No decision on Solstice architecture yet.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosins...a08-175904.htm

 

For a platform with no set architecture, It sure seems to have alot of interested takers.

 

Interesting how when GM listens to what people want and stop forcing vehicles on us they come up with a small RWD coupe/convert..... the very kind of vehicles they said had no future at GM or in the auto business. Here is a few more links!

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=05466000

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06082963

 

You know, if Solstice comes in a coupe, weighs 3,000 pounds or so, has the Blown 240 horse engine, costs $25,000 or less, and comes out by 2005, I may be more than just a little interested in it.

Seems I have little chance of a 1st year GTO without giving the dealer a healthy bribe (ain't going to happen).

 

Here is what I think is happening right now. I have afew gaps in my info...so maybe the rest of you can help me fill it in.

Proposals for the Solstice platform were requested from GM Europe, GM NA and GM Asia.

Don't know what if anything came out of Asia. Europe came up with the Tubular chassis....which, I believe now is considered a long shot.

What of NA. From my understanding...they may be looking at how to take cost out of the Y-car chassis (that's Corvette to me and you), to bring it in at $18,900. This could end up being a daunting task, if you ask me. But if true....and if they can do it.....I would probably have no problem with the 5th gen Camaro sharing Solstice architecture.

 

In the article Lutz said the Solstice was never intended for production. But why are they doing a concept like it then??? And why does it take so long to bring the car to market. I can´t understand that they need several years to make this decision and another several years to bring the car out. Everybody is talking about accelerated product develepment at GM. But I can´t see anything of this. Just to let you know : I´m waiting for the car to buy it, but propably not in 2008...

 

Just one thing doesn't add up if Pontiac is going up scale wouldn't a $20K car hurt its high end image???

 

I love all the "no platform exists" crap. So just make one like everybody else. Somehow Mazda manages to make little roadsters for under $20K w/o even sharing a platform and Toyota cranks out a mid engine roadster for a little more. But the largest automaker in the whole wide world can't do it? No wonder we aren't getting a Camaro anytime soon.

 

I would imagine that actually doing the work isn't the problem....

Money.

Not an original answer, but true none the less. The real question is the "business case". How can we build this car and make money in the process? Proving this for a GM board is harder than it may seem, I'm sure. Even if it looks common sense to us.

 

Great point. Talk like this from GM just makes one lose hope for this car, and any future Camaro regardless of what platform its based on.

 

I'm with you, and I can almost see a situation where GM fumbles around so long Ford decides to one-up them with a low priced, sporty 2 seater of their own, based on their existing Miata architecture. Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

At GM's defense, it isn't just "what architecture to put it on" though. For it to hit the target price of under $20k, it's going to have to share a lot of parts with other projects to spread costs around. It'd be hard to design a ground-up platform like that and then offer it on the cheap. Plus, you need to find somewhere to build it.

 

 

It would be a sad day if GM doesn't build this car. It is such a sweet little car. It's hard to imagine them building this car for under 25k dollars and them not selling like hotcakes. I hope they get this one right!

 

Umm... you do read all the threads here about automaker management and the process of building cars, right? Even if they were to just make one instantly, they can't. It takes millions of dollars in investment, construction and purchase of plant and equipment, research and development, etc. It's not a quick thing. The Tubular chassis what they're "making like everyone else." Have some patience here...

 

Doesn't Mazda counter the cost by making a more expensive RX model based on the same chassis for their own market?

I think GM's problem is that the want each vehicle to be profitable, and the Product Planning Board is more apt to reject plans than approve them, so it probally takes forever to make sure all the T's are crossed & the I's dotted before it goes up.