MILKA DUNO PRESENTS "STAR OF THE PEOPLE" AWARD

Los Angeles, CA, October 28, 2005 -- Top female racer Milka Duno had the very special honor of presenting the tribute award to Latin music icon Miguel Bose at the 2005 El Premio de la Gente event taped on October 13 at the Forum in Los Angeles. The two-hour show will air on Saturday night October 29, 2005 at 7pm EST/6pmCST.

Milka, together with Mexican singer Benny Ibarra, presented the highest award of the evening - the "Star of the People" award - to Bose, the star of the night and whose music has enamored three generations of women all over the world."They, Milka and Benny, are going to go a lot further than me," he said upon accepting the award. "This award is for you."

"It was very exciting to step into the music world for such a special night," said Milka. "That I had the honor to present the award to Miguel was simply amazing. I'm a huge fan of him and his music and the chance to meet him in person was an incredible experience!"Milka wore a design by Samy Gicherman of Samy Gichermann Couture for both the red carpet and the award presentation.Now in its 7th year, El Premio de la Gente continues to offer a spectacular production with live performances by many of today's hottest Latin music stars.

El Premio de la Gente is the only Latin music event where the awards are voted on and chosen by Latin music fans.Some of the many winners at Premio de la Gente were Daddy Yankee - who won four awards including "Male Pop Artist or Group of the Year" and "Album of the Year" and "El Bambino" who received the "Chevrolet New Artist of the Year." Columbian singer Juanes won "Popular Music Artist or Group of the Year," Laura Pausini won "Female Artist or Group of the Year" and Los Kumbia Kings as "Contemporary Artist or Group of the Year."

Pontiac Expands on Largest Hispanic Advertising Campaign with First Torrent SUV Advertising Featuring Racer Milka Duno

DETROIT – The first batch of Torrent SUV advertising for the Hispanic market launches next week to expand upon Pontiac’s largest Hispanic advertising campaign ever. A new original Spanish language television ad titled “Metamorphosis” featuring the Pontiac Torrent SUV and race car driver Milka Duno will begin running October 17. Duno is the first Hispanic woman to win an international sports car race in North America. The original Hispanic dedicated spot again features music by Grammy Award nominated Latin rock band Kinky titled "Mirando de Lado.” The song was recommended by Virgin Music, who has been recommending music from emerging artists for all of Pontiac’s general market and Hispanic advertising.

The treatment illustrates a magical transformation of Milka Duno and her racecar to the Pontiac Torrent driving throughout an urban city landscape. Visual effects and 3D and 2D paint provide dynamic choreography to communicate that the Pontiac Torrent expands Pontiac’s total performance boundaries by combining car-like agility with SUV capability and versatility. The Torrent’s presence provides an athletic yet sophisticated driver focused interior with unexpected details while still providing SUV functionality.

“Our research indicates that Hispanic consumers see Milka representing style and performance,” said Mark-Hans Richer, Pontiac marketing director. “And they are making a positive association between her and Pontiac.”

Print executions add the new Solstice roadster and G6 coupe in single treatments and will appear in Hispanic automotive, sports, business and lifestyle publications throughout November and December. Other special print inserts are planned for select December issues

MILKA MEETS THE NEW SOLSTICE!

Milka Duno, the champion race-car driver, visited Autocity of Pinecrest this past week. She came by to see the all-new Pontiac Solstice convertible that we now have in our showroom. Milka has one on order that should arrive in the next few weeks. During the current racing season Milka is holding the 6th position in points in the Rolex series in which she drives a Pontiac-powered Daytona prototype. Milka's next and last race will take place Saturday November 5th in Mexico City. She is confident they will have a good race so that she can move up in points.

CAR DEALERSHIPS IN POST-CASTRO CUBA?

BY LISA GIBBS--BUSINESS MONDAY, THE MIAMI HERALD
lgibbs@herald.com

After Fidel Castro is gone, two men who'll be on the first Miami-Havana flight are brothers Lombardo and Lomberto Perez. Their business: Selling cars.

Before the revolution, Cubans demonstrated a huge appetite for automobiles; in all of Latin America, the country was second only to Venezuela in the number of cars per person, according to Robb Report. Lombardo, owner of Metro Ford in Miami, and Lomberto, owner of Autocity of Pinecrest, both believe that hunger will return.

Over the years, study after study has attempted to evaluate potential opportunities in a democratic Cuba. Everyone realizes it's a guessing game. Too much uncertainty, too many questions. Will the new government be stable? How bad is the economy? How long will it take to modernize?

