Autoblog

Tauro puts Spanish flavor, Corvette engine into Pontiac Solstice

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Design/Style, MISC

While it may have had its fans, we have to say we don't much miss the roadster family which General Motors based on its Kappa platform. Sold alternately as the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Opel GT and Daewoo G2X (depending largely on the market), the roadster as much about style as substance, and it was summarily discontinued in 2009 as GM's domestic brands faltered. But now a company in Spain has given the two-seat roadster a new lease on life.

That company is called Tauro Sport Auto, and its version - called, simply enough, the V8 Spider - is a fairly comprehensive rework. As you might have discerned from the name, it replaces the four-cylinder engine with a V8 also from the GM parts bin: the 6.2-liter LS3 Corvette engine, which it offers in 440, 480 and bonkers 650 horsepower states of tune with the addition of new cylinder heads and a supercharger.

How the chassis is able to handle that much power is another matter, but the interior unfortunately appears to carry over largely unchanged from the Pontiac. Pricing, though, starts at a very un-Solstice-like €100,000, or about $125k at today's rates. Which strikes us as about right for a Latin-flavored eight-cylinder roadster, but a tad much for a Kappa convertible.

Tauro puts Spanish flavor, Corvette engine into Pontiac Solstice originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally Official: Pontiac is dead

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Pontiac

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe GXP - Click above for high-res image gallery

Pontiac has been dead for some time now, at least from a manufacturing point of view. The Vibe was the last vehicle to roll of a Pontiac assembly line, marking the end of new car production for the brand in August of 2009. However, the former automaker has been stuttering and mumbling to itself while lying in its death bed. After all, new cars still needed homes and buyers eventually ponied up dough for the keys to the ghostly souls of a marque that once built the king of muscle cars: the GTO. Now, though, the very last new Pontiacs have been sold and the brand is completely, officially, no-doubt-about-it dead.

In an act of ~~lunacy~~ mercy, retired police officer Ed Dieffenbach drove over 1,100 miles to trade in his Chevrolet Silverado on one of the last Pontiac Solstice Coupes left in the country. Driving from Miami to northern Florida, Mr. Dieffenbach helped put an end to the brand's suffering while also putting a somewhat stylish two-door in his driveway. We're sure he'll have years of fun with the Solstice, as long as he doesn't need to use the cup holder... or stow the roof... or look back.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: The New York Times]

Finally Official: Pontiac is dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

Bob Lutz is now officially into the swing of being retired. The former General Motors Vice Chairman has been living the life of leisure since the end of April, but the company he helped steer through Chapter 11 took some time to honor the living automotive legend in a number of receptions held yesterday. Lutz took the occasion to hand out a little wisdom to his fellow workers by telling them not to be afraid to be an irritant or point out deficiencies in the company, saying the philosophy worked for him throughout his career.

Lutz received a number of keepsakes during the celebration, including a set of aluminum versions of the cars he helped bring to market while at GM, including the Chevrolet Volt, Malibu and the Pontiac Solstice, as well as a small diecast engine. He spent his time signing autographs and shaking hands between speeches. Lutz also spoke to the theme of his next book - a tome that he's been working on since walking away from the automaker last month.

The text will focus mainly on the troubles that riddled GM before the meltdown and what the company can do to avoid falling into the same pitfalls in the future. His advice? Don't abandon common sense, and don't try to outthink the industry. It isn't one that requires "a huge intellect."

[Sources: Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News | Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig/Getty]

Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Fisker

In Wilmington, Delaware this morning, Governor Jack Markell was joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Henrik Fisker (seen at right) for the official announcement about the purchase of General Motors' closed plant there. Fisker will re-tool the plant to build a new, more affordable plug-in hybrid sedan to slot in below its more luxurious Karma. The goal is to have the model sell for under $40,000 after federal tax credits.

The current schedule is to have the car in production by the end of 2012 with volumes getting up to 75,000-100,000 units annually by 2014. Fisker has moved up its development schedule for what they are calling Project Nina thanks to the $528 million low cost loan it recently received courtesy of the Department of Energy. During the announcement, Fisker stated that he wants to export half of the production from the plant while creating 5,000 jobs in the U.S. (2,000 at the plant and 3,000 at suppliers). The local UAW president was also on hand, so it looks like the plant will remain unionized, which is very unusual for a startup auto plant.

