A road-hugging, two-seat roadster comes to Pontiac in 2006 with the roll-out of Solstice. It looks sleek and swift with the long nose, mid-ship cockpit and a stubby tail crowned by dual nacelle blisters trailing behind seatbacks. Built on GM's new rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Kappa platform, the roadster has 50/50 weight distribution with independent suspension and Bilstein monotube shocks plus 18-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires.

For power, Solstice employs GM's Ecotec 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engine pushed to 177 hp and coupled to a short-throw Aisin five-speed manual stick or GM's Hydra-Matic 5L40-E five-speed automatic.

The driver-oriented cockpit adds instruments inspired by easy-to-read motorcycle gauges with two sport bucket seats and a stereo with AM/FM/CD and six speakers. Options extend to three packages of premium equipment plus a deluxe Monsoon audio kit. The easy-to-fold soft top on Solstice stows behind seats and carries a glass backlight with defogger.

A new SUV for Pontiac measures large in the compact class with a broad track and extended wheelbase. The big platform forges a big passenger compartment with a pair of comfortable bucket seats on the cockpit row and a bench seat on the second row that slides fore and aft by eight inches to vary legroom as well as space for the rear cargo bay. The bench's seatback, in sections split 60/40 percent, reclines to two positions and each side folds to make room for cargo.

Torrent romps on the road, due to a 3.4-liter V6 engine that produces 185 hp with an automatic five-speed transmission. There are two trims – FWD and AWD -- with standard gear aboard like an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and sport suspension settings, plus power windows and door locks, air conditioning and a CD stereo set with six speakers.

The nameplate for Pontiac's muscle-car icon from the 1960s attaches to a modern interpretation with powertrain lifted from the Corvette sports car.

Corvette's LS2 6.0-liter V8 knocks out 400 hp, and GTO totes 'Vette transmissions. Standard is a heavy-duty four-speed automatic, but a close-ratio manual by Tremec with six forward gears is optional. GTO stocks a limited slip differential linked to a traction control system (TCS) and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

The body, conformed with classic GTO characteristics of a long prow and curt tail, reveals curvilinear shapes with scant overhangs fore and aft. A 2+2 cockpit contains bolstered buckets in color-coordinated leather, a steering wheel flashing satin-finish chrome, plus metal pedals and a premium sound system. New GTO issues for 2006 reveal redesigned taillamps and an instrument cluster with orange background.

New shades for body paint also apply, like Fusion Orange and Spice Red Metallic.

Due this fall is a midsize crossover wagon called Torrent. Crafted with a rigid monocoque structure typically used for cars rather than trucks, Torrent blends the best traits of a traditional SUV -- such as the tall stance and spacious cabin with flexible seating and generous cargo capacity -- with favored traits of a tightly constructed sedan, as it's easy to enter the low-rise cabin, easy to maneuver the vehicle around town in traffic and easy to park it on a crowded lot.

In the power department, the new wagon stocks a 3.4-liter V6 that delivers up to 185 hp. And it comes to market as a 2006 model with options for front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction.

This year there will be a switch in the array of cars that comprise the Pontiac brand from General Motors. First evidence of Pontiac's model evolution occurred with the 2005 debut of a G6 midsize sedan and sports coupe as replacements for the aged Grand Am series. Ultimately, Pontiac plans to create a virtual line within the line for G6 with a family of three engines plus as many as four levels of trim for the sedan and coupe.

Further, there's a daring convertible variation coming. The G6 drop-top will carry a retractable hardtop in the manner of ultra-pricey luxury imports and it's expected to draw power from a V6 engine.