Comments on: Pontiac Solstice Coupe still on the table

By: chevy490

chevy490 — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:49:37 +0000

hey everybody s-60 driver likes blowing chod

By: SSTRFSTR

SSTRFSTR — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:27:41 +0000

Should be lighter than the drop-top as well.

By: WonbyOne

WonbyOne — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 07:07:48 +0000

This car will be an unmitigated success. Judging by the emotion it has evoked here. That is usually a very good sign.

By: stick2clutch

stick2clutch — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:13:05 +0000

Oooooh… Sexy back!! Yeah!

By: shahedc

shahedc — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:58:35 +0000

megator,

Your comments are not exactly correct.

The following cars are all based on the 2003 Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept:
* 2006 Pontiac Solstice (released in 2005)
* 2007 Saturn Sky (released in 2006)
* 2007 Opel GT

The Opel Speedster is a different car from the early 2000s, and was also badged as the Vauxhall VX220.

Sure, the Opel GT is the name of an Opel from 1968… but the new Opel GT was announced earlier this year and will likely be a 2007 model. This new Opel GT is based on GM’s Kappa Platform, just as the others I mentioned.

By: chevy490

chevy490 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:05:19 +0000

do it gm do it now!!!!!!!!

By: Cooper

Cooper — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:32:10 +0000

I would think GM would use their 2.0 DI turbo 4 cyl. When this car showed a few years ago GM had talked about using a 2.4 (I want to say supercharged but it could have been turbocharged) 4 cyl. It would be more cost effective for them to use an engine that they know will work well with the platform. Since it seems to have been designed, even from it’s concept form to use 4 cyl. powerplants.

By: megator

megator — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:07:08 +0000

I thought that the opel GT concept was called speedster as well. anyways these cars arent based of any opel. the only opel GT as such is a 1970s car that was designed by the same guy that did the coke bottle shape corvet (and it shows), an if these cars are based of that then gm is further behind than i thought.

By: sampson

sampson — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:25:49 +0000

acura_el2000

Well depends on if you are talking about the base model or the GXP…

the GXP Solstice starts at 27k. The 350z starts at 27K… SAME PRICE

By: youngm7

youngm7 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:40:03 +0000

I’m 6’3″ and I feel cramped but not claustrophobic sitting in the Sky (and I’ve sat in a few, I work at a Saturn dealer).
The car has a huge overhang in the front because where else is the radiator going to go? And the whole front hinged hood requires a lot of structure up there.
The 5-Cylinder from the trucks really wouldn’t work, it’s got a really long stroke because of the need for torque, and thus is a really tall unit, and if you’ve ever seen the engine bay of one of these, it’s already cramped.
Just make the 2.0 DI Turbo standard. It’s a badass powerplant.

By: MadMatt

MadMatt — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:20:14 +0000

I like the look of it, but my problem with this car is that you feel like a sardine when you sit in it. I am 5’7″ and felt extremely claustraphobic when I sat in it at the 2006 NA auto show.

By: A4

A4 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:16:33 +0000

kellyp
the solstice/sky is based on the opel GT, not the opel speedster.

By: A4

A4 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:14:57 +0000

oh man that is damn sweet ohhhhh man please give it to us… it better cost less than the roadster though and have the same exclusivity levels

By: acura_el2000

acura_el2000 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:31:55 +0000

sorry sampson 350z is not in the same price catagory, no one mentions the 5cylinder from the colorado, the transmission is already from that so might as well put the 5 in, an extra engine option would be sweet.

By: sampson

sampson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:35:13 +0000

Ahh the reverse lights… Just noticed how freakin big those are…

By: bb_454

bb_454 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:33:06 +0000

I just wish they could shave some weight, I think the Elsise with 190hp is quicker than the Redline or GXP with turbos. But for the price their a damn good buy. Wish I had a pearl white or a yellow Sky, mmmmmmm.

