After a 9-hour drive, i'm finally back...Media days were just flat-out incredible...I'll post more info tomorrow after some sleep...

 

What were peoples reactions to the C6, new M*stang, SSR, and Solstice??

 

at least from the my perspective, if I had to rank those four, it would be:

1. C6
2. stang
3. Solstice (many were pleased with the interior, tightness, and shape)
4. SSR (many people had already seen it, so not much surprise)

But IMO, the most-admired and asked-about car was the Shelby Cobra...it stole a LOT of thunder

 

About what I expected to hear. I bet the Ford GT and 04 F150 are still getting plenty of attention. I also hear the Crossfire convert is getting a lot of attention. Same with the XLR and Hummer H3

But on a GM note was the Cobalt there? Any good feel for it? GTO getting any feedback?
Malibu doing ok? As far as the press is concerned.

 

random thoughts...

1. There was no way to meet everybody I wanted to...Some of the people I chatted with briefly include Dave Hill, Tom Peters, J-Mays, and Ol' Carroll himself...I did track down RedPlanet and spoke with him at length, as well as spending an evening with GM Design Chief Ed Welburn (he's a friend of a friend) all you need to know about Ed is that he primarily drives 2 cars: the SSR, which he designed, and a '69 Camaro, which is his personal favorite...I'll have to root through the pile of media packs and notes to remember who else I spoke to.

2. Various Ford people all but promised to build the Cobra concept, even though I thought the 6.4 L V-10 would have found a better home in the GT-40. They will probably use this engine, or at least a V-8 version of it. Target weight in full production trim is 3000 lbs.

3. After seeing it in person, I take back everything I'd said about the C6...just change the [censored] steering wheel.

4. I had been on the fence about the mustang before, because it looks so awkward from some angles, but now I think it's a good design, especially in GT trim with the stripes (optional). A few mustang club members from as far away as Europe came out to the unveiling, and most were totally amazed. Ford may also have another future hit if they decide to produce the Bronco.

5. After seeing the GTO up close, that's the best interior I've ever seen in a GM car..period. A few years ago, GM wouldn't even think of using those materials in a Cadillac, much less a GTO.

6. The solstice will be a hit, i think. Just wait until the aftermarket gets a hold of it; you could have a poor man's shelby cobra.

7. The Chrysler 412 concept is nice, but there are no distinctive cues that identify with the brand. Take away the badging, and I would've guessed it to be an Audi, Benz, Porsche or Saleen.

8. The 300 Hemi C and Magnum Wagon are near perfect in their execution...The 300 threatens to siphon sales off of the CTS-V

9. A lot of GM's future direction could lie in the success of the Kappa platform, where you will see three interesting variations in the solstice, the nomad, and the curve.

 

The GT-40 still gathered a big crowd... I don't think many European journalists had a chance to see it in person before...The GT-40, Shelby, and Stang are all silver with white stripes, which touches off a nice theme.

Ford donated about 5-6 new F-150s to various tuner/custom shops and let them make their own interpretation of the truck...There's a high-rider, a low-rider, one with a lot of luxury, you name it.

The cobalt got a nice reception, and i can tell by looking is light years ahead of my cavalier. But all media eyes were all over the Nomad and C6 in the Chevy area. The GTO was treated a lot like the SSR, since both had been seen last year, and there were so many new cars out.

Note for race fans: Don't miss the CTS race car, the C5R, along with the Ferrari, McLaren, and Jaguar F1 cars.

 

They unveiled the GT out here in LA the same day the Colbalt was. It's a nice car, and according to Ford's presentation out here it will go 0-60 in 3.3 (yea, I thought he misspoke too), but because it's going for $139,000 & we've been seeing it in mags for over a year, it didn't really faze me too much.

I think you are right about Solstice becoming a poor man's Cobra. Ever since I heard they were starting UNDER $20,000, I've been paying attention! If it were to come in the fastback coupe version they showed a couple of years ago, with the Ecotec add-ons & inevitable aftermarket stuff these things will end up with, it would be hard to pass it up!

 

I would have too if i hadn't seen the C&D article which tested the GT to a 0-60 of 3.3 and a 1/4 mile of 11.6@128mph.

 

What about the other mags that tested the car and didn't get nearly those times? The highest mph from any otf the others was like 123 or so.

 

Most people on this board are talking about the Solstice, I'm really impressed by the Nomad. My '01 T/A WS6 is turning into a two seater with the roll bar and so on. I have no need for a convertible or another two seater but a very cool wagon fits the bill. My questions about the Nomad: is it a two or four-seater (can't tell from the web pics I've seen). Will this go into production and if so when. Does it have the same wheelbase as the Solstice. Are weight/engine options expected to the same as Solstice or will this go more upscale with larger displacements/output. Can one shoehorn V6/V8s into the engine bay of the Kappa platform. TIA

 

Those were previous tests, and this the most current. All cars were pre-production versions still undergoing further tuning, etc... With this being the latest example, it might be closer to the finished model. That's my take.

I'm just saying that if a Fords presentation said the car's capable of those times, then there mostly likely is some truth to it. I guess we'll just have to wait and see once the production cars hit streets.

 

Just went to autoweek and read Chevy's press release which answered most of my questions about the Nomad. So what remains: will this go to production (what changes if any would be made and what model year). Will they stick with a turbo-charged Ecotec. Do larger V6/V8 engines fit the engine bay. Projected price. TIA

 

The nomad is actually on an elongated version of the kappa platform...no specifics were given about production, but i would estimate in less than 2 years, since that's what it took for the solstice to go from concept to production

 

GM told the union at the Wilmington plant that there would be multiple kappa cars produced there including a Chevy. It took Solstice 2 years to go from concept to production, true, but that also included a ground up design of the platform.

Here's a question....Since it's in production form now, why does it take till fall 2005 to begin producing and selling the car? Is the L300 having an impact on the start of production, or is it something else?

 

after a visit to ebay, i cannot believe how many so-called journalists rushed to ***** themselves by selling their press packs as soon as they got home

At the corvette unveiling, i was wondering why so many people had 3-4 corvette bags...shameful