Solstice

This two-seat Pontiac sports car was introduced for the 2006 model year as a modern rear-wheel-drive roadster meant to give the brand a fresh enthusiast image. It was developed on General Motors’ Kappa architecture and built at Wilmington Assembly in Delaware, which also became home to its related Saturn Sky. The Solstice arrived first as a convertible roadster, then expanded in 2009 with a fixed-roof coupe that gave the nameplate a more hard-edged, performance-oriented look. While its production run was brief, the car became notable as one of Pontiac’s most distinctive late-era models and a symbol of the brand’s attempt to reconnect with driving enthusiasts. Pontiac itself was discontinued after GM’s 2009 restructuring, but the Solstice continued into the 2010 model year before the nameplate ended along with the brand’s broader exit from the market. Because of its low-slung styling, rear-drive layout, and limited production window, it has remained a recognizable modern collectible among GM and roadster fans.