Still, most executives in South Florida are optimistic that, eventually, investing in Cuba will pay. In the most recent survey, ordered by South Florida CEO, almost 65 percent of execs polled said they were likely to do business in post-Castro Cuba.

Like most, the Perezes' optimism is tempered by caution. Gearing up to sell cars in Cuba will require distribution networks, dealership facilities, technology. More important, success will depend on how long it takes before economic growth gives consumers the ability to afford cars.
As dealer Carlos Planas of Tamiami Chrysler says, ``If we think we're just going to go over there and sell cars before reconstructing the economy and helping the people, we are blind. They need basic transportation like buses. Cars would be a luxury.''

Says Lombardo: ``It will be a slow process. But after one or two years we'll see the economy really taking off.''

Lomberto: ''The government will be the No. 1 market in the beginning,'' not consumer. ``And there'll be so much money flowing in, from Cuban exiles in Miami, the U.S. government, European Union, Latin America.''

Lombardo: ``At the beginning it's going to have to be very low priced new vehicles and used vehicles.''

Lomberto: ``It will be interesting to see how our brands carry over into Cuba. We both have well-established brands, and I'm pretty sure the advertising we do in Miami reaches Cuba.''

SOLSTICE IS A WINNER!

Warren Brown, The Washington Post and WashingtonPost.com

October 9, 2005RESEDA, Calif. -- It's a hard question: Why do you love me?The easy answers are clichés: You are beautiful. You make me happy. You're hot!True love has deeper roots. It is planted in memory, nurtured by experience, sheltered by the soul. It is powerful. It takes over, transforms you in much the manner that solstice, the dates of maximum tilt of the Earth's equatorial plane relative to the sun, transforms seasons.Love makes you silly. But you don't care.

You see that 2006 Pontiac Solstice roadster sitting there. It is a car among thousands of cars, several of which are in your driveway.There is a Porsche Boxster S. It is bright red with a tan interior. It has a deep, throaty exhaust note. It's sexy; and it is a Porsche.There is a Saturn Ion Red Line, a thing of winged adolescent fantasy. You would have loved it when you were 18. But you're 40 years older. The Ion Red line fits neither your psyche nor your body.

That time has passed.And there is a Mazda MX-5 roadster -- cute, very cute. It is the quintessential heartthrob next door. You've known and loved it for years. You could buy it. But it is the car you would cheat on if a Pontiac Solstice moved into the neighborhood.There is something wonderfully raw about the Solstice. It is sinewy, sensuous, yet absent anything that could be considered extraneous makeup. It is seductive minimalism. It appeals to a driver's basic instincts.As such, the Solstice is flawed in the conventional sense of automobiles.

It makes no pretense of practicality. Trunk space is a minuscule 3.8 cubic feet. There are some interior storage pockets; but they hold precious little.Operating the Solstice's cloth convertible top is a bit of a chore. It's a manual job. You must get out of the car to lower or raise it. It's not an onerous task; but it's more difficult, in terms of steps required, than operating the semi-automatic roof of the Boxster S, or dropping and lifting the manually convertible top of the MX-5 from the comfort of the driver's seat.

But neither the Mazda MX-5 nor the Porsche Boxster S -- nor, for that matter, the ascetic Honda S2000 or the self-conscious BMW Z-4 roadster -- engenders the warmth of the Solstice. The MX-5 has heritage. The Boxster S and BMW Z-4 have prestige and status. The purposeful Honda S2000 has performance. But not one of those cars has passion, an essential element of love.Passion bespeaks honesty. It does not hide behind fancy badges or history, does not hold itself aloof from the lover. It is accessible, democratic -- as infectious as the celebratory joy that moves a stadium crowd to its feet.The rear-wheel-drive Solstice has passion.

People young and old of multiple hues and ethnicities crowded around the car everywhere I took it. Other motorists followed me on the highway, honking horns and giving me thumbs up in approbation.The Solstice was even a hit in the parking lot of a Starbucks meeting place in Northern Virginia, where some owners of million-dollar mini-mansions -- houses too big for the small lots that once held modest brick residences -- marveled that something so well designed, so exquisitely proportioned, could cost so little. Solstice prices start at $19,420. You can fully option the car at $25,000.

People wanted to know how the Solstice ran. I answered their question with queries of my own: When was the last time you danced with someone you loved? Did you try moves at odds with your partner's rhythm? Or, did you move with him? A 2.4-liter, 177-horsepower, four-cylinder engine moves the relatively lightweight Solstice -- 2,860 pounds -- fast enough. Higher horsepower cars can pass it.