By: kellyp

kellyp — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:21:03 +0000

megator,

i meant the opel gt.

By: sampson

sampson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:17:38 +0000

@Huck and Sharif

I understand the function of it all… It’s just the form starts to suffer a bit… I did a photoshop and took out about 4 inches of the front overhang and was amazed how much better it looked… more 911 than 240z

If they don’t shorten the front, they should just extend the back by a few inches to create more of a balance in the form… just my opinion

@YourNameHere
other RWD 2 seaters… S2000 and 350z

By: Cobradreamer427

Cobradreamer427 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:46:22 +0000

Looks great, but how are they going to make it “exactly” like the concept. I mean the concept has stacked tail pipes.

By: BAMF

BAMF — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:41:30 +0000

Oops. Pardon me, I mispoke. You kinda said that already.

By: BAMF

BAMF — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:29:13 +0000

megator – No, not the Opel Speedster. We’re talking about the Opel GT (which is based on the Sky, not the other way around).

By: Huck

Huck — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:39:47 +0000

To me Solstice looks a lot like a modern interpretation of Porsche Spyder 550 lines, which is a good thing.

By: MyGodBeatsYourGod

MyGodBeatsYourGod — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:39:03 +0000

RE: My Vette engine comment…

Yes, a slick twin-turbo V-6 or Evo-ized 4 cylinder would be lighter, yada, yada, yada.

Dudes, the car is a PONTIAC built by the UAW…The current ragtop is really a POS compared to any Honda or German-built VW.

So, go Amuuricann with it.

Stuff a huge engine (remember DeLorean, when he ran Pontiac, shoveled a huge V-8 into a Tempest to start the whole Pony/Muscle Car thing) under the hood, make it scarey fast, and all is forgiven!!

Nothing beats shitty build quality than more horsepower. Chrysler has known this for 40 years…

By: Sharif

Sharif — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:49:34 +0000

davebo, I feel what your sayin i used to hate it too, and I somewhat still do. But that round front end somehow grew on me a little, and as much as I want to see it go if they remove it I would be mad

By: megator

megator — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:35:48 +0000

The solistice is not based of the opel speedster. the speedster is rear midengined and this is front midengined. The speedster is based of the lotus elise,it has the same chasis but opel engine interior and extirior. There was however a concept of a second gen speedster that was based of the kappa platform and looked a lot like the saturn variant.

By: davebo

davebo — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:24:11 +0000

My problem with this car was never the top/rear, it’s the front end. I just don’t understand how anyone finds that rounded front appealing. Its just so… phallic. I’d much prefer the Sky.

By: Sharif

Sharif — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:03:36 +0000

Huck i was goin to say da same thing @sampson, don’t forget the 8c, it is because of this reason that i feel that a V8 should be placed in this car cause a V8 would not disturb the weight balance and is just as long as an inline 6 and doesn’t weigh too much more, so I figure either way the car is going to preform the same so it might as well have a v8. I also think that the engine should have a dry sump-lubrication system so that way the engine can be placed lower to the ground for a lower center of gravity.
Lower center of gravity = better handling
Furthermore I understand your point for a manumatic, but the truth is a manual can handle the torque output and is much more fun.

By: Scott Kempton

Scott Kempton — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:59:05 +0000

Wow—I don’t know who’s doing the styling of this car and the Sky, but he/she/they should be given a raise. This is a fine looking automobile. And I agree with a couple of the comments on here; it does look like it would have more usable trunk space, and it does sort of seem like the spiritual successor of the original 240Z (which, to me, the current 350Z is NOT). If they do produce this coupe (and even if they don’t), I think they should re-do the interior; the overall look and feel of the current one is kind of cheap.

