It all comes down to marketing - 6 speeds are better than 5? There is no possible engineering reason to install the T-56. The Tremec T-45 5-speed can handle over 300lb/ft of torque - there's no way the Ecotec is going to approach even that limit.

Unless an LS-1 Solistice derivative is also planned, the T-56 gearbox will just add weight and a baulky shifter.

The opel concept looks disproportionate, actually it's ugly to me. Perhaps Chevy is considering slapping its logo on the opel concept and selling it as Cavalier Convertible (which were always not the nicest cars out there). [/QUOTE]

The Opel Concept isn't based on the rear drive Solistice. Much like the similarly sized Peugeot 206 convertible, its a front-wheel drive supermini. (The folding hard-top will even be made by the same company as the little Peugeot.) The platform will probably be shared with the Opel Corsa - GMs smallest, non-Suzuki car. If it makes it stateside as a Chevrolet, this car will be a Metro replacement, not a companion to the Solistice.

 

Oh, you've got to be kidding me! 3,000 pounds? Sure, the S2000 is a porky pig at 2800, but that doesn't mean you have to copy it!

I know there are federal standards to meet, but . . .

Lose the cushy crap. Lose the OnStar. Lose the HUD. Lose the ABS, for Pete's sake! Lose the 300 lbs of insulation and heavy foam and crap that goes on every SUV. It's a CAR! It's a SPORTS CAR! It's supposed to be light and fast.

My 1966 Corvette with 710 lb big-block engine weighs 3100 lbs! We can't do better than this with modern tech?

Sorry for the rant. But even with Lutz, it seems like someone still needs to wake GM up.

 

Thanks for correction on that OPel - I thought that it was based off solstice, but it looks much smaller.


The only reason that T-56 goes into that car (that I can think of) is that this car will accept bigger engines, such as LS1 and Gen IV V8.

ANd so what Branden said about possibility of Camaro sharing this platform seems to fit in so far. The million dollar question, though, is "will it?"

 

Let's not jump to conclusions and start thinking Camaro just yet. Not to say I wouldn't love to see it happen, especially if it meant a 2 seat only, hardtop only, LS6 only, 3000-3100lb Camaro. But if I'm not mistaken, the Solstice concept weighed 2900lbs to beginwith.

I also hope there are some substantial differences between each variant. Looks like this would be the platform for the Saturn Sky, Buick Bengal, any Opel derivative, the Solstice...and whatever Chevy. We could be looking at a new era, of not F-body twins, but roadster twi...er, quintuplets?

BTW, does anyone know that the coupe version also been approved? Maybe our copyrighted news specialist can confirm this

The 2003 Base Miata MSRP is $22,125 and Base MR2 is $25,055. Even the upcoming New Beetle droptop is $21,025. Sounds like GM is in the right ballpark for the base car. However, the higher end, S2000-class ($33,060) supercharged Solstice better bring more improvements than a superchrager to justify a $10k jump. $22k and $27k seems fair.

And that 200hp RSX Type-S has a 6-spd*.

*and weighs 2778lbs! Hopefully Pontiac can pull off this feat.

 

Agreed. I wasn't concluding anything...pure conjecture on my part.

 

Maybe I'm way off base with this, but if they can't find a business reason to build a Camaro right now why in the world would GM need four 2-seat roadsters? There's a huge market...I bet all of the 2 seat car sales combined didn't add up to how many Mustangs were sold last year.

 

How many affordable 2-seat roadsters are there in the market right now?

 

The Miata. (It's still being built right?) Hate to say it, but especially in this day and age of large SUV's and the like, I can't see an array of specialty cars like a 2 seat roadster as being very profitable. GM should do the Solstice, I think it'd be a great car if it's done right (i.e. none of this 3000 pound stuff). I don't see where three or four affordable 2 seaters from one automaker is anything more than redundant, that's all.

 

I gotta agree with you Wilson...

If Solstice does get produced, GM would have the following 2 seat roadsters:

Solstice
Corvette
XLR

Kind of covers the realistic gambit of price ranges for this type of car. (Reasonable, expensive, and really expensive).

Plus they'd be at different GM dealerships to boot (Pontiac, Chevy, Cadillac.)

I don't think there'd really be a fit for a 4th.

Plus throw SSR into that mix whereever it fits...

 

I dunno, but I think GM could snag a percentile of the sport compact crowd and SUV family unit, because a lot of families with an SUV also have a dad who wants a toy. So I think it would do well with 1 or 2 inexpensive 2 seat roadsters.

 

isn't it GM tradition to build one car and market it four different ways.

 

LOL.. very true. (Think Grand Prix/Regal/Monte Carlo/Cutlass Supreme) for a long time and the many many others....

The thing is, those were all high sales cars... I doubt a small 2-seat roadster would be even close.

Of course, no matter what the type of car, I HATE virtual clones.

Funny you mention that too... I saw a 98 Olds "Cutlass" at Arby's on lunch... you know the Malibu with different taillight covers and a different front grille area.