Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: The Sky has a limit after all, as GM Kappa production ends]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/report-the-sky-has-a-limit-after-all-as-gm-kappa-production-en/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/report-the-sky-has-a-limit-after-all-as-gm-kappa-production-en/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/report-the-sky-has-a-limit-after-all-as-gm-kappa-production-en/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Pontiac Solstice GXP - Click above for high-res image gallery

Old saying: The flame that burns twice as bright burns only half as long. Having driven our share of Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters, we can't honestly declare them to be brightly burning flames. Oh, they have their good points, but the market's worst folding top mechanism and rampant parts-sharing to keep costs in check have taken their toll on the promising droptops. What we can say, however, is that every Kappa platform vehicle is fabulous looking. Even the badge job Opel GT and Daewoo G2X.

Which is why, however small, there's a tiny tear in our eye because of the news that General Motors is shuttering its Boxwood Road plant in Delaware. It makes sense: the bankrupt automaker has euthanized Pontiac and is looking to sell Saturn. Furthermore, sales of the cramped, near-trunkless (or very odd) roadsters didn't exactly keep GM out of the red. Speaking of color, the boys over at Saturn Fans report that the last Kappa to roll off the line was a silver Solstice roadster. We just hope that "Good GM" doesn't look at the end of the Kappa platform as proof that small, sporty, rear-wheel drive convertibles are a dead end. Regardless, reach behind the seat and grab a cold one to pour out for a dead, albeit awkward, homie.


Gallery: Review: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP


[Source: Saturn Fans]

REPORT: The Sky has a limit after all, as GM Kappa production ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Boxwood RoadBoxwood Road plantBoxwoodRoadBoxwoodRoadPlantGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMGXPKappaOpelOpel GTOpelGtPontiacPontiac SolsticePontiac Solstice CoupePontiac Solstice GXPPontiac Solstice GXP CoupePontiacSolsticePontiacSolsticeCoupePontiacSolsticeGxpPontiacSolsticeGxpCoupeSaturnSaturn Sky RedlineSaturnSkyRedlineSkySky RedlineSkyRedlineSolsticeSolstice GXPSolsticeGxpWed, 29 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19112695/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/29/report-the-sky-has-a-limit-after-all-as-gm-kappa-production-en/19112695/article-detail.xml 19112695 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/solsticelead1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/solsticelead1.jpg <![CDATA[GM releases turbo upgrade kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS

The Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline, and Chevrolet HHR SS are plenty of fun with 260 horsepower underfoot, and we can only imagine that the joy quotient increases as power improves. General Motors' performance division knows as much, and it's now offering an LNF Turbo Upgrade kit to kick its 2.0L turbo direct injection engine into gear. The kit consists of a new engine calibration and MAP sensors that will push your turbo four to 290 horsepower and up to 340 lb-ft of torque with the six-speed manual transmission (315 - 325 lb-ft with a slush box). The new factory turbo kit also keeps the precious warranty intact, which is a huge bonus over other aftermarket setups.

The LNF Turbo Upgrade also gives the GXP, Redline and SS the same "no-lift shift" functionality as the Cobalt SS Turbo, which enables you to shift without taking your foot off the accelerator. The kit also bumps the redline by 200 to 6500, but the hulkified 2.0L engine will now demand premium fuel to deliver its increased power delivery. The General is also working on a similar upgrade kit for the Cobalt SS, and it should arrive at your local Chevy dealer during Q1 2009. The LNF turbo kit delivers some added pop to three already fun vehicles, and it can be purchased at a GM dealer for $650. Is it worth the extra coin? It's up to you, but we're guessing it couldn't hurt. You can check out assembly instructions for the LNF Turbo Upgrade kit here.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS


[Source: GM Blogs]

GM releases turbo upgrade kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HHR SSHhrSsSky RedlineSkyRedlineSolstice GXPSolsticeGxpturbo kitturbo upgradeTurboKitTurboUpgradeThu, 18 Dec 2008 11:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1404787/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/18/gm-releases-turbo-upgrade-kit-for-solstice-gxp-sky-redline-and/1404787/article-detail.xml 1404787 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/hhr-ss-turbokit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/hhr-ss-turbokit.jpg <![CDATA[GM sets pricing for 2007 Saturn Sky Red Line]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/gm-sets-pricing-for-2007-saturn-sky-red-line/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/gm-sets-pricing-for-2007-saturn-sky-red-line/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/gm-sets-pricing-for-2007-saturn-sky-red-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Saturn Sky is a great-looking, powerful, and immensely desirable American roadster. The Sky Red Line takes all of that goodness and infuses it with 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque via a 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec four. That's good for a 5.5-second 0-60 time and a 13.9-second quarter mile.

