Solstice with Corvette Power?

[Ahnuld]

There was discussion few weeks back about the camaro possibly getting our turbo engine.
Not sure if people noticed this... but in this article, Lutz is quoted as saying

"he [Lutz] told me that Chevrolet could deliver a version of the Solstice that gives the same performance as a Corvette C6 within two years."

C6 = 400hp

The criss-cross of "Chevrolet delvier a version of Solstice"...
Is he saying moving the Corvette to the Kappa platform? Is that why they are moving Kappas to Kentucky???
Imagine the Camaro With a Four-Banger Mill | Autopia from Wired.com


Lutz is wildly enthusiastic about that powerplant. At a dinner in Los Angeles months ago, he told me that Chevrolet could deliver a version of the Solstice that gives the same performance as a Corvette C6 within two years. I've had track time with both the Solstice and the Sky (and the Corvette C6). Power delivery on the Pontiac and the Saturn is magnificently well matched to both the wheel base and weight. A fellow blogger owns a Ferrari F430 and a Saturn Sky. He told me he prefers his Saturn.

[Ernest]

Why would they move the Corvette to the Kappa platform? It doesn't make sense. However, I somehow feel that since they are moving Kappa production to the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, that there is probably some interesting Kappa concepts gonna show up

Anything is possible, the engineers prove that. They should use the Z06 frame, it is aluminum, not steel

[Ahnuld]

hmmm... maybe I connected too many dots,also.

he says "Chevy version of Solstice with C6 speed" but never said a solstice version would be a vette. Maybe a new model?

as someone said over in solsticeforums... the rumored Stingray vette?

[kwayne]

with $5-6 per gallon gas on the horizon, I'm thinking that alot of the technology in our cars is going to be adopted to other platforms the first being the 'VETTE

[WishfulThinking]

I read that as, a new Chevy Kappa with a C6-like 0-60 time.

[mbeardsley]

I would think that a Chevy Kappa (maybe ONLY as a hardtop) would be interesting.

On the other hand, I would think that it would eat into sales of both the new Camaro and the Corvette (as well as Sky/Solstice).

I was surprised when the Kappas were announced that Chevy execs didn't put up a big stink. The Fiero production was held up for several years due to Chevy saying it would hurt the (very profitable) Corvette sales.

While I think that the Kappa platform is great, I just don't see the market for that many 2-seaters. If a potential buyer doesn't like either the Sky or Solstice, it's not likely he'll want a Chevy version either.

[firstpinkever]

what i thought would make more sense to help each brand out is to not make a soltice hard top but a chevrolet version of a hardtop kappa. That way every brand gets some benefit from this platform. A couple of years back gm promised to make the brands be more destinctive and individual (especially the trucks and SUV's) if this is the case are we starting to see the return of "its a chvey, no wait a pontiac, no wait a gmc, Is it a saturn or buick?" I believe the kappa platform has deffinetly been profitable with GM but they need to watch out and make sure it doesn't get over used.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by kwayne

with $5-6 per gallon gas on the horizon, I'm thinking that alot of the technology in our cars is going to be adopted to other platforms the first being the 'VETTE

I don't know, mine get's 28 hwy / 19 city, not bad for 427 ci 500+ HP. It is all in the tuning

As for the gas prices, I can live with them

[ooomph]

Originally Posted by Ahnuld

There was discussion few weeks back about the camaro possibly getting our turbo engine.
Not sure if people noticed this... but in this article, Lutz is quoted as saying

"he [Lutz] told me that Chevrolet could deliver a version of the Solstice that gives the same performance as a Corvette C6 within two years."

C6 = 400hp

'08 C6 is 430hp to 436hp, depending on exhaust option (LS3 motor now).

He didn't suggest the Solstice would be ~400hp, he said "the same performance". Realistically, the current Turbo'd Kappa is only 1.2 seconds slower (0-60) & 1.4 seconds behind in the quarter. My guess would be that an additional 40-60 hp could close that gap. I'd bet on a factory 300-320hp Kappa.

[lorennerol]

Originally Posted by ooomph

I'd bet on a factory 300-320hp Kappa.

In candy apple red? Now we're talking!

[Tkagem]

Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle: C7 Corvette

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Ahnuld

There was discussion few weeks back about the camaro possibly getting our turbo engine.
Not sure if people noticed this... but in this article, Lutz is quoted as saying

"he [Lutz] told me that Chevrolet could deliver a version of the Solstice that gives the same performance as a Corvette C6 within two years."

C6 = 400hp

The production Ecotec can be developed to 400HP with "minimal modifications". (Source: GM Sport Compact Performance Build Book, 3rd Edition, pg 3).

[Fformula88]

Sure the Solstice could perform like a Corvette. Just up the power level... and the LNF could handle a lot more power if GM puts the development into it.

I would not read much into the Corvette moving to kappa at this time. I think GM just wants to better utilize their plant capacity. Since Corvette and Solstice are similar products to produce requiring far slower line rates than a typical car, and they have the room at Bowling Green to assemble both, I suspect they just want to maximize their physical and labor assets. Wilmington is an awfully large facility to be producing such a low volume vehicle. The Sol line doesn't even take up the whole first floor of the plant, and they have a second (and partial 3rd) floor at that facility.