Seamless, prodigious power flows from the Pontiac Solstice GXP's 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo four, one of the best power plants GM has produced in recent memory. Thanks to 260 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque the car is quick and pulls all the way to redline, all while delivering a test average of 21.1 mpg. The transmission, on the other hand, is not as enjoyable. The clunky manual from the 2006 is improved thanks to the installation of a torque tube which makes shifts smoother and isolates the mechanicals (though several drivers thought otherwise). Now all GM needs to do is fix the spring-loaded clutch, which in this car is somewhat tiring and difficult to modulate.