2007 Pontiac Solstice in Westminster, California

One look at the Pontiac Solstice will tell most potential buyers what they really need to know. The Solstice is a good-looking, two-seat, drop-top sports car that starts around $21,000. Pontiac's little roadster is all about fun, sun and the joy of affordably motoring down the road. We're happy to report that the fun part of the formula has been cranked up several notches in the 2007 Solstice models.

For 2007, Pontiac introduces the Solstice GXP, an answer to a previous gripe: not enough power. Engine output increases substantially to a class-competitive 260 horsepower, thanks to a high-tech turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The GXP package lifts Solstice out of the good-clean-fun category, launching it toward genuinely thrilling.

While the base price looks attractive, the base model is basic. The windows are hand cranked, there's no air conditioning, no ABS and the bare minimum of occupant safety features. Add the options most buyers want and the price will get closer to $25,000, and that's what you'll likely find at the Pontiac dealership. It comes with a five-speed manual transmission and a 177-hp four-cylinder engine.