New car news

19 March 2008 - 11:00

Transformer undisguised

In a prime case of reality imitating art (if you class big-budget Hollywood franchises as art, that is), Pontiac has unveiled an actual Transformer at the New York Auto Show.

Well, sort of. This is the Pontiac Solstice Coupe, a dead ringer for Jazz, the Autobot fella from last year's Transformers film. See, there has been a soft-top Solstice for a while now, but Jazz was a hard-top (sadly not a Honda Jazz, as we'd been hoping for).

This led to all sorts of conspiracy theories among Transformer aficionados (who do like a good conspiracy) that a proper coupe Solstice was on the way. Which is was. A removable targa-style hard-top, in fact, with a plastic shell and magnesium frame.

The Coupe comes in 2.4-litre naturally aspirated or two-litre turbo petrol flavours, with a proper old-school five-speed stick-shifter to confuse unwary Americans.

Of course, if you haven't seen Transformers, all this will leave you bit cold. In which case, we apologise. But hey, it's a nice-looking car. Don't expect a UK release, though.