Fisker is paying $18 million for the factory from Motors Liquidation which is the remainder of "Old GM" which is selling off assets from bankruptcy court. The plant most recently produced the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, both of which ended production last spring.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Fisker Automotive | Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty]

Continue reading Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant

Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: DeLorean Motor Company considering rescuing Pontiac Solstice?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Pontiac, Saturn, Rumormill, MISC

DeLorean Motor Company Pontiac Solstice renderings - Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has made a science out of sharing platforms. So when the company's Kappa platform was introduced for a new rear-drive roadster to be distributed across three different motor divisions, you'd have figured the program was pretty safe, right? Unfortunately for the workers at the Wilmington Assembly Plant which manufactured the Kappa roadsters, those three divisions were Pontiac, Saturn and Opel - three units which the General has either sold or shut down. Which is a shame, because a perfectly good rear-drive roadster platform is a heck of a thing to waste.

In one of the strangest rumors we've heard recently, however, our compatriots over at Jalopnik report that the DeLorean Motor Company (yes, that DeLorean Motor Company) is considering buying the plant and the platform from GM and putting it back into production as a new DMC.

The company's current management is speculating whether their founder, who had a long history with Pontiac, would have tried to save the dying motor division, and are reportedly encouraged by the prospect of putting the Willmington workforce back to work. At this point, there's no telling how realistic the prospects are - after all, today's DMC does little more than service the old DeLoreans and word 'round Detroit was that the Kappas were notoriously costly to build and something of a money pit.

Either way, the company has reportedly acquired a Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe for closer consideration. And we're sure there's an aftermarket garage out there somewhere that could outfit the coupe with gullwing doors...and who knows, maybe even a little Mr. Fusion for flex-fuel capacity.

Gallery: DeLorean Solstice renderings

[Sources: Jalopnik and Facebook]

Continue reading Rumormill: DeLorean Motor Company considering rescuing Pontiac Solstice?

Rumormill: DeLorean Motor Company considering rescuing Pontiac Solstice? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: The Sky has a limit after all, as GM Kappa production ends

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Pontiac, Saturn

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.

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2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: Great moments in cupholder history

Alex Nunez — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., GM, Pontiac, Humor

2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe's weird cupholders - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've ever driven a Pontiac Solstice, you know that it's a very pretty but extremely flawed car. In the interest of getting the concept car's look exactly right in production form, GM had to make a host of compromises, which manifest themselves in a number of ways.

You all know about the roadster's ridiculously recalcitrant top mechanism and dearth of usable space for both humans and cargo. What you may not be aware of is that inside the cockpit, there are three cupholders. One is actually semi-usable - it pops out of the transmission tunnel on the passenger side but is a bit flimsy and threatens to dump on your passenger's lap. In the convertible, the other two are mounted in a pop-out tray below the storage bin between the front seats. Perhaps they were designed by someone with a cruel sense of humor. Or maybe by a fan of comic books, because unless one possesses the flexibility of Reed Richards, it's essentially impossible to reach for a drink nestled in one of them without incurring some sort of sports injury.

After our man Sam Abuelsamid reviewed the 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe, I got to spend a week with one myself. (My car had a manual gearbox - the only difference between the two). One of the first things I noticed about the interior is that the tray with the useless cupholders is absent from the space between the seats. I opened the owner's manual and, sure enough, the only cupholder mentioned is the one in the tranny tunnel. But while loading the "trunk" (as it were), I discovered an undocumented feature. Well, two of them, actually.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe

Continue reading 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: Great moments in cupholder history

2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe: Great moments in cupholder history originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe goes quick, just don't look back

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Pontiac, New Car Reviews

2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Climb into the Pontiac Solstice Coupe and there's an unsettling feeling of familiarity. We've been here before. And after driving off, it all begins to gel, although it has nothing to do with our previous stints in the drop-top variant. The Coupe feels like the unruly offspring of a night of passion between a C4 Corvette coupe and a Dodge Viper. And while the Solstice is nowhere near as large or as powerful as those two American icons, the DNA of both is undoubtedly present in this little machine - for good reason.

