Pontiac Unveils Red Bull Solstice GXP for Drifting Competition
Rhys Millen will pilot turbocharged roadster in defense of his Formula D title
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Building on the success of the GTO drifting program, Pontiac today unveiled their next generation drift vehicle based on the upcoming turbocharged Solstice GXP. The new Red Bull Solstice GXP Drift, which will once again be piloted by 2005 Formula Drift champion Rhys Millen, will make its official Formula D drifting debut on June 10 at Solider Field in Chicago.
The stylish design and power of the Red Bull Solstice GXP Drift car along with the talent and expertise of Millen will be a formidable combination on the Formula D circuit this year. The GXP Drift features a race-modified version of the Solstice GXP turbocharged 2.0-liter ECOtec engine, while Millen is the reigning 2005 drift Formula D champion behind the wheel of his Pontiac GTO.
“The Red Bull Solstice GXP Drift is an excellent match for the tuner market where turbocharged engines dominate,” said Carmen Smith, GM Racing program manager for drifting. “Additionally, the GXP Drift maximizes the use of GM production components and race parts available through GM Performance Parts. Not only is the engine based on the production ECOtec, the transmission is a GM production six-speed and we’ve maintained the production GXP rear differential. Of course, we’ve used many race parts from GM Performance Parts and from sponsors such as Bridgestone, Rotora, Exedy, Racing Hart, and Sparco.”
The turbocharged Red Bull Solstice GXP Drift is a two-door hard-top roadster with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed transmission. The heart of the Solstice GXP Drift is the ECOtec 2.0-liter turbo engine, producing over 500 horsepower, roughly double the horsepower of the street-legal GXP available in dealerships this fall. This competition ECOtec turbo engine, running on E85 ethanol-based fuel, uses thick-wall iron cylinder liners, a race-ported cylinder head, tubular stainless steel exhaust headers, a performance camshaft, a unique engine control system and a water to air intercooled turbocharger. It was developed by the same GM Racing engineers behind the successful ECOtec sport compact drag racing motors, which generate over 1,400 horsepower in a 2.2-liter turbocharged configuration.
Consumers got a sneak peak of the production Solstice GXP roadster convertible during the L.A. Auto Show in January. The GXP is based on the hot-selling Solstice that was launched last year as Pontiac ’s first production two-seat roadster and became almost instantly popular for its classic roadster style, crisp handling and spirited performance. The 2006 model of the Solstice is sold out and there is already a waiting list of customers for the 2007 model.
The GXP is an extension of the capabilities of Pontiac ’s original roadster while taking the performance abilities to a new level with a 47 percent boost in horsepower thanks to the turbocharged 2.0-liter ECOtec engine, the most powerful production engine in the ECOtec family. This 260-horsepower production engine is similar to the engine found in the GXP Drift vehicle which should appeal to the youth market and drifting enthusiasts. The turbocharged 2007 Solstice GXP will arrive in Pontiac showrooms this fall.
Currently second-place in points after the season-opener, Millen will aim to take over the points lead during the second drift event of 2006 on May 12-13 at Road Atlanta. Millen will then put the new Red Bull Solstice GXP Drift to the test at Soldier Field on June 10 during the third round of Formula D competition. Five rounds remain before the championships at Irwindale Speedway on Oct. 14 where the Formula D title will be awarded.
"With a powerful product like Pontiac and the experience of team RMR, this fierce combination of response and talent has helped me win events and ultimately the championship," said Millen. "The Solstice has sold like crazy in the marketplace and I can only imagine the excitement of the fans when I bring the Solstice GXP Drift to Chicago . With the added power, this new drift vehicle is sure to give me a boost against some very strong competition while fighting for our second drift title."
Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) of Huntington Beach, California, has a comprehensive history of competing and winning in various forms of motorsports, including rally and desert racing. All the experiences gained from competition are skillfully applied towards performance parts available through RMR’s retail divisions, RMR Products and R. Millen Motorsports. The full line of race proven products can be found at the company’s web site at www.rmrproducts.com.
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-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
SWEET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just hope it doesnt look like the odd gold colored 1 from SEMA
Damn wheres that " this thread is useless without pics" thing when you reallly need it?!?! JK dude but if you find some throw them up cause I'd looooove to see it.
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
rather have him still drive the GTO I loved seeing that thing drift.
