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bye bye solstice/sky

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...xed-r-d-68685/

Quote:

Kappa II Platform Axed From R&D

It is no secret by now that General Motors has been shaking up its product programs left and right. We first heard of the slashing of the Buick Zeta car, apparent death of the Cadillac Zeta car, and the impending death of a couple GMC product programs. Now GMI is hearing that the Kappa II program, successor to the current lineup of Kappa roadsters, has been pulled from the product plans. The reasons for all of these changes are obvious; uncertain gas prices, an uneasy economy, poor financial situation within the company and an overall product shake up are just a few reasons.

The Kappa line of products makes the "cut" bill rather easily. GMI has been told that when the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky came to the market, GM was losing around $10,000 per unit built. Needless to say, that is not a money-making product line by any stretch of the imagination. It is not entirely surprising that Kappa has been a money pit of a product program. From the ground up Kappa cars are costly; starting with the frame no less. The Kappa architecture is hydroformed as part of the fabrication process to achieve the dimensions and frame rails needed. Many of the body panels (namely the hood, deck-lid, and fenders) are hydroformed as well. Hydra-forming is a costly fabrication method, particularly for vehicles that have such low starting prices and low volume to boot. Add on the fact that the Kappa vehicles are largely “hand built” cars (at least by today’s standards); it becomes quite evident why GM will likely never get a return on investment with the Kappa products.

There has been speculation throughout the last year that Kappa II would be a more usable platform, supposedly loosely based off of the quite-mainstream Zeta that underpins the new Camaro. Speculation has also arisen in recent years that the next-generation Kappa products would [have been] built at GM’s new plant in Mexico to help offset the staggering loss it has taken with Kappa. Apparently such plans have been scrapped as market conditions have since changed and Kappa II is off the table

What this obviously means is that the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Daewoo SX2 and Opel GT roadsters are “once and done” products. All of these vehicles were introduced as “image cars” for their respective brands, which is how GM justified the losses on them. Possibly one generation of the Kappa’s was enough to boost their respective brand’s image?

As always, we want to add that product plans, particularly in today’s world at GM, change constantly. As of late last week though, the Kappa II program was shelved. That does not mean that GM may not open it up tomorrow, next month or a year from now. However, we suspect that unless the financial situation at GM changes dramatically soon, the Kappa II program will likely maintain its “shelved” status.

Cool little cars but money pits for the company..

Yeh you dont need these cars to represent an image for Gm anymore with the Camaro coming back..
And the Camaro will be lucky to live as long as the GTO..

Sounds like another ploy for Gm to move more production out of this country and into Mexico

Eh...it means that the next gen Kappa platform was canned.
Doesnt mean that the Sky or Solstice is dead....well, one of them is dead, but thats for a whole nother reason.

GTO had a small run because it was only going to be built for 3 years, not cause it didnt sell.

Camaro will have a full cycle life, much mroe options, a vast price range, as well as exciting styling.

Maybe they will do a farewell balls to the wall model with an LS3..... :drool:

I liked the Sky. At 6'4" I couldn't fit into it but I liked it. Not too practical of a family car though, unless you go with the baby on bumper car seat attachment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHRIS67 (Post 482141)

Not too practical of a family car though, unless you go with the baby on bumper car seat attachment.

NO! The sticker on the visors clearly states the sefest place for a child is the rear seat. That means in the "trunk", geez get it right :rofl:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen (Post 482139)

Maybe they will do a farewell balls to the wall model with an LS3..... :drool:

Having a nice dream over there? :rofl:

Or just dial up the LNF to 400hp.

Boo! I was really hoping to see a targa Sky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen (Post 482139)

Maybe they will do a farewell balls to the wall model with an LS3..... :drool:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kojak (Post 482194)

Boo! I was really hoping to see a targa Sky.

I doubt we will get a targa Solstice now. If they go LS3 you KNOW I will have to get it :twisted:

We are getting the Solstice Targa....
the NEXT GEN Kappa 2 platform has been canned.
That means a few things

1: after Kappa 1 is over and done with, that is it
2: that GM has found something else to put it on, such as the Alpha chassis that will underpin a new Caddy performance sedan under the CTS.

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Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28 (Post 482222)

We are getting the Solstice Targa....

Can you show me something to back that up? I am getting doubtful, though it doesnt really matter. Scott will yell at me if I get rid of mine and get a new one :-P

Would it be possible to take a Solstice Targa and put a Sky fascia on it?

Off hand, without having seen it or read about it, I would think you would need the entire front end. I know the hoods are different so I would think all the panels would be. Also I dont think it would "flow" into the body. I think the door skins are different too.

You could remove the rear section off the Solstice Targa and try to to bolt it up to the Sky. The targa roof uses all the same hook ups as the Vert does on the windshield, so the top should bolt right up. The targa top is not an intergral part of the chassis structure. From what I got from the GM rep, the top sorta just bolts on.

As for will the Solstice Targa come out...uh, yeah thats a 100% go for 2009 Model year. Pontiac.com is not loaded yet for the 09 models...dunno wtf is taking so long.
But yes, 2009 will bring the G8 GXP, G8 ST (official name btw), as well as Solstice Targa in both regular and GXP trims.

Kappa 2 wouldnt effect current Kappa production. Kappa production will go into the next decade.
Another problem with kappa is that its built in a plant that was designed to make 400k L series Saturns. It makes 50k Kappa's in a tiny corner of the plant.

i like my kappa, they should kill em off though some mine becomes rare

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28 (Post 482308)

That is what it looked like to me too from the model at the NY Auto show that I saw, Ill let you know once I get it, :rofl:

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28 (Post 482308)

Pontiac.com is not loaded yet for the 09 models...dunno wtf is taking so long.

Same thing for the past 2 years I have been checking. Seems they dont update until after October or something

"What this obviously means is that the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Daewoo SX2 and Opel GT roadsters are “once and done” products."

I thought the daewoo name was axed quite awhile ago...ive never heard of or seen this car either

i know gm took the platform for the aveo but what gives with the daewoo sx2?

Daewoo still exists, just not in America. Daewoo or GMDAT is a HUGE part of what will be bringing smaller compact sedans to the US.
the s2x is the Saturn Sky with Daewoo badges.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter (Post 482331)

Same thing for the past 2 years I have been checking. Seems they dont update until after October or something

thats silly, seeing that the '09s will already be out :lol:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveR (Post 482542)

thats silly, seeing that the '09s will already be out :lol:

09 is shipping already and the website only has 08, sounds silly to me too :shrug:

typical GM, can't communicate their way out of a paper bag.