It's no coincidence that the history of the Solstice spans the Bob Lutz era at General Motors. After Lutz joined GM in 2001 to guide its product development, one of the first tasks he assigned the design staff was to create a new concept for the Detroit Auto Show. The Solstice was born, a stylistic hit was made and the convertible was rushed to production. Now, as Lutz is winding down his time at GM, the Solstice and the entire Pontiac brand are also fading off into the sunset. In many respects, this Solstice is symbolic of what was right and wrong with GM and Pontiac. And our time with the Solstice Coupe is a telling tale about the final new model from a vanishing brand.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe

Continue reading Review: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe goes quick, just don't look back

Review: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe goes quick, just don't look back originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky could live on... with different parents

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Pontiac, Saturn, Opel

Pontiac Solstice Coupe - Click above for a high-res image gallery

General Motors' acting CEO Fritz Henderson has said the Wilmington, DE plant that currently produces the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky could be sold if a buyer was interested in producing the two roadsters. "If someone were to approach [us] with a proposal that made good sense for our people, we'd be open to it," Henderson told Autoweek. The move would ape Chrysler's plan for the Dodge Viper's production facilities, allowing another automaker to take control and continue building the niche model.

The Delaware plant also produces the Opel GT, a rebadged variant of the U.S. market Solstice and Sky, for GM's German arm, and it's obvious that as the General rushes to restructure before its June 1 deadline the automaker is looking to cut loose any and all extraneous operations. With Pontiac's future sealed, Saturn's all but assured and all three models returning little (if any) profits, the decision to nix the roadsters was obvious. Now it's time to see if someone is willing to take the reigns.

Gallery: 2010 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

[Source: Autoweek]

Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky could live on... with different parents originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered speculation: Chevrolet Sky-Volt?

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Chevrolet, Rendered Speculation

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!

Rendered speculation: Chevrolet Sky-Volt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac G8 GXP, Solstice Coupe - Future collectors items? [w/POLL]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Convertible, Sedan, Performance, Pontiac, Lifestyle, Specialty

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Like so many former GTO or Trans Am owners out there, will there be a day when you look back at the 2008 Pontiac G8 or Solstice as "the one that got away?" Probably not, according to Rob Hunting, General Manager at AutoTrader Classic. Despite the fact that the G8 GT is an excellent performance car, it's not really all that rare. Same goes for the Solstice. Furthermore, neither nameplate carries a significant amount of cachet - incidentally, that's something that was completely lost when GM inexplicably dropped classic names like Bonneville, Grand Prix and Grand Am.

We're not going to disagree with that assessment, but it may not be the whole story. If sales figures alone can predict a future classic, perhaps we should rush out and put a new Solstice Coupe GXP in our driveway. We spoke with Pontiac's media relations manager, Jim Hopson today, and he informed us that "well under 5,000" 2009 G8 GXPs are expected to roll down the assembly line before it's all said and done. Even more rare will be the 2009 Solstice Coupe. Somewhere between 750 and 800 total Solstice Coupes will be built this year (interestingly, all with sequential VIN numbers), and about three-quarters of those will be optioned with the high-performance GXP trim.

We're not making any recommendations here, but if any current Pontiac vehicle is ever likely to become collectible in the future, we'd put our money on the 2009 Solstice GXP Coupe, followed closely by the 2009 G8 GXP. Care to make any predictions of your own? Take our quick poll below and drop your fellow commenters a line.

View Poll

Gallery: 2010 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

[Source: USA Today, Pontiac]

Pontiac G8 GXP, Solstice Coupe - Future collectors items? [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2008: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Concept in the flesh

Drew Phillips — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, GM, Pontiac

Click above for a high resolution gallery of the Solstice GXP Coupe Concept

GM gave us an early look at its Solstice GXP Coupe Concept a few days ago, but we made sure to stop by the GM display to check out the coupe in person. We're glad to say that it's just as attractive in person, and we hope the graphics kit is an option when the coupe goes on sale later next year. Already available from the GM Performance Parts catalog is the Stage 2 performance kit and cat-back exhaust that bumps output to 290 hp. This particular Solstice also features blue accent stitching on the seats and race-style pedal covers. Check out the gallery below for the live shots from the show floor.

