Just wanted to bring this up for discussion.
The Wilmington plant has a capacity of 200,000 units, annually.

The highest volume Kappa that we know of, is the Solstice at around 20K per year.

Even if ALL the Kappas that we have heard of are produced...that comes nowhere near 200,000.

US Pontiac dealers won't get a version of the Cobalt to replace Sunfire. Dealers are still not being told by GM, what will replace Sunfire.

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=09363710

Anyone think that the Sunfire replacement might end up being a RWD Kappa?

 

not much would surprise me at this point

 

Wow, what timing!

This just in:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6854


Here's an excerpt--

"The sporty Chevrolet Nomad concept vehicle, first shown at the Detroit auto show last month, is tentatively approved for production by mid 2007, while an assortment of other sporty spin-offs of the new Kappa "architecture" are set to follow, well-placed sources tell TheCarConnection.com. These include a new Chevrolet coupe, a hardtop Buick convertible, and the long-sought "entry" model for Cadillac."

 

RWD Kappa? And if Canada only gets the Pursuit........sounds like we wouldn't get a RWD Kappa

 

The last part of that quote makes me raise an eyebrow toward the whole thing.

Cadillac has been trying very very hard to move UP-market ... so , an "entry level" model from Cadillac has hardly been "long-sought" after.

Mr. Lutz has been very clear in saying that Cadillac will not move down-market from CTS.

There has been talk of a Cadillac coupe, but it would make much more sense for that to be a CTS Coupe (CTC).

 

That would be a pretty bad move seeing as how both BMW and Mercedes have done just that . Bimmers have/will have the 1 series and I dont know what the low end mercedes are called . All the above powered by 4 bangers . If cadillac could make a HIGH quality low end car it could only help them , not hurt them .

 

Maybe Caddy should build a version of the Aveo

Cadillac is moving upscale not downscale, The want to once again be the standard of the world, not fighting Honda Accords for sales. Who cars if BMW and Mercedes are watering down there brands. let buick and Pontiac handle the sub $30K cars.

 

Mercedes entry level cars will be the Mercedes Smart Car which hits the states in 06.

I don't see Caddilac moving down scale though.

 

Yeah , lets try to make it as close to the cimmiroon(sp?) days as possible . Come on dude ...gimme a break

Cadillacs product range , brand image , desireablity and quality will determaine if it can achieve a standard of the world status once again . A properly excecuted 4cyl RWD entry level car that is more on the sporting side of things is not gonna hurt Caddys percieved image one bit , it would only push it higher than it is already .

JMO:blah:

 

Well, we got alittle sidetracked by The CarConnection story. But getting back to the original question....does anyone think that the Sunfire replacement will be built off of Kappa to flesh out that 200,000 annual units production number?

 

It isn't hard to imagine a small, sporty RWD coupe/sedan for Pontiac's entry level car, especially considering the direction they want to go. My question is can Kappa morph into a semi-comfortable 4 passenger car?

 

Does a Cadillac Kappa have to go downscale? Why not make it a Z4 fighter and charge a Z4 price for it?

 

A 4 cylinder Caddy is not part of the strategy.

 

I kindly disagree.

Cadillac has made probably the fastest turn around in image in the history of automobiles.

Why taint that now?

There's no reason to do it, especially since GM has so many other divisions to do that.

And, a lot of folks think it is BMW and Mercedes who are making the mistake, and tarnishing their brand by omving down-market... I happen to agree with this school of thought.

 

4 cyl. should not be in a luxury car. What is luxurous about a 4cyl? nothing.