I think stuffing a monster motor in this thing would be the wrong move. I haven’t driven the Solstice GXP, but with its turbocharged 4 cylinder, and 260 HP, that would seem to be PLENTY for a car this size. On the other hand, I think Huck may be on to something with his idea for a small, straight 6-cylinder; 3 liters, normally aspirated, about 225-250 HP, and gobs of torque. Now THAT would be a sweet combination! I wonder if BMW would sell their 3 liter six to GM for cheap?

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:59:02 +0000

2+2 are worthless unless you have friends whose grandparents were in the Wizard of Oz. It’s just added weight and expense to the benefit of no one.

By: Huck

Huck — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:37:37 +0000

@sampson

The long hood is necessary to keep the engine in the middle, for lower polar inertia and better weight distribution. Look at Mercedes SLR or CLS long hoods, they are this way for the same reasons. These cars are front mid-engine cars, and share the dynamic qualities of mid-engine cars and the practicality of a front engine cars (large trunk). The long hood needs to stay there, besides, it gives the car a nice classic look.

By: Huck

Huck — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:33:16 +0000

what I wanted to say above was “small straight 6″ (not V6), I’m sorry.

By: Huck

Huck — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:31:20 +0000

Please no V8 in this small car. What it needs is a small straight V6 and a very short 1st gear (like 5.5:1, for extreme launches) in a 7 speed manumatic (a manual cannot cope with the torque output). Nobody needs it to do 200mph. 0-60mph in 4 sec is much more fun.

By: sampson

sampson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:12:44 +0000

they need to make a 2+2 coupe out of this…

This current design looks a little too long in the front. Either shorten the front, or lengthen the back

By: GL1

GL1 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:02:29 +0000

This is a really really pretty car. I think I like the coupe better than the roadster even.. WOW.. They should build shit loads of these because they’ll sell for sure.. If they put about 350 hp behind them they’ll eat up the market for the next five or ten years… Good For you GM.. yes this could be the next 240 Z type breakthrough for GM its that good looking…

By: 1952 MG TD

1952 MG TD — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:02:29 +0000

Century… GM has realized that not every brand needs every platform.

By: century24

century24 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:51:23 +0000

Reminds me of the Chevy Nomad concept…speaking of which I wonder if the Bowtie Brigade will ever get their own Kappa roadster. It’d be pretty cool, but I can also understand how they might not want to start spreading the platform out too thin though.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:43:15 +0000

Oh and it doesn’t have to have a BIG engine to be a good time; Lotus Elise and Exige do it.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:40:20 +0000

Total panty pudding and I usually loathe Americana unless it’s muscle car.

It’s the spiritual successor to the Datsun 240Z.

By: 1952 MG TD

1952 MG TD — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:34:00 +0000

“It was styled to be a convertible from the beginning, and it looks great as a vert.”
I thought the original concept was a coupe?

“how many 2-seater hardtop, RWD are there in this price range? Miata…”
Miata is not a hatch/coupe like seen above, like what is being talked about for production. There was, however, a miata coupe concept back ~2000 I think.

“Not to mention, there is a very limited market for 2-seater hard top coupes in this price range.”
Name all of the sub 30k 2 seat coupes and hatches on the market…

By: Joey D

Joey D — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:20:05 +0000

The Sky coupe would look much better, I haven’t been a huge fan of the Soltice looks.

By: kellyp

kellyp — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:18:51 +0000

Me,

the solstice and sky are based on the opel speedster, so you’re in luck.

By: JSP

JSP — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:58:55 +0000

I can’t wait to see what the Sky coupe will look like.

By: YourNameHere

YourNameHere — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:48:20 +0000

how many 2-seater hardtop, RWD are there in this price range? Miata…

By: Z06ified

Z06ified — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:39:26 +0000

I think it looks odd. The Solstice looks best with its top down. It was styled to be a convertible from the beginning, and it looks great as a vert. I don’t see the attraction to making this car a hardtop. Not to mention, there is a very limited market for 2-seater hard top coupes in this price range.

By: Fatstrat

Fatstrat — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:26:59 +0000

I prefer this to the soft top.