When the Pontiac Solstice made its debut over a year ago, with an Ecotec four under the hood and a rear-wheel-drive platform, that was the first thought on the mind of each HOT ROD staffer. So, discussions began with General Motors Performance Division (GMPD) about how we could do it. What resulted was an agreement for GMPD to help us engineer the engine swap and sort out some of the more difficult details.

With the concept vehicle, people immediately felt the emotional appeal of Solstice's design and back-to-basics philosophy - it's about performance, but in a fun, agile, affordable roadster.

Mallett conversion experts have enhanced its already potent V8-powered Pontiac Solstice with this limited edition widebody pack. Having already shoved the Corvette’s 400hp LS2 V8 engine into the tiny Solstice Roadster, Mallett then needed a suitable styling package to differentiate its version from the standard four-cylinder versions.

The Saturn Sky is a \223very credible all-American alternative to the made-in-Japan [Mazda] Miata,\224 says Thane Peterson of Business Week. Peterson praises the \223aggressive\224 exterior design of the car, which he says looks \223stronger\224 than the Pontiac Solstice.

Foreign cars are usually the ones with the big markups from unscrupulous dealerships that are looking to make a few thousand dollars in extra cash for a high-demand car. The Pontiac Solstice has enjoyed such notoriety, but now it's the Saturn dealers that are marking them up -- the same chain of dealerships known for no-haggle pricing and a great dealership experience.