Thai
Elite Member
Report: GM hits brakes on Solstice/Sky replacement
By GREG MIGLIORE
Pontiac SolsticeFans of GM's nifty coupes, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, should know that they likely won't be around forever.
The Web site GM Inside News says the program to develop the next-generation platform that underpins the cars has been shelved.
The reason? Money.
With GM losing billions, there's no room for money-losing programs. And the Solstice and Sky platform, named Kappa, reportedly loses an eye-popping $10,000 per car. That's on cars where the sticker price starts around $20,000.
Kappa is expensive in part because GM uses hydroforming technology to make many parts, including the frame. Hydroforming is good for making strong parts that are lighter in weight, but it is expensive.
That is a greater problem now that the cash geyser from pickup and SUV sales is down to barely a trickle.
Still, the cars' demise won't be immediate. The Solstice, the first of the group, launched for the 2006 model year and isn't due for major changes until the 2013 model year.
And there's always the chance GM could move them to another platform, or pull the next Kappa program off the shelf. Right now, though, the Solstice and Sky look like one-hit wonder cars.
By GREG MIGLIORE
Pontiac SolsticeFans of GM's nifty coupes, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, should know that they likely won't be around forever.
The Web site GM Inside News says the program to develop the next-generation platform that underpins the cars has been shelved.
The reason? Money.
With GM losing billions, there's no room for money-losing programs. And the Solstice and Sky platform, named Kappa, reportedly loses an eye-popping $10,000 per car. That's on cars where the sticker price starts around $20,000.
Kappa is expensive in part because GM uses hydroforming technology to make many parts, including the frame. Hydroforming is good for making strong parts that are lighter in weight, but it is expensive.
That is a greater problem now that the cash geyser from pickup and SUV sales is down to barely a trickle.
Still, the cars' demise won't be immediate. The Solstice, the first of the group, launched for the 2006 model year and isn't due for major changes until the 2013 model year.
And there's always the chance GM could move them to another platform, or pull the next Kappa program off the shelf. Right now, though, the Solstice and Sky look like one-hit wonder cars.
(BTW, i am a BIG fan of Transformers.)
