2006 Pontiac Solstice Mallett V8

Can't wait for GM to drop a heftier engine into the sporty, curvaceous Solstice? And happy to pay over $38,000 for the extra power and obvious prestige that running the streets in a souped up auto entails? Then Mallett Cars, who've been tuning Corvettes and Cadillacs since 1997, have built a street-legal Solstice V8 with a 400-hp, LS2 6.0-liter V8 without the bumps or scoops in the hood that you'd expect with the bigger engine.

The car's body is steel-reinforced and the engine is as far to the rear of the engine bay as can be to keep the original 50-50 weight distribution of the Solstice. A reasonable 200 pounds has been added to the curb weight. With the clutch, flywheel and catalytic converters from the Corvette, the original Solstice's manual five-speed transmission and Stouter springs, shock absorbers, antiroll bars, brake pads, and brake hoses ,the Solstice Mallet has improved specifications to handle the extra weight and power.

A stainless-steel, single-outlet Corsa exhaust system adds a classy touch and a two-year, 24,000-mile warranty covers the Mallett Cars components. Add in options such special adjustable Penske shock absorbers, a Supercharged Package, larger wheels and tires, driveline coolers, a heavy-duty radiator, and a six-speed transmission, and you are really up there with the breed of power sports cars such the Corvette convertible.

So what does it drive like? Well, first and second gears need a light touch of the throttle to avoid wheel spin. And taking less than five seconds, the beast of a vehicle can shoot to 60 mph twice as fast as a stock Solstice. Road feel and directional stability are similar to the original but care must be taken with the extra power to keep the Solstice Mallet on the road in wet or icy conditions.

No doubt the Solstice Mallet V8 will find its niche and turn a few heads.

Pontiac Solstice News

Setup II Winner To Race Banner Pontiac At Laguna Seca - High Performance Pontiac Magazine - Mon, 12 May 2008 15:31:40 GMT

Setup II Winner To Race Banner Pontiac At Laguna Seca High Performance Pontiac Magazine - May 12, 2008 55 Pontiac Solstice GXP Prey won three of the eight races and together with crewman Dale Prey (Dad) took home the check for $100k and the opportunity test a ...

MX-5 fun for all seasons - Metro Canada - Ottawa - Wed, 14 May 2008 17:03:26 GMT

MX-5 fun for all seasons Metro Canada - Ottawa, Canada - May 14, 2008 This brings the ham-handed soft top design of its main market rivals into even sharper focus; the Saturn Sky and its Pontiac Solstice corporate cousin still ...

Economy dropping convertible sales - MLive.com - Thu, 15 May 2008 15:13:49 GMT

Economy dropping convertible sales MLive.com, MI - 19 hours ago ... followed by the Toyota Camry Solara (18090 registrations), Pontiac Solstice (16615 registrations) and the Mazda MX5 Miata (15123 registrations) (TABLE ...

Carl Black: The Car Dealership That Keeps Giving Back - Beaconcast - Wed, 14 May 2008 01:59:56 GMT

Beaconcast

Carl Black: The Car Dealership That Keeps Giving Back Beaconcast, GA - May 13, 2008 They’re raffling off a new Pontiac Solstice, which just happens to be a $32000 car. No surprise who made it happen for the 25 grand. ...

Revenge Designs, Inc. Provides Corporate Update - Market Wire (press release) - Fri, 02 May 2008 19:17:10 GMT

Revenge Designs, Inc. Provides Corporate Update Market Wire (press release) - May 2, 2008 The company has also fielded orders for its Revenge Pontiac Solstice GXP Sports Wagon with 20" "bling" wheels. The Revenge GTM Supercar is now in the mid ...