Gallery: SEMA 2008: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Concept LIVE

SEMA 2008: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Concept in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Concept

Drew Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Coupe, Pontiac

Click above for a high resolution image

The Pontiac Solstice is no stranger to the show floor at SEMA. Pontiac has previously shown the Solstice Weekend Club Racer in 2005, the Solstice GXP-R in 2006, and the single-seat Solstice SD-290 Concept. last year. For this year, GM's line of performance parts will be shown on the Solstice in coupe form for the first time when the Solstice GXP Coupe Concept is officially unveiled next week in Las Vegas. This customized Solstice shows off GM Performance Parts' Stage 2 performance kit , intake kit, and cat-back exhaust system that boosts horsepower from 260 to 290. The car also features a sportier suspension system, exterior graphics kit, customized leather-trimmed seats, race-style pedal covers, and an iPod interface. More details and live photos soon to come as part of our extensive SEMA 2008 coverage.

[Source: GMInsideNews.com]

SEMA Preview: Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Solstice-based Lamborghini Murcielago replica

Dan Roth — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Auctions, Etc., Lamborghini, Pontiac

Click above for gallery of the Solstice Lamborghini

It seems that the world is determined to make Pontiac two-seaters suffer the terrible fate of poor transmogrification into half-baked exotic replicas. Fieros are the common victim, but this yellow spud is the result of some Idahoans attacking a Solstice. With the top down and yellow paint making you squint, it's evocative of the Lamborghini that it's attempting to rip off, but it's all over when the top goes up and that telltale Solstice convertible-top-cum-baseball-cap sees the light of day. We can't find any mention of the donor Solstice being a GXP, which would support the seller's claim of a $32,000 starting point. Additionally, a Solstice with an automatic is abhorrent, but a Lamborghini, even a replica, with an autobox is just asking for ridicule, especially when you've fiddled with the exhaust to make the note extra annoying. Lastly, we can't fathom why you'd drop the $70K these guys want for some homebuilt thing, when you can get a real Lamborghini for $27 grand.

Gallery: Solstighini

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Solstice-based Lamborghini Murcielago replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Pontiac, Rumormill

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP

Pontiac hopes to clear things up with a post on Pontiac blog regarding the future of its current products, namely the G8 and Solstice. It was just the other day that rumors of the brand's two rear-wheel drive vehicles possible being canceled hit the interwebs, and we dutifully reported on the story as we always do. According to Pontiac, though, those rumors are nothing more than speculation and should not be taken as gospel unless you hear it from the horse's (or Mr. Lutz's) mouth, which we have not. Still, the rumor in question indicates that the G8 will live on at least another five years, assuming it continues to sell that long, but would not be replaced after that. This could still be the case. Likewise, the Solstice has not been canceled, but it's replacement in GM's lineup still seems unlikely given the low volume of sales the vehicle attracts. In short, nobody can predict the future, but sometimes the handwriting on the wall isn't that tough to read.

Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP - Live Reveal

[Source: Pontiac Underground]

Pontiac: G8 and Solstice not being canceled originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RWD Pontiac G8 will be dead in five years

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Pontiac

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

It looks like things will be getting a lot less exciting at Pontiac, as some reports indicate that the erstwhile performance brand will be losing its best performers. Despite the fact that the G8 sedan has seen nothing but positive press from the media, including your humble scribes here at Autoblog, the realities of fuel economy and the global economy appear set to kill off the rear-wheel drive performance sedan in the prime of its short life. GM will reportedly not renew the G8 after its Holden-sourced chassis architecture is redesigned following a planned five-year run.

The Pontiac Solstice in both coupe and convertible forms is also unlikely to see a second generation. Unfortunately, the Solstice, Saturn Sky and their Opel spin-off don't generate enough sales to support another go-round, which could leave Pontiac with exactly zero vehicles with overtly sporting pretensions. While the G6 may be a decent car, it and a Cobalt derivative in the form of the G5 and a rebadged Aveo known as the G3 do not a BMW competitor make. What does this mean for the future of Pontiac as a brand? We'll see.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

[Source: Inside Line]

RWD Pontiac G8 will be dead in five years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: GM kills the Kappa II platform

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, GM, Rumormill

The ruthless pruning continues, with GM Inside News reporting that the rear-wheel-drive Kappa II platform has gone to heaven before ever touching this mortal coil. Back in 2004, a vehicle line executive said "The Kappa architecture is a great platform for sporty, driver-oriented applications around the globe." Apparently, not one for which GM could make enough different models to actually earn some money.

