(15:35:09 Aug. 26, 2003)
Pontiac Solstice not approved, but spy shots suggest it may be close


By BOB GRITZINGER


DESPITE THIS FULL-COLOR evidence to the contrary, Pontiac officials still say General Motors product planners have yet to give the green light to the Solstice roadster. “We still don’t have an approved program,” says a spokesperson.
Since unveiling the highly acclaimed Solstice concept at the 2002 Detroit show, GM has been struggling with ways to make a competitive yet affordable front-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seat sports car. Those efforts gained momentum in May when GM’s British subsidiary Vauxhall revealed its VX Lightning roadster concept (AW, May 26), a production-ready showpiece that sources said would also provide the underpinnings for the next Opel Speedster as well as the Solstice.



Power for the sports car will likely come from a supercharged 240-hp version of GM’s 2.2-liter Ecotec inline four-cylinder engine.

Nobody is saying it, but considering the road-readiness of the Pontiac sports car shown here, we anticipate GM is gearing up for a production announcement at the Detroit show in January.

 

sidepanels remind me of a miata

 

Yes they do.

 

They need too, for 20k this would be hott.

 

that was a sweet concept, hope it stays true to it.

 

If the price stays low, they will have backorders of them.

 

hot

 

GM pushes Solstice despite Opel's decision to bow out of project


By RICK KRANZ Automotive News

FRANKFURT - General Motors' business case to produce the Pontiac Solstice roadster and other rear-wheel-drive derivatives is proceeding despite Adam Opel AG's decision to abandon the program.

The proposed small-car architecture has not been approved for production. But it now has a name, Kappa, said a GM source familiar with the project.

Hans Demant, an Opel board member, said that "with the current economic situation in Europe, we are not in a position to go forward" with the project.

Demant was interviewed Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Frankfurt auto show.

Demant said that while Opel is not part of the business case, it might rejoin the program in a few years if Kappa gets a green light.

In June 2002, Demant said Opel was considering a variant off the platform.

He added that a vehicle for sale outside North America likely would be necessary to achieve profitable production volume.

But last week a North American GM executive said Opel's decision will have no impact on the proposed vehicle architecture and that Opel's participation was not needed to make the platform profitable.

"The business case is moving along," said the GM executive, who asked not to be identified. "We will announce the program when we have everything finalized, and we are getting close."

The Pontiac Solstice is a two-passenger, rwd concept that was a star of the Detroit auto show in 2002.

 

If Lutz wants this to go forward, it will. It would have been a lot more profitable if Opel had gotten a derivatice but...

 

cool, but where is the camaro?

 

By Mac Gordon

The Bob Lutz-inspired Pontiac Solstice has been committed for production, nearly two years after the charismatic GM vice-chairman drove a concept on stage at the 2002 Detroit auto show after a mere three-month gestation period. Business Week Magazine headlines the news in its October 20 issue under the banner, "Meet the Lutzmobile." BW Detroit bureau staffer David Welch writes that the groovily-designed Solstice will enter the roadster bracket at a suggested MSRP slightly above $20,000 with the idea that "GM wants the Solstice to give Pontiac a real sports-car cachet, as the Miata gave Mazda when it came out in the mid-1980s."

The Solstice will be introduced as early as 2005, says Business Week , which would give Pontiac a second sporty newcomer in a row after import starts this winter of the GTO coupe from GM Holden in Australia. The Solstice also will usher in a frame hydroforming process that uses water at high pressure to bend steel tubes into shape, replacing the costlier stamping technique. Welch speculates that the new platform could be shared later with Buick and Saturn.

The Pontiac GTO and Chrysler are among 17 candidates for North American Car of the Year at the upcoming Detroit show. New luxury roadsters to be unveiled in Detroit for the first time include the BMW 6-Series and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The Solstice, in pre-production format, will appear in the Pontiac exhibit without the "Lutzmobile" nameplate, but with the proud papa on hand for the festivities.

Other nominees for Car of the Year are the Acura TSX and TL; Audi A8L; BMW 5-Series; Cadillac XLR; Chevrolet Malibu; Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica; Jaguar XJ8/XLR; Mazda RX-8; Nissan Maxima and Quest; Toyota Prius; Scion xB and Sienna; and Volkswagen Phaeton. Truck of the Year candidates include BMW X3; Cadillac SRX; Chevrolet Colorado and SSR; Dodge Durango; Ford F-150; GMC Canyon; Infiniti FX35/45; Lexus RX330; Nissan Pathfinder Armada and Titan; Porsche Cayenne S/Cayenne Turbo; and Volkswagen Touareg.

Winners are required to be in production and on sale. Jurors include independent auto writers who evaluate the contenders in October on the basis of design, safety, fuel economy, handling, comfort, assembly quality, innovations and - unusual for such competitions - "value for the dollar and affordability." Exotic six-figure super-sedans and coupes, such as the Mercedes Maybach and McLaren and the Bentley Continental GT, as a result, are off limits.

