Both of them have a wheelbase of 107 inches versus the solstice wb of 95.1.

GM's space frames are very rigid structures. The real issue on horsepower limits may be would GM allow anything that is smaller and lighter than a Corvette to have more than 300hp.

 

As long as it doesnt say Chevy, then its fair game.

About the solstice not being able to handle over 300 hp, so is modding basically out of the question to turn it into a real beast?

On topic: if it has a V8 id buy it. not if it had an i4

 

it doesnt matter if it can fit or not at this point, the car would handle like crap. I would like to see a mega hp turbo 4 in that car and keep with the go-kart handling then have it slosh around like a 500hp fat kid on a unicycle.
Kappa was designed for the ecotec engines, and was made to be a stripped down, european like roadster. As it would be cool and almost be the modern day AC Cobra, I dont think that unless you moved the engine more twards the center and other stuff, that the car would be that amazing. Im sure as a drag car, but not as a sports car.
I like the Solstice for what its is, a small roadster. I would like to see a 250hp turbo model and I would like to belive that the car would be such fun for the price. It uses all parts bin equipment, so Im sure that price could be kept down. Keep the mega V8 power plants to Zeta.

 

A 300hp V8 Camaro based on the Solstice-chassis (kappa) would most likely smoke almost all variations of the next-gen stang and could help keep the price near $25,000.

Its all about HP to weight ratio anyway.

 

Isn't the Solstice basically a sport compact car?

 

It is a sports car. Much like a Miata, S2000, Boxster, or 350Z.

 

Was Kappa only designed for the Ecotec? Can you for sure say that? I think only the engineers who worked on it can say for sure. Size wise I thought from the get go it would fit really well. Now take a look at the evidence it IS using the Sigma/Zeta Rear suspension setup. It has basically the same front end as the corvette with few changes. Why wouldn't you design a car that is HEAVILY BASED on two RWD V8 platforms to hold only a 4 cyl? Remember the W body was "designed only for a 6 cyl but now they are getting a V8 for next year.

BTW On a side note what do you think costs more to build an Ecotec or a LSx motor?

 

Not sure exactly who said it (I don't want to pin everything on Bob Lutz ), but I do recall someone saying Kappa can not hold a V8 or even a V6 engine.

It had nothing to do with chassis strength, but with packaging (ie: the hydroformed frame, the amount of clearence needed for a tight turning radius with the relatively big tires, and stuff like that).

Solstice is much more narrow than the Corvette, and in the Vette, the LS1 doesn't have alot of room width wise.

 

Bob said it was designed for the Ecotec. I don't think he said it wouldn't hold any other engine just that it wasn't designed to hold another. But the CTS was designed for the 3.6 VVT and it now holds the LS6 so I guess anything is possible.

 

Ill have to find the article, but the original set up is a delta/epsilon front frame, and the rear was a tblazer's rear section I belive when it was first designed in a concept.
Exactly what Qunion said, the frame rails and everything just wont be able to put a larger motor in it. It was designed to be a small, light roadster, not a muscle car.
It doesnt matter about cost becuase Im sure its cheaper to just snag one off a line of the hundreds of cars that use the ecotec line up.
I guess with a little engineering, anything is possible, but it will handle like a pig, and lose its original meaning of being a small, european roasdster. Not everything under the god dam sun needs to have a stupid LS1 in it.
It does not have a corvette chassis or a sigma chassis. It uses the CTS's rear suspension, and Im not sure about the font, but chassis wise, its not as wide to handle the larger Gen III or Gen IV motor, but im sure with a little shade tree engineering, you could get it to fit ,but like I said, it would just be a sloppy machine. It would be almost dedicated to it being a dragster.

 

why anything with a 4cyl is turned into a sport compact?

The Solstice was a dream by Lutz to make a small european roadster like the old Porsche Sportsters that had minimal creature comforts, but was fun to drive. Luts is a big fan of European sports cars.

 

Wouldn't a Camaro built of that platform be a bit small. Don't get me wrong I don't want a bus, but would like to see the next Camaro gain a bit more useful interior space (back seats and trunk) but the overall dimensions of the 4th gen f-car are still good IMO. I don't want a sport compact sized Camaro.

 

Why would it handle like a pig??? What has a higher center of gravity and Ecotec or an LSx motor? Is there more than 100 lbs difference in weight? I don't think so if I am correct and there isn't a HUGE weight difference then it would be like the difference between me (130 lbs) and a guys weighing 230 driving the car but the weight would be shifted a little more forward then it would be with different drivers.

Maybe you guys should get the chip off your shoulders about "Not everything under the god dam sun needs to have a stupid LS1 in it. ." I am not an idiot I am acutally pretty smart. There are lots of cars that weren't perfectly balanced that can be made to handle very well see 300Z w/ LS1 or RX7 w/ V8. Some of you all need to chill out a little bit, you are to defensive.

 

your just missing the point. The idea of the Solstice was not to be V8 powerd. We are fighting over something that will never happen from GM. You wont see a V8 in the Solstice from GM. Thats not what they wanted or invisioned with the Solstice.
I would much rather just wait for a stronger, larger, and more powerful Zeta based coupe.

 

Lets be real here for a moment. It isn't like us saying it is a good idea is going to get it to happen from GM. The game plan is setup for the Chevy coupe and the wheels are in motion we are just trying to get them to use the Camaro name on the car that deserves it. Now I am not saying the Solstice will carry a V8. But I am saying that it is a possibility that an LSx motor can fit into Kappa, the structure is different than the car. I don't have a doubt in my mind that it will happen. It may not be from GM but it will happen, remember the LS1 Prowler? I am saying it COULD come from GM and that if it were called Camaro and had 4 seats I would be in line to buy one. Lets not debate this the SOLSTICE will NOT get a V8. I can pretty much bet money on that one.