But few of them can move so nimbly! Credit the Solstice's four-wheel-independent suspension, its nearly 50-50 distribution of body weight front to rear and its standard 18-inch diameter wheels. The car goes exactly where pointed. It's like driving a sharpened pencil.I am unabashedly silly about this car with its clamshell trunk cover, splendidly sculpted body and down-to-the-bone-honest sexy ways. There's nothing coy about this one. It grabs you. It grabbed me; and I am seriously considering the possibility of letting it grab my wallet.

NEW TORRENT HAS CAR-LIKE QUALITIES!

(c) Copyright 2005, Contra Costa Times. All Rights Reserved.

Surprisingly, I took an immediate liking to the 2006 Pontiac Torrent.
Usually, testing a sport utility vehicle requires more effort -- starting
with the climb up into the driver's seat.

The Torrent, however, is as easy to enter and sit in as a sedan. Using
six-way power adjustments on the driver's seat and the tilt-steering wheel,
plus a height adjuster, I was able to find comfort with a clear view of the
road. After starting the engine and getting underway, it didn't take long
to appreciate how maneuverable and easy the Torrent is to drive. Here's a
vehicle that has the SUV advantages of hauling cargo, but feels more like a
car when driving.

The ride quality is also refined. I'm not suggesting that it's lush and
quiet as an upscale sedan, but the Torrent's independent suspension system
makes it easy to glide over road bumps in a manner similar to a sedan. Fact
is, this Pontiac became so tantalizing, I began driving it like a
performance sedan, but it didn't measure up to that challenge.

Because the ride quality is so impressive, I inquired why it felt so
different. I learned that the FE2 Sport Suspension package includes shock
valuing and electric power steering tuned to provide crisp, responsive
handling. I was also told that it has all the latest safety features,
including roof-rail side curtain airbags.

Those are not the only car-like characteristics of this all-new SUV. It's a
very agile vehicle and easy to maneuver in tight areas, such as a crowded
parking lot. On winding roads, it's very responsive to each turn of the
steering wheel.

The Torrent doesn't have a powerful engine as the 3.4-liter V6 engine only
produces 185 horsepower, yet it does generate 210 pounds-foot of torque,
which provides good acceleration. Nor does it consume as much gas compared
to other SUVs, yet there's nothing outstanding with the EPA mileage rating
of 19 city and 24 highway. The other financial consideration is the price.
My tester was $22,400, plus destination charges. With a load of options it
came to $28,335.

This Torrent had front-wheel drive; for those who want to do some
off-roading or who live in the Snow Belt regions, all-wheel drive is
available.

After my initial drive I did a walk-around, eyeballing the styling and
checking out the rear seats and cargo areas. The hood is comparatively
short, which is another reason for the good visibility. Although the
Pontiac emblem is on the nose, the styling seems to have a European flavor.

There's a pull-out two-prong cup holder between the front seats, another
two-prong cup holder for the three-passenger rear seat. It has a limited
number of personal storage areas, plus a couple of slots for maps, but
that's about it. An ashtray holder is on the floor between the two front
seats.

The 60/40 rear seats have an 8-inch fore-and-aft travel, which provide
either good legroom or extra storage space. The front passenger seat
backrest can be lowered flat for transporting a long object. It also has
roof rails for transporting extra cargo.

My tester came with several options including XM Satellite radio. What was
unusual was that it seemed to have a surround-sound quality but couldn't I
determine the reason, nevertheless, the seven-speaker system made for
enjoyable listening. While on the sound subject, I opened the sunroof and
it didn't have the usual annoying air-rush sound. Another sound system is
OnStar, which was part of the option package. Another enjoyable sound came
from the engine compartment: it just seemed to purr.

MILKA DUNO AND ANDY WALLACE TAKE SECOND PLACE IN VIRGINIA RACE!

ALTON, Va. (October 9, 2005) -- In one of the wetter weekends the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series has seen, Pontiac Motorsports managed podium finishes in both the Daytona Prototype (DP) class and GT class at historic Virginia International Raceway. The #2 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford DP of Andy Wallace and Milka Duno finished second behind the #01 Lexus Riley shared by Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz, and Pontiac's #65 TRG GTO.R scored a third-place finish putting drivers Marc Bunting and Andy Lally in the GT class points lead.