 

So, a Miata priced Pontiac. Nice. I like the direction. I hope it looks as good as the concept. Cos Pontiac is known to butcher vehicles after they go into production design work.

 

Thanks for the info Gav ...

If that car does come in around $20k I hope it isn't at the expense of quality materials.

 

Well...I am sure you'll see compromises. I mean, it depends on your standards. If you're expecting to see a Lexus interior, obviously you will be disappointed. But compared to a Miata, I do not think Pontiac will be far off.

 

it's a pontiac

 

its using the parts bin, thats how they get the price

 

What do others use? Not the parts bin?

 

i like the direction Pntiac is taking. People have to get over this brand thing.

 

beautiful car, just wish it had a V6.

 

Sweetness, but I would never buy it.

Bring back the Trans Am.

 

Cool, ya I have my doubts it will look like that... Especially the front bumper.

Almost a guarantee it'll be morphed, and the normal parts bin job...

But who knows...

 

There have been rumors of a V8 as an optional engine into this thing actually. Imagine that.

 

woah, I thought it was a smaller car than that. And the concept only had a 4 w/ FI right?

 

Supercharged four.

 

Own a Pontiac and then tell me about the "brand thing"

 

the 'already developed' parts bin. 6-speed from the vette, rack and pinnion from the wrx, parts from the crapalier, ind rear from the asstek, disc brakes from the cts.

2900lbs 240hp should be decent perfromance, maybe mid 14's unless they underrate it a bit.

 

I say you'll see 14.0 to 14.1 from this thing with the above specs.

 

my cousin has a gtp with bolt ons on his stock auto that runs high 12's. Never had a problem and has been running the car fully modded since 1999. Plastic interior is kindy ugly, but doesnt squeek and rattle as much as my tl

 

 

Interior looks great! Boy oh boy. Pontiac is back.

 

Official Pics and Specs here:

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...hreadid=126122

 

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY GENERAL MOTORS


SOLSTICE ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO PONTIAC’S PERFORMANCE RENAISSANCE

DETROIT - Bringing the popular concept car to life, GM announced production of the Pontiac Solstice roadster as a 2006 model. The vehicle is expected in dealer showrooms in fall 2005.

First shown as a concept at the 2002 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the Solstice immediately gained a huge following, both inside and outside of General Motors. Designed from the ground up in less than four months, the 2002 Solstice concept car promised thrilling, open-air driving freedom in the spirit of the great roadsters of the past.

Built on GM’s new Kappa architecture, the production model remains true to the original Solstice concept, including rear-wheel drive, two-passenger seating and a reverse hinged clamshell hood that opens to reveal a sophisticated double overhead cam variable-valve four-cylinder engine.

“True to the thinking behind the original concept, the production Solstice is all about being a ‘back-to-basics’ roadster with gorgeous lines and fun-to-drive characteristics,” said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development and chairman of GM North America. “The key enabler of Solstice is the new Kappa rear-wheel-drive architecture and component set, which allows us to rapidly and efficiently develop an appealing family of compact and affordable sports cars.”

Emotional design, rigid backbone

Strong response to the 2002 Solstice concept vehicle helped put the sports car on the fast track to production. But while the concept was designed with production-style elements, there was no compact rear-wheel-drive platform at GM on which to build it. Creating a production version of the concept vehicle required marrying the Solstice’s curvaceous design to an entirely new performance body-chassis architecture.

The robust Kappa architecture features state-of-the-art, full-length hydroformed frame rails and a stamped steel structural tunnel to provide a solid structure to enhance vehicle handling.

To ensure an affordable, world-class driving experience, Solstice was created with a clever blend of all-new technology and proven GM components.

Solstice’s power is created by a new 2.4-liter variable-valve version of the Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine, producing about 170 horsepower. Its twin-cam, multi-valve design provides stirring, high-revving performance, while the engine’s lightweight, all-aluminum construction helps optimize the vehicle’s front-to-rear balance. At the start of production, Solstice will be offered with a close-ratio Aisin five-speed manual transmission.

“With the concept vehicle, people immediately felt the emotional appeal of Solstice’s design and back-to-basics philosophy - it’s about performance, but in a fun, agile, affordable roadster,” said Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager. “All the stops were pulled out to make sure the production model delivers an exhilarating driving experience to capitalize on the ‘promise’ of the Solstice’s design.”

Faithfulness to the concept can be seen in Solstice’s proportions, which are comparable in terms of overhangs, wheelbase and track width. Independent front and rear suspensions that feature independent SLA designs with forged aluminum upper and lower control arms contribute to responsive handling. Monotube shock absorbers and coil springs contribute to uncompromised handling response and sporty driving characteristics while the wheels-at-the-corners wide stance enhances handling. Eighteen-inch wheels and tires are standard, as are four-wheel disc brakes.

