Although General Motors’ Kappa platform – which underpins the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, plus the Opel GT and Daewoo G2X overseas – is arguably one of the most capable small sports car platforms on the market, GM has reported canceled the platform’s successor – Kappa II. The program has reportedly been shelved due to high production costs.
According to GM Inside News, the Kappa II program was put on hold just last week. As with the Kappa platform, the Kappa II was slated to use hydra-forming in both the construction of the architecture’s frame and body panels – a very costly procedure. Add in the fact that the current Kappa cars are largely built by hand and that GM has yet to turn a profit on them, and it spells the end of the line for the development of the Kappa II platform.
It was rumored that GM could move the production of Kappa II-based cars to Mexico to save on production costs, but the softening of the market and the need to raise $15 billion in the next few years has forced GM to suspend the project indefinitely.
However, even though GM isn’t going through with the Kappa II program, it doesn’t necessarily mean the current Kappa cars are one and done. Although GM couldn’t stretch the Kappa platform to accommodate a sedan, GM’s upcoming Alpha platform – which will underpin a new Cadillac rear-wheel drive sedan – can be shortened to underpin a small two door, such as the current Kappa cars. If GM’s Kappa cars do make the switch to Alpha, look for them to hit the market in 2013.
09/02, 1:34 PM
posted by:
shaver
Disasterous
09/02, 1:36 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
the were pretty crap anyway
09/02, 1:53 PM
posted by:
Richard
People, GM loses money on every Kappa sold. It is not going to make-up the losses in volume.
09/02, 2:15 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Well then it’s a good thing they’re about to bring out the Solstice coupe so that it can also lose money.
09/02, 2:18 PM
posted by:
Icarus
Sounds like GM is realizing that they were overbuilding the platform and/or setting themselves up for inefficiency. A short Alpha should do fine, reduce costs, and maximize economies of scale. If they weren’t too far along with K2, then not much delay either.
09/02, 2:45 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
What about my Solstice Coupe?
09/02, 3:01 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
Is the photo the new Solstice Coupe? Wow… looks really HOT!!
09/02, 3:29 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
RWD rules. FWD is for men who are pathetic losers, and women.
09/02, 4:33 PM
posted by:
golf4me
Bummer, the PLATFORM seemed to be decent, it was the tractor-like powertrain, poor top design, and lack of any kind of storage space that did this car in. What they SHOULD have done is made the Nomad and a new Nova (coupe/sedan) on this platform to spread the costs of development and the factory around enough to make it profitable. Well, that and put some decent, more refined powertrains in them…
09/02, 5:58 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
The GXP version of the Solstice was pretty sweet, though. I’d hate to see that performance gone because of “high production costs”.
09/02, 6:22 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Too bad, the Solstice/Sky was a bright light in a sea of misery (except for Cadillac) for GM. Not interested in these cars anyways.
09/02, 6:50 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
Don’t like Solstice, but Sky looks good. Still no good for my 6′5″ frame, but Z4 feels just perfect.
09/02, 7:07 PM
posted by:
ktulu
dumb decision
RWD is best
09/02, 7:16 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
Pontiac..ew
09/02, 10:33 PM
posted by:
qpt_dude
yeah, the Kappa platformed cars were really the only American cars i had interest in and i would’ve loved to see a successor. Another strike against GM for me
09/03, 10:35 AM
posted by:
jonnycat
Have they even thought about raising the price? How Much are they losing per car. I’m sure it’ll be less than $2000. A $2000 price bump could still keep the car going.
09/03, 12:39 PM
posted by:
inline6
Folks, the Solstice and Sky are probably here to stay. That means the Solstice coupe will get a meaningful life before the Alpha comes along to replace the line. Building a platform that can accomodate small RWD sedans, and building coupe/roadster models off of it is a MUCH better solution.
GM risked something with these cars, and the halo effect they bestow is worth more to GM than the bottom line these individual cars bring in. If the next-gen Alpha-based models provide solutions to the Kappa problems (e.g. weight, exterior size, and lack of storage space), then GM will not only have something that will have a shot at making money, but they’ll continue to compete in neat little market.
09/03, 3:47 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Since everyone knows that the Kappa is the only real performance car amongst all the girlie posuer ones like the Z4, SLK, 350Z, S2000 and Miata, there are going to be a lot of disappointed Americans. I don’t understand why GM is putting its leadership in the segment on the line for the sake of money.
Everyone knows that GM dominates in trucks and SUV’s and currently has a class leader in every car segment including convertibles. Letting go of their leadership in this segment is a mistake. I guess if it helps them to continue to build world-class, top notch, cars outside of this segment then OK. But this leaves a gaping hole in the segment and leaves buyers to settle for piles of crap like the Z4, SLK, 350Z, S2000 and Miata.
09/03, 11:01 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Don’t underestimate the 350Z. It’s a monster compared to the others.
09/04, 8:43 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Don’t underestimate what? It’s an unreliable POS with a cheap interior, lousy build quality and terrible driving characteristics. The Kappa is a completely different category well above a ****ty Nissan.
09/04, 1:33 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Need more oil, please don’t be another iHustle. You can tout GM all you want. That’s fine. But wishing the demise of other makes is just plain wrong.
Engine and power, the 350Z is actually pretty decent. Yeah, the interior sucks, and build quality isn’t that great, but it’s still a beast in terms of power and it shouldn’t be underestimated. That’s all I was saying. Drivability in this case is subjective.
09/05, 8:49 AM
posted by:
speedemon
Thank God!Now if we can get GM to stop making cars period(excluding the vette)I can be proud to be American again
09/06, 10:13 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Well I guess I gotta get my Solstice Coupe GXP before GM stops making it…