The first podium finish for Wallace and Duno since the race at Mont-Tremblant in early May, their second-place showing today was a hard-fought and very welcome outcome."I'm very happy because the team has been working very, very hard and we've little to show for it," said Wallace. "We've had small problems such as contact with another car or something breaking, and ever since Mont-Tremblant we've really struggled to get on the podium. The component that's always been good and never let us down was the Pontiac engine: again today it was fantastic. It was really quick on the straights and it enabled me to be close enough to pass under braking, and that's really important."

"I had to pass a lot of cars today, and the No. 01 car with Scott was the only one between me and first place," Wallace said. "He knew that, and I knew that. He was really pedaling there at the end. It's a bit disappointing, but it was a good finish for us. Milka did a fantastic job during the first part of the race. The conditions were difficult, and it would have been easy to wreck, but she didn't and turned the car to me in good shape. I'd like to congratulate everyone who raced around me today. It was very clean, but very competitive in some tough conditions."

Although it rained here most of the weekend - a result of Hurricane Tammy - the race was held in dry weather. However, at the start of the event not all of the track had dried and wet spots made handling tricky for many cars. Some cars inadvertently left the track and brought mud with them when they returned to the course, making it slicker in many areas. The #99 GAINSCO/Blackhawk Racing Pontiac Riley slid into a hard-braking #6 Michael Shank Racing Pontiac Riley and had to withdraw due to a punctured radiator on lap 15. #99 co-driver Alex Gurney did not have a chance to get behind the wheel and challenge the other DP drivers on the course his father and road racing legend Dan Gurney frequented, although his co-driver Bob Stallings had moved up to eighth from 24th.

On lap 12, the #01 Lexus of Luis Diaz and Scott Pruett passed points leaders and polesitters Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor of the #10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley and the duo never regained the lead. The #01 car started the race second in points behind SunTrust and due to the cancellation of qualifying due to rain, was awarded the second-spot on the grid. Grid positions were determined by team points, placing the #10 car up front with their series rivals alongside them."We had good results for the day we had, but I am upset because we had a car that was capable to win the race and we finished fourth," said Angelelli "It wasn't because of us: the #59 Porsche hit us several times and gave me a flat tire. It's a little disappointing. We are still ahead in points, though."

The SunTrust team is still leading today's DP winners by 32 points but will travel to the final race in Mexico City with a chance that the #01 car could still win the championship. In the DP manufacturers championship battle, however, Pontiac leads Lexus by 52 points and has now clinched their second consecutive manufacturers championship.

GTO IS FASTEST AT VIRGINIA RACE TRACK!

ALTON, Va. (October 7, 2005) -- Heavy rainfall throughout much of the morning made the track at Virginia International Raceway slick, but overcast skies stayed dry enough for the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series to complete the first practice sessions for this weekend's VIR 400 (Sunday, October 9, SPEED Channel, LIVE, 1:00 p.m. ET) without any major incidents but plenty of on-track action.

The weather hardly slowed No. 67 Krohn Racing/TRG co-driver Nic Jönsson, who recorded the fastest lap of the day with a 2:04.464 (94.582 mph). Jönsson, co-driving with team co-owner Tracy Krohn this weekend in Round 13 of the 14-race 2005 schedule, is looking for his second victory of the season. His earlier triumph came in a rainy victory with Krohn at the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen this past June.

"We were fighting a small hesitation in the motor at the beginning of the session, but the guys were able to fix it," Jönsson said. "We were not too bad, it is really slippery out there today. I concentrate on being smooth with the brake, maybe one gear higher everywhere and easy on the power. Maybe we can have a repeat of the Sahlen's Glen race in June when we won."
Jönsson edged Daytona Prototype championship co-leader Max Angelelli, who recorded a 2:04.725 (94.384 mph) in the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley late in the afternoon session to claim the second overall spot. Angelelli and teammate Wayne Taylor come into VIR with a 39-point championship lead over No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Lexus Riley teammates Scott Pruett and Luis Diaz (379-340).

"It was very difficult with the weather and a bit of traffic during the session," Angelelli said. "I couldn't see anything in front of me, but hopefully by Sunday we'll have a dry race. The car was very good, I was really happy with it. It was fast out there during the wet conditions and will probably be even better on a dry track."

The afternoon session saw 18 Daytona Prototypes take to the track, joined by 15 GT cars. The morning session, which ran despite heavy rainfall throughout its entirety, had limited on-track activity due to the conditions.

