw was more like the SEMA concept and not the G6 GXP...

the inevitable results of this thread should be sent to Bob Lutz directly.

Aside from the 'buckiness' of the grills the rest of the front end is quite nice looking. Hopefully the grills just get more squared off, like the G8, and the lights get a nice little update.

If true, someone needs to be shot.

And that is the most irritating site I have ever navigated - good thing I'm not epileptic.

Oh dear gods I hope not...or someone will die.

if the grill was that big, they'd almost have to re engineer how the hood fits on the front...right?

Final proof GM wants to kill Pontiac. I recommend offering carrot-orange as a colour option for Bugs Bunny II.

I don't know what this means but I found this in one of the engineer's offices.

Edited November 21, 200718 yr by Pontiac Custom-S

Sounds like a harebrained scheme to me!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TREAT ME LIKE THIS???!!!

Is my life doomed to be stuck with dying brands? First it was Oldsmobile. Then it's Pontiac.

Hopefully what he saw was more like the SEMA concept and not the G6 GXP...

That could very well be what he is describing. If so, it is good news, the concept looks superb.

Agreed.

They can't give it buck teeth there isn't enough room!

The changes on the SEMA car are a good clue of the future. Pontiac has long used SEMA to show off future styling on some of their custom cars.

The G Force GP concept in 02 comes to mind as a good example of future ideas.

Edited November 21, 200718 yr by hyperv6

Is my life doomed to be stuck with dying brands? First it was Oldsmobile. Then it's Pontiac.

Please, please, whatever you do don't start to like GMC next

LOL!

That would be suicide. I nominate this for second worst idea ever behind Chrysler's brand management proposal.

I hope they don't do a G8 GXP with such a grille treatment..

LOL how sad would that be, this makes me want to make the clock ticking noise....

On a second thought... it MIGHT not be as bad as the G6 GXP with a droopy grille...

Seems to work better here.

So what? Brand design cues apparently equal "looking exactly the same" now?

LOL how sad would that be, this makes me want to make the clock ticking noise....

Allow me, TICK-TOCK! :AH-HA_wink:

Edited November 22, 200718 yr by Pontiac Custom-S

If true, someone needs to be shot.

And that is the most irritating site I have ever navigated - good thing I'm not epileptic.

hey guys i live near oshawa and i saw an uncovered version of this modified solstice on the streets a few mths ago - i tried to snap a pic, but i was late for work. it was completely un-camoflaged but it looked like it just came out of a mould. no paint/chrome on the fascia. it honestly looked wicked. the only draw back was the rear of the car. it was obvious that the front design language had been updated, but the rear was the same. the front has a lower profile and the rear needed a little ground effects of some nature to even it out. i think the g6 GXP looks like bugs bunny, but the solstice was good. the grill is basically more squared off and slightly longer from top to bottom (vs. the currect soltice). it doesnt look like buck teeth. it was an obvious evolution in the design theme. a little g6 gxp meets g8. hope the production model lives up to my expectations.

They should keep the SOLSTICE looking close to todays model for several genorations like the original 911 did. Its beautiful as it is and BETTER then any 911 EVER WAS just refine it from the inside out while keeping the same over all looks with SLITE TWEAKS here and there! Its a BEAUTIFUL CAR AS IS!!

I agree with you, Carguy: I've always liked the Solstice over the Sky and if mazda can built the exact same design for 18 years with nearly no whimpering from the enthusiast crowd, the Solstice -a far more engaging design- should be able to do an easy 8 years with minor tweaks stylisitically.

I would have agree as well. I think most of the tweaks need to go towards refining the design. It's not entirely cohesive. Cheap in some areas, gaudy in others... bulbous in places, sexy in others. It needs to be a more literal expression of the concept, focusing on being sleek, taut, and flowing. The details were lost in transition. Design wise, the SSR was executed much better.

Then again, I seem to be the only person to have ever complained that it wasn't close enough to the concept.

Yes closer to the consept would be good for future versions. I agree!

I'd love to see the SD nose on it...

(Eventhough it's sexy as is)

But no 'Bucky O'Hare' G6 face please!

The body sculpting on the SD showcar really refines the look of the Solstice.

Why don't we have better pics of the showcar? They should be all over the net by now.

AutoBlog Solstice SD gallery

Thanks for the link,BP.

The hood and new bodylines really look great, not so much the chin splitter.

The body sculpting on the SD showcar really refines the look of the Solstice.

Why don't we have better pics of the showcar? They should be all over the net by now.

yo from waht i saw it is the show car nose, but with more ground clearance. 100%. the only difference might be that the grills are slightly more angular. but it looks damn close.

the inevitable results of this thread should be sent to Bob Lutz directly.

It's most likely his idea.

Here is a hand drawn attept at what it may look like...

Sweet drawing Ryan, you've got some talent!

But, I'd expect to see a bit more 290 in the actual design.

I actually prefer the current GXP fascia to the 290, it almost looks like they are trying to make the car more square, I don't see it as an improvement...

I like the old headlight setup better. The new setup reminds too much of the Sky.

I'm posting the pic again since it disappeared during the site's downtime....

you have great talent, but I'm not a fan of the Pontiac look you went for with the fascia. It is played. It looks like it would make a good looking convertible but it would lose too much charm and Solstice character and become another bland Pontiac.