Rendered speculation: Chevrolet Sky-Volt?
One of the many unfortunate casualties of General Motors' financial apocalypse is the loss of the Kappa platform, the small, rear-wheel drive architecture underpinning the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. With both of those brands being discontinued and no plans to migrate any models over to GM's surviving brands, the slow-selling roadsters will simply disappear within the next year.
Another disappointment to GM fans was the transformation of the Chevy Volt from concept to production form. The sporty, aggressive concept was, to many, a generic interpretation of an otherwise revolutionary design.
One of our readers came up with a novel solution to both problems. Just graft the Volt concept nose onto the Sky and install an adaptation of the Voltec powertrain and voila! you have a rival to the Dodge Circuit and Tesla Roadster. From a technical standpoint, the Volt Roadster is theoretically possible. A battery pack could easily fit into the center tunnel, with the drive motor mounted at the rear, but don't get your hopes up -- it's highly-doubtful that it could ever come to production. GM is struggling to finance the development of volume models and a niche product like this just couldn't happen in the foreseeable future. But if the General could keep the Kappa tooling around, who knows? One can dream, right? Thanks to reader Ryan for the tip and the rendering!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ed 12:38PM (5/01/2009)
The worst part of GM's consolidation is that more and more great cars are going to be tagged with a Chevy badge.
Maybe it's just being from the midwest, but I can't disassociate 'Chevy' from 'redneck'.
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jamie 12:55PM (5/01/2009)
Long live the rednecks, moonshine, old time rock and roll, and mom's apple pie!
As for the Sky/Solstice...I was hoping GM might be able to transfer Kappa from Wilmington DE to Bowling Green KY and run it alongside the Vette. That might keep that plant running another week or two.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Sea Urchin 1:45PM (5/01/2009)
That does look ugly, i have to say that Sky right now is one of the most beautiful cars out there, every time i see it i stop to admire, Solstice is not even close, good looking, but Sky is amazing.
elprogramer 2:19PM (5/01/2009)
You're from the Midwest and you're still a biased idiot?
Rev 3:00PM (5/01/2009)
Maybe he's referring to the terrible, out of date Chevy styling and cheap Chevy interiors that still exist today and thinks "cheap, redneck car."
Can't blame him...
blackmage439 3:14PM (5/01/2009)
@ Sea Urchin,
Agreed. The Sky is a beautiful platform. The Solstice is a joke; a bubbly, rounded, bug-eyed joke.
That said, I actually think this render looks awesome. Yeah, the headlamps look a little "Oriental", and those side vents (if there are even vents there) look like they were stripped straight off a Mustang. But I would still drive that if I was in to compact, 2-seat roadsters...
Aloysius Vampa 12:40PM (5/01/2009)
Call it the Voltski.
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Tikki 1:18PM (5/01/2009)
Boy the russians would go nuts for that car, LOL.
JW 2:12PM (5/01/2009)
Lightning Volt?
Do a Chevy version of Solstice coupe, split the rear hatch glass and call it the Stingray.
BrianFL 12:43PM (5/01/2009)
This looks way better than the Tesla
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AMcA 10:51PM (5/01/2009)
This makes me think: why the HECK isn't Tesla out there bidding to buy the tooling, etc., from the Kappa platform?
Sam Abuelsamid 9:25AM (5/02/2009)
Because Tesla doesn't have any money to buy anything right now. That's why they suspended development on the Model S until they get DOE loans
rubrduk 12:43PM (5/01/2009)
it would actually be cool if it was powered by the volt's driveline
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Mr.Oak 12:46PM (5/01/2009)
I still think Caddy could make one helluva Z4 / SLK fighter.
Dear GM: Think 3.0L DI motor mated to the Corvette's six speed rear mounted transaxle. Please however fix that stupid trunk.
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Mr.Oak 12:48PM (5/01/2009)
Autoblog: Why can't we edit our posts?
geo.stewart 2:54PM (5/01/2009)
good thought!!
I was thinking it doesnt look bad as a Chevy something, screw the fancy powertrain, bring it now.
BUT, your idea for a Caddy version would be sweet.
Heck, do both! How hard to put an art and science nose on a sky and swap out the HVAC and stereo controls?
kfm423 12:47PM (5/01/2009)
Now someone just needs to do the same nose job on the G8 to make the new Impala.
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FousString85 12:54PM (5/01/2009)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3288154827_b9e81fab4a.jpg?v=0
Dondonel 12:48PM (5/01/2009)
No, Sky looks much better the way it is.
Instead of that, implant the Volt driveline in RWD cars, like Sky or future Converj, maybe even CTS. GM has to design a hybrid RWD platform anyway.
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MemphisNET 12:53PM (5/01/2009)
Always liked the look of the Sky over the Solstice. Sad to see both of them getting the axe, but lets face it - no volume.
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