I thought the same thing as soon as I heard Hydroformed side rails. I thought this was a little more dumbed down than just slightly different suspension. I don't think we have heard about a rear mounted tranny on the preproduction car like we did on the concept. If the tranny ain't in the rear it really is quite different than the C5/C6 frame. I wonder what other GM sports car could use the hydroformed side rails and backbone tunnel besides these two??? I wonder if Holden is looking into this.

 

Turbo motors will come from the factory soon.

 

 

Indeed you did!

 

Of course, I just noticed that little washer with the markings on it, not the actual suspension components.

 

Guys,

Yes, the Kappa chassis is strongly related to the Corvette chassis, but by no means do they share any majoy parts. Just the basic construction, shrunk down, and repackaged.

 

Maybe so....

But I'd bet those control arms would bolt right up to a C5/C6 no problem....and visa versa.

 

I seriously doubt they used the same suspension geometry. The frame rail height isn't even the same, therefore the control arms designed around the Corvette's frame would not have an ideal geometry. They are optimized for one chassis, you can't just swap here and there and expect it to be optimized for a chassis.\

There is a lot involved in designing the suspension, a simple change in height of the front and lower control arms and a change in track width throws the whole package out the window.

 

I haven't looked at this as closely as you guys, so do you think an inline 5 or 6 cylinder could fit?

 

The Kappa platform was only designed to support an I4.

 

Yea I saw that too. At the NAIAS they had a Kappa chassis with engine and a C6 chassis with engine no more than 100ft apart. The resemblence is unmistakeable. Like Mervz said this chassis is related but not the same. I don't think the Kappa will support a C6's 105in + wheelbase as is. And It seems to be slightly tighter between the front frame rails. I wouldn't put it past GM or the specialy vehicles group to build a V8 Solstice or Nomad but it certainly wasn't designed for it. The tall central tunnel its very much Corvette like!

I think this is good. GM is showing that they will cut down the sharing rules and put Nortstar's into Bonneville's, SBC's in Caddy sedans and put Caddy's on Corvette chassis. Whatever combo works. I like it. Gives the Camaro that much better of a chance.

 

The nomad and curve have wheelbases of 107 inches. The beauty of the spaceframe is that it is easily widened or lenghtened. The possibilites of what GM could bring to market on this platform are endless.

 

Car & Driver writes that Kappa shares no parts with the Vette. I don't know if they have solid info on this or if this is their hunch and what not. Just thought I'd mention this before we get too excited.

 

If Kappa's suspension is based or actually shares components with Corvette (which I believe it does)...I can see why GM wouldn't want to go into detail about it.

Imagine...the coveted Corvette, sharing major suspension pieces with a $20,000 entry level car. Also, the rear differential from Solstice looks suspiciously like the one from CTS.
http://www.wieck.com/public/*2PV_029901

http://www.wieck.com/public/*2PV_063311


Two years ago the Solstice's platform DID NOT exist. If you want to pull a platform together fast.....you've got to raid the corporate parts bin.


My investigation continues.

 

It doesn't take two years to design a simple suspension system for a production car, let alone 6 months with a development team.