New Kappas on the backburner...
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Hebron, KY
New Kappas on the backburner...
Full Story:
http://autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101656
http://autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101656
DETROIT -- General Motors has slowed ambitious plans for a wide lineup of sporty rear-drive cars on its Kappa architecture.
Kappa is the basis for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and the 2007 Saturn Sky -- low-volume, two-passenger sports cars slightly larger than the Mazda Miata. GM may sell a roadster in Europe as a Vauxhall or Opel.
But developing a coupe, wagon or anything more on the architecture is a low priority, says Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars .
That is a change from a year ago, when GM displayed the Chevrolet Nomad wagon and Saturn Curve coupe concepts and touted them as likely Kappa derivatives.
"I think a couple of realities hit," says Queen. "We have an awful lot of mainstream, high-volume products coming out right now."
...
With those programs under way, GM executives are allocating resources carefully. And, Queen says, "Niche vehicles are not at the top of everybody's list."
Also, GM wants to see how the innovative Kappa vehicles make it through what Queen calls "a totally new vehicle-development process."
...
Says Queen: "There are still a lot of people who want to see if I can pull this off before we start committing to doing half a dozen more."
Kappa is the basis for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and the 2007 Saturn Sky -- low-volume, two-passenger sports cars slightly larger than the Mazda Miata. GM may sell a roadster in Europe as a Vauxhall or Opel.
But developing a coupe, wagon or anything more on the architecture is a low priority, says Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars .
That is a change from a year ago, when GM displayed the Chevrolet Nomad wagon and Saturn Curve coupe concepts and touted them as likely Kappa derivatives.
"I think a couple of realities hit," says Queen. "We have an awful lot of mainstream, high-volume products coming out right now."
...
With those programs under way, GM executives are allocating resources carefully. And, Queen says, "Niche vehicles are not at the top of everybody's list."
Also, GM wants to see how the innovative Kappa vehicles make it through what Queen calls "a totally new vehicle-development process."
...
Says Queen: "There are still a lot of people who want to see if I can pull this off before we start committing to doing half a dozen more."
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Hmmmm... 
That is somewhat disappointing... even though I was not a Nomad fan at all.
Somewhat surprising too, and also may explain why GM said they will lose money on the Sky.... lots of potential platform volume just went up in smoke.
That is somewhat disappointing... even though I was not a Nomad fan at all.
Somewhat surprising too, and also may explain why GM said they will lose money on the Sky.... lots of potential platform volume just went up in smoke.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,376
From: Sarasota FL
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
A guy here at work claims he heard an interview with Wagoner where he said Kappa cars were being delayed due to the poor sales performance of recent niche vehicles such as the GTO and SSR...I cannot verify if this is true, however.
But leave it to GM to cancel some $20k performance cars because the overpriced $47k convertible pickup, an answer to a question no one asked, sold poorly. I keep praying for a Solstice coupe as a Sunfire replacement...what an awesome car that would be as a coupe...
But leave it to GM to cancel some $20k performance cars because the overpriced $47k convertible pickup, an answer to a question no one asked, sold poorly. I keep praying for a Solstice coupe as a Sunfire replacement...what an awesome car that would be as a coupe...
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Joined: Aug 1998
Posts: 854
From: neverneverland
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by Jason E
A guy here at work claims he heard an interview with Wagoner where he said Kappa cars were being delayed due to the poor sales performance of recent niche vehicles such as the GTO and SSR...I cannot verify if this is true, however.
But leave it to GM to cancel some $20k performance cars because the overpriced $47k convertible pickup, an answer to a question no one asked, sold poorly. I keep praying for a Solstice coupe as a Sunfire replacement...what an awesome car that would be as a coupe...
But leave it to GM to cancel some $20k performance cars because the overpriced $47k convertible pickup, an answer to a question no one asked, sold poorly. I keep praying for a Solstice coupe as a Sunfire replacement...what an awesome car that would be as a coupe...
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,276
From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
If GM started offering a sports coupe and 4 door with a 4 banger, subcompact dimensions(about the size of the Cobalt, Civic, etc.) with RWD and awesome handling for 20-25K, that would be something nobody else currently sells. I think they'd fly off the shelf if they have about as much space and usefulness as the Cobalt.
Disciple
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,479
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by AronZ28
If GM started offering a sports coupe and 4 door with a 4 banger, subcompact dimensions(about the size of the Cobalt, Civic, etc.) with RWD and awesome handling for 20-25K, that would be something nobody else currently sells. I think they'd fly off the shelf if they have about as much space and usefulness as the Cobalt.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Ok if all these other Kappa derivatives are on the back burner how is Sky and Solstice alone going to fill out capacity at a Kappa plant designed to produce 200,000 units a year? Something high-volume, related to Kappa, most likely a Chevy, still has to be going there.......
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by Z28Wilson
related to Kappa, most likely a Chevy, still has to be going there.......
The Nomad has the looks and the usefulness, it's the perfect car missing from Chevy's line-up.
Nomad =
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From: Albany, NY
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by nzrocker
Originally Posted by Z28Wilson
Ok if all these other Kappa derivatives are on the back burner how is Sky and Solstice alone going to fill out capacity at a Kappa plant designed to produce 200,000 units a year? Something high-volume, related to Kappa, most likely a Chevy, still has to be going there.......
The Nomad has the looks and the usefulness, it's the perfect car missing from Chevy's line-up.
Nomad =
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,979
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by IREngineer
Not true, as of last week anyway. In fact, in the last few months they have actually pulled ahead the Solstice. There is a pretty good chance you will be seeing them on the road this summer.
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From: Dollars, Taxes
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by nzrocker
Yeah another 2 seater vert roadster
The Nomad has the looks and the usefulness, it's the perfect car missing from Chevy's line-up.
Nomad =
The Nomad has the looks and the usefulness, it's the perfect car missing from Chevy's line-up.
Nomad =
I'd love to pick up a Nomad like car in a few years to replace the SVT as a daily run-about. But then again, the 5th could be coming soon...
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Joined: Dec 2001
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Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Great...the heavy, useless, image truck SSR, and the style challenged GTO don't do well....So what do they do?? Slow down the really good niche products!!! 
Solstice and Sky are sure fire hits!! I'd even look at one if I could get my wife into something more "practical"....(The Camaro is more utilitarian than the vert sebring)
Solstice and Sky are sure fire hits!! I'd even look at one if I could get my wife into something more "practical"....(The Camaro is more utilitarian than the vert sebring)
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27
Re: New Kappas on the backburner...
Originally Posted by Joe K. 96 Zeee!!
Great...the heavy, useless, image truck SSR, and the style challenged GTO don't do well....So what do they do?? Slow down the really good niche products!!!