Best of all? The price of entry is a very reasonable $27,895. Given the high desirability and limited availability of the Red Line, don't be surprised to see dealer markups that will bump that number up -- in some cases, significantly.

If you can get your hands on one for MSRP, it's not like you're getting a stripper, either. A/C, traction control, OnStar, Stabilitrak, and Bilstein coilovers are among the goodies that make the standard equipment list.

Saturn dealers are taking orders now. What are you waiting for?

Update: It should be noted that Saturn's GM, Jill Lajdziak, has been emphatic in stating that dealer markups will not be tolerated on the Sky and Sky Red Line. You may need to wait, but you won't pay more.

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM sets pricing for 2007 Saturn Sky Red Line

GM sets pricing for 2007 Saturn Sky Red Line originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>red line pricingRedLinePricingsaturn skysaturn sky redlineSaturnSkySaturnSkyRedlinesky msrpsky red linesky red line msrpsky redlinesky redline msrpSkyMsrpSkyRedLineSkyRedLineMsrpFri, 23 Jun 2006 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/636314/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/23/gm-sets-pricing-for-2007-saturn-sky-red-line/636314/article-detail.xml 636314 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/skyrl_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/skyrl.jpg <![CDATA[Sky is not the limit for Saturn Sky Redline pricing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/sky-is-not-the-limit-for-saturn-sky-redline-pricing/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/sky-is-not-the-limit-for-saturn-sky-redline-pricing/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/sky-is-not-the-limit-for-saturn-sky-redline-pricing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Saturn's General Manager Jill Lajdziak has come out to ensure the brand's customers that while they may have to wait in a long line for their Saturn Sky Redline, greedy dealers won't gouge them in the checkout line. While official pricing has yet to be released, insiders peg the price for the turbo ragtop to be around $26K, or $3K above the normal Sky's price. Lajdziak stated, "it doesn't fit with the brand [image]," referring to Saturn's history of no-haggle pricing and stellar customer service. This begs the question whether or not you think dealers are being greedy for charging a premium if people are willing to pay it, as simple supply-and-demand economics suggests the Sky Redline will be worth more in the marketplace than it's priced. While the high performance ragtop has yet to sellout, if it does we'll expect to see some price gouging on eBay Motors and other reselling sites.

Also of note is that Lajdziak revealed there would be no Sky Greenline edition for this generation, but that perhaps the next generation Sky would be large enough to accommodate a battery pack and hybrid drivetrain.

[Source: Inside Line]

Sky is not the limit for Saturn Sky Redline pricing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 May 2006 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealershipmark upMarkUpprice gougingPriceGougingSky RedlineSkyRedlineWed, 24 May 2006 06:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/621276/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/24/sky-is-not-the-limit-for-saturn-sky-redline-pricing/621276/article-detail.xml 621276 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/X07ST_SK073_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/X07ST_SK073.jpg <![CDATA[Saturn previews Sky Red Line ahead of New York debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/11/saturn-previews-sky-red-line-ahead-of-new-york-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/11/saturn-previews-sky-red-line-ahead-of-new-york-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/11/saturn-previews-sky-red-line-ahead-of-new-york-debut/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The dust has barely settled from the debut of Saturn's Sky roadster, and Saturn is already unveiling a high-performance variant. The big news is under the hood, where the Red Line model gets the Ecotec turbocharged direct-injection engine, good for an inspiring 260 hp at 5300 rpm and 260 ft-lb of torque at 2500 rpm. At 2.1 hp per cubic inch of displacement, the turbo Ecotec sets a General Motors record for specific output.

The Red Line will grace your local Saturn dealer's showroom this fall.

We'll have more coverage from our crack team of NYIAS reporters, but in the meantime, enjoy the press release and more photos after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Saturn previews Sky Red Line ahead of New York debut

Saturn previews Sky Red Line ahead of New York debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Apr 2006 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>saturn skysaturn sky red lineSaturnSkysky red linesky redlinesky turboTue, 11 Apr 2006 15:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/607634/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/04/11/saturn-previews-sky-red-line-ahead-of-new-york-debut/607634/article-detail.xml 607634 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/skyred3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/04/skyred3.jpg -1 2