Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen owns modified Pontiac Solstice

Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen owns a modified 2006 Pontiac Solstice roadster. The vehicle features an LS2 6.0-liter V-8 engine conversion performed by North Carolina-based Mallett Performance Cars.

While the original Solstice production models utilized a 2.4-liter Ecotec I-4 engine, this specific unit produces 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, delivering approximately 360 horsepower to the rear wheels. The modification includes an LuK Pro Gold clutch and custom shocks. Von Holzhausen’s history with the Solstice dates back to the early 2000s when he won a design contest led by then-General Motors executive Bob Lutz to create a small, two-seat roadster.