Reasons for the sequel platform's demise are allegedly that the first hydra-formed Kappa is just too expensive to fabricate; the cars based on it use expensive, hydra-formed parts; assembly requires inordinate amounts of human labor; and GM didn't make its money back fast enough to justify the investment in a new RWD - read: thirstier - platform.

The current Kappa's suspension and design geometry aren't shared with any other car;, the platform was created to accept one engine, the Ecotec 4-cylinder; and it served under only four varieties of the same car: the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Daewoo G2X and Opel GT. It was a lot to ask such a limited platform to achieve the volume's GM needed with cars on expensive underpinnings that didn't demand expensive prices. And if the rumors are true, then your Solstice GXP could be worth more than you expected, and sooner than you expected.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Rumormill: GM kills the Kappa II platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plans for an all-RWD Pontiac shelved?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Pontiac, Rumormill

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

A quick glance at Pontiac's (rumored) future product plans reveals just how much fuel prices have affected plans for an all rear-wheel drive lineup. Let's see, we've got the Solstice and the G8, and, um... that's it. Sure, we're expecting the G8 ST soon, but the El Camino-come-lively will never sell enough to keep bean counters happily sliding their abaci beads in their cubicles. The Solstice also plays to a relatively small crowd, so its future could be up in the air, as well.

As for the rest of the brand's lineup, the ~~Grand Am~~ G6 will remain on the same front-wheel drive platform for the foreseeable future as there's just not enough funds to switch it to a rear-wheel-drive platform. Meanwhile, the G5 is tied to the Cobalt and the future Cruze from Chevrolet that uses the FWD Delta platform. The Vibe comes from Toyota and is based on the Corolla's underpinnings. Please, don't get us started on a possible Aveo-based subcompact from GM's "Performance Division". As our esteemed editor says, "So sad, G8 rules." Indeed it does, and it may be the best we'll get from Pontiac for a while.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Plans for an all-RWD Pontiac shelved? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac Solstice Coupe to pack 300 horses?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Pontiac, Saturn

Click above for high-res live shots of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

Sporting a specific output of 130 horsepower-per-liter, the turbocharged, direct-injected Ecotec four-cylinder from GM that's featured in the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline and SS versions of the Chevy HHR and Cobalt, is already one heck of an accomplishment. But wait... there's more -- power that is. According to Motor Trend, shortly after the Solstice Coupe goes on sale next year, the blown-Ecotec could make 300 horsepower or more, putting it in close competition with performance stalwarts such as Nissan's Z. What's more, the same engine should also be available in the convertible versions of both the Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline as well, paired only with a five-speed manual tranny in all applications.

This is just a rumor at this point, but MT seems pretty confident in its validity, citing higher intercooled boost along with a new fuel rail as the tech behind the power increase. The rumor does not mention if the higher-output mill will appear in other applications, though we remember something about the Camaro possibly getting a turbo-four mill as an option, and a tuner-friendly option offering 300 galloping horsies in stock form would make for a very interesting option in the pony car.

[Source: Motor Trend via eGMCarTech]

Pontiac Solstice Coupe to pack 300 horses? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #90

Dan Roth — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Coupe, GM, Hyundai, Jaguar, Pontiac, Tata

After being endlessly mired in the '80s, the Autoblog Podcast has now climbed its way up to #90. Alex took a sick day, so John and Damon hold the fort. We've been in New York, and that's the main focus of the podcast, although we have had more than just John's Alero in the Autoblog Garage. Ford's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover comes up, as does some of the news that's ensued between the end of the New York show and now.

We've got a new podcast-specific email: podcast at autoblog dawt com, so please send in your questions about the show, about us, or about anything car-related you want to know, and we'll make up the best answers we can. Thanks for listening!

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Autoblog Podcast #90 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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