Krohn Racing/TRG swept the fastest laps in both Rolex Series classes Friday afternoon, with Jan Magnussen in the No. 64 Pontiac GTO.R posting a GT-best 2:11.589 (89.460 mph). Magnussen, who has claimed two GT class victories in five starts this season with teammate Paul Edwards, is looking to add VIR to a list that includes Watkins Glen and Phoenix International Raceway as tracks conquered by the brand-new No. 64 machine.

"The GTO.R has a lot of adjustability built into the suspension," Magnussen said. "We are able to tune on the run to the current track and weather conditions. The circuit was wet the whole session and probably will be for qualifying tomorrow. I hope it is for the race as well. When we have conditions like this the handicap of our restrictor and extra weight doesn't really play a role, it evens the field."

THE ALL-NEW 2007 YUKON/DENALI WILL BE HERE SOON!

by Alex Law , Auto123

DETROIT, MI: It may not make sense in a perfect world, but there's no
denying that people feel better about driving and owning a vehicle if they like the way it looks as much as they like the way it works. As a result, I am pretty sure that buyer appreciation for the GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali are going to go way up early in 2006 when the 2007 versions of these SUVs start showing up in Buick-Pontiac-GMC stores across Canada. Both models feature what GMC executives called a "sleeker and more expressive style" at a media reveal here recently, and they are right about that. For me, a Yukon in black looks nearly as good as the new Cadillac Escalade, which GM hasn't released pictures of yet. Escalade's still the most striking of GM's full-size SUV lineup, to be sure, but it might strike a lot of people as being too flashy.Yukon, on the other hand, is good looking in a more restrained way, and is supposed to foreshadow the new exterior look of all GMC models, which augurs particularly well for the next Sierra pickup.

When it arrives early next year, Yukon will come in SLE (cloth trim) and SLT (leather appointments) grades, in either two- or four-wheel-drive.Yukon Denali will be a distinct model, said Larson, "with differentiated, exclusive features that elevate its performance and style to an unprecedented level -- including an exclusive 6.2-litre all-aluminum V-8 with variable valve timing and a new six-speed automatic transmission."The "sleeker, taut form" that both will have comes from wraparound front and rear fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running boards that "provide a seamless, contemporary appearance."Larson also said that "craftsmanship is found in elements such as tight tolerances between exterior components and a tuned, wheels-to-the-corners proportion. The wheels are aligned on the same plane as the outer edges of the fenders, giving the vehicle a confident, broad-shouldered stance." The "toned" look on all models comes from a windshield angle of 57 degrees, "which flows gracefully into the roofline. This also improves aerodynamic performance to a segment-best 0.363 coefficient of drag, which helps improve fuel economy and reduce wind noise." Jewel-look lighting elements, wraparound fascias and doors that extend over the rockers are said to "accent the vehicles' precise and refined design elements."

The headlights are larger, using bright halogen bulbs that deliver improved lighting spread, and rear-end styling also is distinct, with unique treatments above the beltline and around the glass, including taillamps and integrated license plate pockets. Larson noted that Yukon Denali is "distinguished by exterior appointments that take its exclusive appearance to a higher, more differentiated level," including enhanced exterior bright work, unique and premium-look headlamps, taillamps and rear fascia treatment, as well as unique 18-inch standard wheels, with 20-inchers available.Interior space is roomier and "has a spacious, luxurious environment," Larson said, "thanks to a premium two-tone color scheme and a lower-positioned instrument panel."
Also, the thinner, sculpted seats offer more fore/aft and recline travel, and the second-row seats have an increased seatback recline angle for added comfort and can be ordered with heaters."Flush-mounted controls and radios, with almost imperceptible gaps, convey precision and integration," said Larson, and "chrome accents are used on instrument surrounds, vents and other trim." Like pretty much everyone else who took part in the media event, Larson made special note of the fact that the Yukon family also offers a power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature that eases access to the third-row seat. Tri-Zone climate control is standard on all models. Automatic climate control is standard on Yukon Denali and Yukon SLT, and optional on Yukon SLE.