The interior is oriented around the driver, with a clean design and intuitive controls. “The interior of the Solstice is surprisingly spacious, especially for a smaller car,” said Lori Queen, vehicle line executive for GM’s small cars. “We wanted to create a comfortable environment suitable for longer drives without sacrificing the ‘personal’ feeling of a driver’s car.”


Clean lines, clever details

Designers worked carefully to transfer the clean lines and taut proportions of the concept vehicle to the production model.

“Put them side by side and it’s very difficult to tell the production model from the concept,” said Franz Von Holzhausen, design manager. “The front and rear fascias are slightly longer on the production model, but overall the car remains faithful to the concept - it’s a minimalist approach that emphasizes proportion.”

The Solstice’s proportions are accented with five-spoke wheels and a low, wide stance. A dual-port grille and expressive lighting at all corners instantly identifies the car as a Pontiac. Unexpected details include a body-color extension into the passenger compartment that gives the Solstice an integrated appearance when the top is down. In fact, the top folds flat into the rear clamshell opening, providing a smooth seamless appearance.

“There is no visible stack from the folded top to disturb the shape,” said Von Holzhausen. “In fact, there are no extraneous lines whatsoever; it has a tight, purposeful look, as if it were shrink-wrapped around the driver.”

“We insisted on a lower ride height to ensure the car’s sporty appearance,” said Von Holzhausen. “That makes it the lowest, most ground-hugging car at GM. We were adamant that the Solstice look absolutely right from all angles.”

Creative leveraging of GM resources, as well as clever solutions to other needs, helped complete the Solstice’s design efficiently and economically. For example, the rear corner lamps are from the GMC Envoy, while door handles, fog lamps, seats, engine and transmission are shared with other GM vehicles.

However, some parts are all Solstice. The taillamps, for instance, were designed with special reflectors to eliminate the need for a separate side marker light. This not only contributes to the car’s sleek design, but also eliminates the cost of a separate marker lens and bulb.

Interior design is equally purposeful and clever, with details like pedals placed for easy heel-and-toe driving and a cockpit-style instrument panel that sweeps around the driver. Designers also worked with chassis engineers to optimize the placement of the shifter. Manual shifter throws between gear changes were studied and shortened.

“When you sit down in the car, your hand naturally falls onto the shifter,” said Vicki Vlachakis, interior designer. “It’s a very intuitive, comfortable environment, and the feel of the shifter between gears is very short and precise. Designers and chassis engineers worked together to tune the best placement.”

A turning point

The production Solstice announcement further enhances a re-energized Pontiac lineup that already includes the all-new GTO and G6, Grand Prix, Vibe and a V-8-powered Bonneville GXP.

“Solstice is a vehicle that captures the passion and pleasure of open-air driving,” said Myers. “Everyone at GM recognized that adding it to Pontiac’s portfolio would make another strong statement about Pontiac’s renaissance.”

Its fast-track approval and development process come on the heels of a similar rapid decision process that helped launch the 2004 GTO in 18 months.

“The GTO and Solstice complement each other by offering ‘book-end’ approaches to Pontiac’s performance offerings,” said Myers. “Like its V-8 powered stable mate, Solstice adds another dimension to a growing lineup of clean, uncompromising performance vehicles.”

2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

General

Body/chassis structure: spaceframe
Body material: hydroform/stamped steel
Chassis material: aluminum/steel
Suspension
Front: SLA w/coil-over, monotube shock
Rear: SLA w/coil-over, monotube shock
Wheels (in): 18 x 8.5 aluminum
Tires
Front: P245/45R18
Rear: P245/45R18
Tire brand: Goodyear
Brakes: 4-wheel disc w/ ABS option
Dimensions
Height (in / mm): 50.2 / 1274
Length (in / mm): 157.2 / 3994
Width (in / mm): 71.6 / 1819
Wheelbase (in / mm): 95.1 / 2415
Track (in / mm)
Front: 60.5 / 1537
Rear: 61.2 / 1555
Weight (lb / kg): 2860 / 1300 (estimated)
Powertrain
Engine: 2.4L DOHC I-4 Ecotec (LE5)
Displacement (cu in / cc): 145 / 2400
Horsepower (hp / kw) @ rpm: 170 / 127 @ 6400
Torque (lb-ft / Nm) @ rpm: 170 / 230 @ 4400
Transmission: MW5 Aisin 5-spd manual

http://www.autonews.com/files/2004NA...stice/info.doc

 

Head lights= my first thought = Toyota MR2

Interior looks great!

 

Above is the concept's interior. Below, the real thing

 

Why could they not use this steering wheel on the Cobalt and the new Vette?!? What the f^ck?

 

 

i agree, great interior

 

Gav, any idea on cost?

 

Why couldn't they use the whole interior inside the new vette. Where's the supercharged engine?

 

nice. best pontiac i've ever seen