Solstice GXP

[BigAls87Z28]

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=24769

[ar0ck]

Any word on a Sky version? Dont get me wrong I love the Solstice as well, but the Sky's front end looks alittle better to me.

I defenitly want to take one of those for a test drive. Maybe I can get my mom into one!

[BigAls87Z28]

Sky will probably launch with a Red Line model, equpiped the same, but higher price.

For thoes that are lazy, they said that the GXP will be 4-5k over the regular price of a Solstice.

[NJSPEEDER]

so i take it that measn GM will only offer the GXP all tarted up with options? i can't see paying 4-5k for just an engine and a stability system that i don't want.
too bad, i was saving for it. not gonna bother now.

[BigAls87Z28]

Uh..reality check, you dont make money on stripper models with big engines.
The GXP is a TOTAL performance package. Brakes, suspension, handling, performance, everyting is in one. Why pay 4k for a car and all you get is a engine?
If you want the stripper model, they do make one for under 20k. Throw a turbo on that, and call it a day.

[NJSPEEDER]

throw a turbo on it and void teh warranty, not worth buying a new car to do that.
i wanted to get teh GXP to get back into autocross and attend open track events with. making a car rotate in the tight confines of an autocross course with stability control sucks balls. you basically have to stop to turn in, no hanging the rear with throttle allowed.
do you honestly believe no one woudl buy a solstice if the turbo motor was a $1000 and all the other things were also options? logic and history would tell you that more units move when a consumer can get what they really want, especially if you can offer it at a lower initial price.
if you don't believe me look at the fastest growing brand in the country, scion. you see a base model car, and pick options one by one to make the car you want.
GM got stuck on this big option group thing some time in the late 70's and woudl benefit greatly from letting it go at least on some models.

[qwikz28]

front clip looks a little different too. for the better imo

[Koll]

From its 2002 auto show introduction to an early-order program that sold 1,000 cars in 41 minutes, the Pontiac Solstice has always invoked a passionate response from customers. For 2007 Pontiac took the vehicle’s combination of sensuous styling and driving exhilaration to a new level with the turbocharged Solstice GXP.

“Creating a GXP performance edition of the Solstice is a natural extension of the capabilities of this car,” said John Larson, Pontiac general manager. “On its own, the base Solstice offers all of the qualities one would expect from a
classic roadster – style, crisp handling, and spirited performance. The Solstice GXP takes that pure roadster DNA and pushes it to a new level, with a 47 percent boost in horsepower and other enhancements for a more thrilling driving experience.”

The heart of the Solstice GXP is the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo engine, GM’s first direct injection offering in North America . It produces 260 horsepower (194 kw) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm),* making it GM’s highest specific output engine ever, at 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch of displacement (130 hp / 97 kw per liter), and the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family.

A dual-scroll turbocharger with a lightweight turbine provides nearly instant power, and an air-to-air intercooling system boosts the turbo’s performance by reducing inlet temperatures. Dual cam phasing complements the turbocharging system by optimizing valve timing at lower rpm for best turbo response and quick access to engine torque.

Direct injection technology helps the Ecotec engine produce more power while maintaining the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement port-injected engine.

With direct injection, fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn of the air/fuel mixture. Less fuel is required to produce the equivalent horsepower, especially at normal cruising speeds, of a conventional port-injection combustion system.

The GXP’s high-performance Ecotec turbo engine is connected to a standard five-speed manual gearbox, or an optional five-speed automotive transmission. Either transmission can propel the car from zero-to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds.


Keep in mind this is does not have the green light for production.

[BigAls87Z28]

No, it does have greenlight for production. GM doesnt spend a half a million dollars on shipping cars to Nurburing for testing on a CONCEPT.
Goes on sale mid summer.