A remote start allows the climate system to heat or cool the vehicle's interior before the occupants get in the car. An enhanced array of audio, infotainment and safety options is also available and includes an available touch-screen navigation system as well as a DVD system with larger flip-down screen. All of this sits on the new full-size SUV platform that incorporates such features as a new, fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. The new frame offers 49 percent increased torsional stiffness and 35 percent improvement in beaming frequency, compared to previous models. The frame supports wider front and rear tracks that Larson says "enhance stability and driving confidence through a more secure road feel and a lower center of gravity." The front suspension consists of an all-new coil-over-shock design that "delivers linear, solid and unwavering ride and handling characteristics on all road surfaces. A highly-refined five-link rear suspension provides superior isolation and ride, with larger, firmer brackets that also contribute to the vehicles' precise driving manners."Larger, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes "ensure braking performance at the top of the segment," said Larson, and "larger vented front and rear brake rotors, 50-percent stiffer dual-piston calipers, longer-life brake pads and a new, robust tie-rod-type apply system contribute to enhanced pedal feel, reduced brake noise, predictable, linear brake response and shorter braking distances." Seventeen-inch wheels are standard on Yukon , with 18-inch wheels standard on Yukon Denali. Twenty-inch wheels are available on Yukon and Yukon Denali.

A new Gen IV small-block V-8 engine series powers the Yukon family, said Larson, and offers more power than comparable powertrains in previous models.A 5.3-litre V-8 is standard at start of production in Yukon and is rated at 320 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its Displacement On Demand technology, this engine also enables better fuel economy depending upon the way it's driven.The 6.2-litre V-8 of Yukon Denali is all-new, Larson noted, "with advanced technologies and lightweight materials -- including variable valve timing and an aluminum cylinder block -- contributing to the vehicle's uncompromising performance." It produces 380 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The smaller V-8 gets a veteran four-speed automatic, but the new 6L80 six-speed is matched with the 6.2L engine. The six-speed automatic has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio -- including two overdrive gears -- that Larson said will help "deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy." Also, the 6L80 has a "tap up/tap down" capability that allows the driver to manually select upshifts and downshifts with a button on the column shifter.

THE ALL-NEW PONTIAC TORRENT IS NOW IN OUR SHOWROOM, WAITING FOR YOU!

PONTIAC HAS WHAT BUYERS WANT: THE NEW TORRENT!

by Casey Williams - www.car-data.com
September 2005

OK, I think we can all admit the Pontiac Aztek didn’t work out very well. To be honest, it was a very good vehicle that never found its place. It was nice to drive, had plenty of innovative features, rode well, and was as roomy as a minivan. Unfortunately, its controversial exterior design doomed it to failure. Pity. Pontiac learned its lesson well and launched the Torrent crossover SUV for 2006.Said Jim Bunnell, Pontiac-GMC general manager, “The Torrent broadens Pontiac’s performance parameters by taking them in a whole new direction. It has the spirited, responsive driving traits of a performance sedan, but combines that fun-to-drive character with the capability of an SUV.”In truth, the Torrent is a facelifted Chevrolet Equinox, which itself is based on the Saturn VUE platform. Somehow, the Torrent becomes much more than that. A revised front end is rounded and profiled to look like a buff Pontiac G6 or GTO.

Five-spoke 16” alloy wheels and body color side moldings connect it to such vehicles as the Grand Prix GXP and upcoming Solstice roadster. It definitely has the Pontiac look.Inside, a three-spoke steering wheel and sport gauges are much like those in the Solstice. Upscale leather sport seats, silver dash trim, deep cupholders, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar, and an in-dash CD changer should appeal to younger buyers. Safety is enhanced by dual front and side curtain airbags.What owners will really appreciate is the Torrent’s car-based platform. A lightweight unibody design makes the vehicle feel sportier and handle better with a four-wheel independent suspension system and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. A 3.4-litre V6 engine produces 185 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque for invigorating performance and outstanding fuel economy of 19/25 mpg city/highway.

Base models are front-wheel-drive while all-wheel-drive is optional. Unusual in this class, Torrent comes standard with a five-speed automatic transmission.Torrent comes to market just in time. With gas prices continuing their rise and baby boomers tiring of a tough truck ride, the Pontiac SUV should be just what buyers want. With a base price of around $23,000, it tops out under $30,000 fully loaded.

THE REAL PONTIAC SOLSTICE WAS AT AUTOCITY FOR TWO HOURS!

This past Saturday we were lucky to enjoy an actual Solstice in our showroom for a whole two hours. Ricardo La Costa, our GM Zone Manager, was kind enough to bring it by so that we could show it to our customers. Needless to say, everybody was impressed. Everybody wants one! Unfortunately only a lucky few will be able to obtain one since Pontiac has sold out the current production. Those who order a Solstice now will have to wait approximately 4 months. The lucky ones so far who have been assigned a production date are: Julio Gabay(The Apprentice order), Isis Kopel and Robert Cohen. See below the photos of the Solstice in our showroom.