^^^i agree the GTO was way better looking. oh well i guess.
wow that thing looks bad ass
If I'm weird and everyone else is weird, does that make me normal?
-me
Versus Motorsports really @!#$ sucks
and so does DHL...but more
So Rhys isn't going to be driving a GTO anymore
!!!!!!!!
................Which car will hit 400 whp first???................
LowFire wrote:So Rhys isn't going to be driving a GTO anymore
!!!!!!!!
When he totalled the GTO last year they announced there would be a solstice this year.
That baby looks bad ass!!!
since the gto is dead at the end of the 06 model year , gotta have a new ride for 07
s2k what !!!!!!!!!!!!! muhahhahahahaaa
It does kind of look a little like an S2K. You think Millen is aiming the crosshairs at Stephen Papadakis' S2K on this one?
Oh sooooo so so much hotter than an S2k. I like the hondas but the solstice just has a better design. I got to sit in a SKY in the mall last weekend. GOd damn i like it even more than the solstice
Roscoe wrote:I got to sit in a SKY in the mall last weekend. GOd damn i like it even more than the solstice
Wait till you drive it. Wraps around you without feeling too small or too big, has a decent amount of get-up-and-go for only 170hp, handling is very crisp and damn if it doesn't look hot. The best part of my test drive of the car 2 weeks ago? A yellow S2K with dual fart cans drove up next to me and revved me. I was smiling the rest of the drive. Then again the top down at 75mph on a nice warm spring day in AZ probably helped too.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about
the former." - Albert Einstein
Doesnt the base solstice run 16's?
LS1's never blow up;
Spray that puppy... 02 sensors are overrated.
JinxedZ THE LOVED ONE wrote:Doesnt the base solstice run 16's?
Low 15's.
Can't wait to see the solstice drifting.
tsmock (Travis Smock) wrote:LowFire wrote:So Rhys isn't going to be driving a GTO anymore
!!!!!!!!
When he totalled the GTO last year they announced there would be a solstice this year.
Then why did they build another GTO and start drifting it again this year? Was planning on going to Atalnta to watch the GTO this year but got deployed, now it seems I won't ever be able watch it
Don't understand why they would get rid of it completely. Just like the Marlins(just an example) win something last year then dump it next year
Whatever
................Which car will hit 400 whp first???................
Im lovin the fact its a hard top
*************Yea i spell liek wrong get over it*****************
** If i write in caps its cause im @ work and i can only write in caps cause the keyboard is a retarded CAPS only keyboard.**
ln2johnny wrote:It does kind of look a little like an S2K. You think Millen is aiming the crosshairs at Stephen Papadakis' S2K on this one?
More like Phiffer in the RSR s2k.
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and
degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that
nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for
which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his
own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of
being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than
himself.
John Stuart Mill
MMMM 900HP and a wing that was duct taped on. True story.
Dave wrote:Roscoe wrote:I got to sit in a SKY in the mall last weekend. GOd damn i like it even more than the solstice
Wait till you drive it. Wraps around you without feeling too small or too big, has a decent amount of get-up-and-go for only 170hp, handling is very crisp and damn if it doesn't look hot. The best part of my test drive of the car 2 weeks ago? A yellow S2K with dual fart cans drove up next to me and revved me. I was smiling the rest of the drive. Then again the top down at 75mph on a nice warm spring day in AZ probably helped too.
Wait until you get to drive a Solstice/Sky with a HAHN turbo kit and 257 WHP. Now that was a blast.
FstCavZ24 (Turbo ECO) wrote:MMMM 900HP and a wing that was duct taped on. True story.
Dave wrote:Roscoe wrote:I got to sit in a SKY in the mall last weekend. GOd damn i like it even more than the solstice
Wait till you drive it. Wraps around you without feeling too small or too big, has a decent amount of get-up-and-go for only 170hp, handling is very crisp and damn if it doesn't look hot. The best part of my test drive of the car 2 weeks ago? A yellow S2K with dual fart cans drove up next to me and revved me. I was smiling the rest of the drive. Then again the top down at 75mph on a nice warm spring day in AZ probably helped too.
Wait until you get to drive a Solstice/Sky with a HAHN turbo kit and 257 WHP. Now that was a blast.
Why when you can buy a GXP / Redline with 260hp under warranty FTW!!!
Why? Because I haven't had the chance to drive a GXP yet? 257WHP>260 crank HP anyways.