And GM has no problem moving units as it sits now. Im sure some people would buy a stripper car with a turbo motor, but not as many as people buying a fully loaded car. GXP is for full performance. They didnt just drop a 5.3 in the GP, they didnt drop a Northstar in a Bonniville. These are total package cars. As for stablitrac, if its anything like the other systems, its defetable or at least have a setting where its less intrusive.

[NJSPEEDER]

it is jsut GM skipping past sellable units to hit high dollar units instead. this has become a habit in recent years.
do you honestly think they would have any trouble selling cars for $3000 less if they all they had to do was leave off a few bells and whistles. i think not.
those who want the car with all those features will still walk right into the dealership and plunk down the money for one.
it is great to have a target market, but sales isn't a laser beam accurate system either. you make a broad appeal and let the market narrow itself after initial reaction. if the market stays broad you are already set up to move more units and maintain your margain percentage, if the market becomes narrow you moved a few extra units on hype alone and brought more shoppers into your dealership anyway.

[LS1LT1]

Looks sweet, I like the Solstice and Sky a lot. But I do agree with Tim, I ALWAYS buy the base/stripper models when they're available...less weight = a faster, better handling/braking and generally more reliable car.
But then again Alex is also right in that most people prefer the electronic doodads and living room comforts, GM/Pontiac might not sell enough of the 'strippers' to justify the extra costs often associated with multiple option combos/packages.

[NJSPEEDER]

with modern assembly line procedure all they would have to do is have a mini station set up next to the pricey parts station, or in many cases just skip over stations to get the completed vehicle as ordered.
that is how toyota builds scions on a line right next to the same vehicles being produced with toyota grills. both lines are the same length and have the same unit times. depending on load and order particulars the scion line will actually move faster occasionally.

[PBodyGT87]

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

so i take it that measn GM will only offer the GXP all tarted up with options? i can't see paying 4-5k for just an engine and a stability system that i don't want.
too bad, i was saving for it. not gonna bother now.

I never heard you say you were saving for a soltice, with all do respect. In fact you said the saturn skyy was way better. And really the only person I have heard say that they were saving for one was Craig. So that information, is new to me.

[12secondv6]

Ugly

[ShitOnWheels]

Originally Posted by PBodyGT87

I never heard you say you were saving for a soltice, with all do respect. In fact you said the saturn skyy was way better. And really the only person I have heard say that they were saving for one was Craig. So that information, is new to me.

I've heard him mention it quite a few times, including at the detroit auto show the one year I went with them.

[BigAls87Z28]

Point still remains that people want a total package, and Pontiac designed the car to be a total package. The car will have better handling, better brakes, and a more powerful engine. It comes as a package. Along with things like electronic stability control as well af 4 channel abs SHOULD be standard on a car such as this. It is standard on all other of GM's cars. NO ONE offers a stripper performance car. Why have a big engine when the brakes suck? Why make 600hp when you cant turn worth a damn.
Again, if you WANT a stripper Solstice, they DO make thoes. For 20k, you can get a manual window, manual lock, no AC, 177hp 5spd, no frills sports car. You complain about voiding warranty, but I assume that if you broke something durring racing in your stripper sports car, that GM would just look the other way and cover it huh?
Pontiac clearly made a very awesome sports car for a very very low price. 260hp, RWD, under 2900lbs, and some of the best handling and braking out there, and if they can keep to the 3-4k over base price, its even better. For about 26k, you can have a very powerful street machine that can take it to many cars, with room to spare. Bigger brakes, tighter suspesnsion, its a sweet deal.
As for stripper models, im talking to a bunch of enthusiasts here that all they care about is racing. In the world of the other 95%, when people spend a lot of money for a high po car, they expect the best.
ZL1's did NOT sell that well at all!! They were twice the price of a normal Camaro, and looked nothing more then a standard model.
The more power, the better quality stuff, the higher the price. Thats how it goes. GM did show a Solstice race car with a carbon fiber removable hard top at SEMA, and Lutz and others want the car in Grand Am racing.

