what does Kappa mean?

[birdman]

What or Where does the word Kappa come from... how is it assoc with the SKY?

[Rick Tinley Park]

It is the name of the Chassis - the Kappa Chassis - apparently they assign a letter (K) to the chassis and I guess a Greek alphabet letter at that. . .
Because the Solstice and Sky share the same - they are known as Kappa cars.

[SkyBaby]

Yikes..... and I thought it was an acronym for something... JUST KIDDING. Thank you Rick. SkyBaby

[denette]

that and "K cars" has a bad rep after Lee Iacocca

[DunWaiting]

Originally Posted by denette

that and "K cars" has a bad rep after Lee Iacocca

LMAO !! Isn't that the truth !!

[Valistener]

Here are the platforms for GM

Gamma - subcompact FWD
Delta - compact FWD
Epsilon - mid-size FWD
Kappa - compact RWD
W - midsize cars FWD
Sigma - midsize RWD
G/K - fullsize cars FWD
V - full-size RWD
Zeta - midside RWD - G8
Theta - crossover SUV AWD
U - minivan FWD
Lambda - minivan FWD/AWD
Y - sports cars RWD
GMT - trucks RWD

14 different platforms. 9 are for cars, 4 are RWD. Sounds like there should be more RWD cars from GM, but there just are not. Weird. But then again the Kappa is for the Solstice & Sky, and the Y is for the Vette/XLR.

[KappaMan]

Sky Specification Estimates/Sky FAQ

All about the 'kappa' platform. Also check out the quickie definition at www.kappaforum.com

[Talz]

I'm with denette on this one, it means they wanted to make sure nobody called them 'K-Cars'

[Shagmeskyless]

So glad Birdman asked this question..."What is a Kappa?" I've been wondering myself...too embarassed to ask... and 'google' didn't help either!

A new member finally coming out of 'lurkdom'.

Shagmeskyless

[Lithium Lotus]

In Japanese mythology, a Kappa is a little water demon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_%28folklore%29

How it's usually portrayed in Japanese anime.

[Lallii]

I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for asking, and thanks for the answers!

[SkyBaby]

Originally Posted by KappaMan
Question: What is the Kappa Platform? What is the Kappa Architecture?
Answer: [summary compiled from various articles and discussions over the last two years]

The Kappa Platform, or architecture, is a new vehicle architecture developed by General Motors to enable the Pontiac Solstice to become reality as a production car.

A vehicle architecture or platform is the basic underlying, load-bearing structure in a vehicle. Analogous to the framing of a building, it also is the majority of expense in production, design, and validation of a new car. A typical strategy for an automotive company is to develop a new architecture or platform rarely - and use that platform for producing variants or improving successive generations of vehicles.

Regarding the Kappa Platform:

In 2002, the Pontiac Solstice Concept was shown, in two forms: a driveable roadster convertible, and a design study of a fastback coupe.

The Pontiac Solstice was recieved very well at the 2002 NAIAS. The driveable roadster concept car shown had been cobbled together from many different components, using a cobbled portion of the "Delta" architecture (a Front-Wheel-Drive small car architecture that supports the Saturn ION and the Chevy Cobalt). The thinking was that this architecture might be heavily modified and used to produce the Solstice.

We have speculated that when General Motors decided to try to produce the Solstice as a highly-styled, low-cost, low-volume niche vehicle for enthusiasts, it became apparent that there were no existing platforms that could be used to achieve the needs of a modern roadster.

Therefore, the Kappa Platform was developed to provide the necessary structure for a two-seat, Rear Wheel Drive convertible. It features hydroformed rails and a tunnel structure similar to the Corvette architecture, and is designed for a short-long-arm suspension for the front and rear. It features rear wheel drive, longitudinal-mounted transmission and front-mid engine.

At this time it appears the platform has only been designed to accomodate a single engine - the four-cylinder Ecotec family. It also appears this platform was only designed to be "left-hand drive".

Since the Solstice, GM has designed another roadster that looks radically different, but shares the same underlying Kappa Platform: The Saturn Sky. The Saturn Sky was styled after the pattern of the Vauxhall VX Lightning design (see below). It also appears that there will be a European version built off the same platform, the details of which have not been released at this time.

Three other concept vehicles were built off the initial Kappa Platform, and shown at the 2004 NAIAS: The Vauxhall VX Lightning, The Saturn Curve and Chevy Nomad. All three cars were recieved reasonably well, but were not nearly as embraced as the original Solstice Concept.

The Vauxhall VX Lightning is the same size as the original Solstice Concept, and pieced together in the same manner as the 2002 Solstice Concept, and had been shown in Europe several months earlier, before the "Kappa Platform" had apparently been finalized. The Vauxhall VX Lightning is the styling pattern after which the appearance of the Saturn Sky is based.

The Saturn Curve and the Chevy Nomad Concept Cars were built on "modified" versions of the Kappa Platform, and exhibited 12" longer wheelbases, and 2+2 seating.

See also A Look at GM's Kappa RWD Architecture

THANKS KAPPAMAN..and CERBERUS FOR POSTING.... SkyBaby

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Lithium Lotus

In Japanese mythology, a Kappa is a little water demon.

Kappa (folklore) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How it's usually portrayed in Japanese anime.

Nothing like a ball-headed, duck billed turtle to represent a water demon.

[marlboromike]

Thank God for the Greeks...otherwise where would GM's alphabet come from.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Nothing like a ball-headed, duck billed turtle to represent a water demon.

Did I mention it has human feet and opposable thumbs?

[ParrotHeadNation]

looks like most of the guys here okay, i'm joking..... I"m ready for the flame war

[WBII]

This is good to know, my wife asked me and I had to say, check the forum.