To bad its a 2005 Opel but it hints of what might be coming over here in the next couple of years, and best of all its engine bay can fit a V8!!

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/N...372102,00.html

 

I love this platform

 

Why don't they throw in a LS1 with a transaxle in the Speedster? 1500lbs and 350hp!??!? DAMNIT GM!

 

That car has wonderful proportions!! It looks tough! Just needs a little change in front grill.

 

Something to consider:

The "Tubular" car will be built in just one place, whenever it is given the final go-ahead. Opel seems to believe their version will come out in 2005.

That pretty much gives us a tentative intro date on the Solstice.

 

Probably pure coincidence... but I find it at least interesting that this would be about the same time that GM will actually be allowed to say the word "Camaro" (and "Firebird" for that matter...) publicly again.

 

But if Pontiac does the Solstice on this platform, do you think they'll see a need for a Firebird as well? I certainly agree with you that the timing is interesting and I could see a Camaro on some variant of this platform as a distinct possibility - like Impala64 said I think the proportions would work - but Solstice and Firebird at Pontiac? I'd love to see both, but I just don't know if they'll do it or not.

 

Sadly, I do not see Firebird coming back either ... I just threw the name in out of respect, I suppose...

 

Intreasting this comes up....


I was talking to Jim Hopson one day the media rep of Pontiac GMC, and I asked him if they were going to tear apart the Firebird image to build up the new GTO.

Oddly enough for the first time ever in on the record conversations with GM employees I had him go on a rant about how the Firebird was on hiatus and would very possibly be back. Basically he went out of his way to stress the Firebird was on not dead and very likley would be back if they could find a suitable platform.....

The impression I really got was Pontiac has something up it's sleave with the Firebird name.

Now think......if the Solstice was going to have say a base I4 and available LS1 wouldn't it be a perfect canidate to replace the Solstice name with Firebird once it's made? It would be a great performance car, but far enough from the GTO to not overlap.

Also of note a source (I think you have an idea who) has been heard saying that there have been ideas floated for a base 4 cylinder Camaro and that they are not against the idea. The theory being if you wanted performance you could go to a GM dealer, buy a supercharger and have a credible performance car in a weekend.


If you look at the parrallels I am wondering of we may not see an F-body revival on this new tubular chassis. The only major issue is if it will have a backseat now that we know the LS1 will fit.

Probably a shot in the dark, but its fun to dream.

 

Well, gosh......I don't know what to say...

Seems the 2 main organizations pulling for Firebird and Camaro are, ironicaly enough, Pontiac and Chevrolet?

 

If they make a 4-cyl Camaro on this platform I will be forced to never buy a 'new' GM vehicle. Ever.

 

I think it looks quite nice. Does anyone have a picture of the rear end?

 

If that were the only choice, I wouldn't get one either. However, I doubt that would happen.

Are you aware that for 4 years the 3rd gen Camaro's were equiped with an I4? Maybe you should've stopped buying new GM vehicles a long time ago.

 

If Camaro were a small, lightweight (3,200lb or less) RWD coupe, a high output 4 with 180-200 HP would probably be sufficient for a base engine. Anything resembling the 4th gen and the answer would be no.

 

Lightweight, there is no reason it can't be under 2800lbs, hell the vette could have been well under the 2800lb mark with some tweeks, but they "skimped" and went with steel frame rails.