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by PBodyGT87

I never heard you say you were saving for a soltice, with all do respect. In fact you said the saturn skyy was way better. And really the only person I have heard say that they were saving for one was Craig. So that information, is new to me.

Yea, Timmy has been talking about a turbo model ever since the rumors about that motor started floating around.....

- Justin

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

You complain about voiding warranty, but I assume that if you broke something durring racing in your stripper sports car, that GM would just look the other way and cover it huh?

Autocross isn't racing (at least not by definition....)

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

It is by GM's and most Dealerships definition, and THATS what matters.

[NJSPEEDER]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

It is by GM's and most Dealerships definition, and THATS what matters.

not really. it is a legal definition that applies to autocross that makes it a car control lesson, not racing. that is why if you have an accident at an autocross your normal insurance in obligated to cover it.
same pricipal applies to warranty coverage. there is a consumer bill of rights that explains it very nicely.

you don't seem to understand what it is to buy a new car with the intention of competing. all of the little bells and do-dads that are wiz bang neato for the consumer public do not apply the same.
it is also a proven fact that people buy cars with fewer options. which do you suppose moves more units the cobalt base with a few options or a cobalt SS with all the options? which moves more units, the caddy cts or the cts-v?
i can go through every model in GM's line up with more than one trim level and the story is always the same, more units of the lower priced version will sell.
everyone understands that some people are going to buy the fully trick out, power everything version. should that be the logic for avoiding selling to consumers who like the styling of a car and want a little more pop under the hood?
remember, they are trying to hit a "target" market, not a pinpoint market. without more consumer options to buy, they will continue to lose out.

[BigAls87Z28]

If you want a stripper Solstice, THEY SELL ONE!!
Who are they loosing out too? NO ONE.

I dont understand.
You want a stripper Solstice. They sell one. You want one with JUST the engine, none of the enhanced brakes, suspension or anything else that is included in the GXP package, then you are SOL.
And Id really really like you to go into a dealer after you busted it durring a racing event and have them not laugh in your face. The only hope is that GM covers the GXP like the Z06 where racing the car will not void warranty.

[NJSPEEDER]

al, racing does not void a warranty unless specifically spelled out in a sellers agreement. which GM does nto currently require, and no dealerships that i know of who sell GM products in NJ have.
also, do you think i am gonna call a dealership and say"hey, i was jsut doing the pikes peak hill climb in my brand new solstice GXP. funniest thing, i hit a tree and the wheels came loose some how. can i get that fixed under my warranty?"

you also fail to see what i am talking about with what i wanted in the car. i don't need a computer to tell me how i want a car to turn. i do not like such devices, nor do many other competitive minded drivers. upgraded brakes, sway bars, and shocks are all good things,maybe even options i would look into picking up. what i am not interested in is having a computer try to tell me what i want the car to do at a particular moment.
there is a big difference between the base model 177hp car that is available and the same platform with 260hp. that is more than a little upgrade under the hood, kind of thing you will notice in such a light car.
GM is missing out on many thousands of sales a year because of their option packaging and pricing structure. this is stuff you learn in basic marketing classes as a freshman in college, it is prolly even in a lot fo high school business books.
GM shoudl be making model variations available to ALL consumers, not jsut some narrow band who are willing to pay top dollar for every do-dad and thing-a-ma-jig they can strap into a car. there are now and always will be more lower optioned vehicles than top end models.

[BigAls87Z28]

25k aint top dollar. I can see if this car cost over 30k, but at 25k...its a friggin steal.

[NJSPEEDER]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

25k aint top dollar. I can see if this car cost over 30k, but at 25k...its a friggin steal.

it is a steal if it is the way you want the car. i won't be able to enjoy the car the way i want to if the stability control can't be deleted.
the gap between 20k and 25k is a long way when you aren't going to get what you want

[BigAls87Z28]

Oh well, its not like Solstice is losing sales. Pontiac pleased 98% of the people in the market.