GMI Exclusive: Kappa II Platform Axed From R&D

[Dirk Wiggler]

Originally Posted by L32 To Go

Thank you for speaking up, WW1 Flying Ace. I agree with jzEllis too.

There's an awful lot of ignorance being displayed on the forum by people who know little about Kappas, repeat what they hear, and have no intention of owning one.

They seem to be condemning the two roadsters as a failure from marketing and performance view, citing unsubstantiated $10,000 loss per unit and the cancellation of Kappa II platform development as implication that current Kappa platform is unworthy and substandard.

We Kappa owners know that the performance is in territory costing one and half to two times more and the stunning look is in territory costing three to five times more and the Kappa platform takes the back seat to none.

GM will do what GM has to do to survive and if Kappas in fact get cut, I know for one that it will not cast a shadow on my ownership or diminish my enjoyment. I will rush out and trade mine for another before they are gone and I will be grateful that a car like that was available in my lifetime.

Thanks for building it, Bob.

Well said. I will definitely own one someday.Hopefully new. If not, used.

[GMINmoderator]

No more solstice or sky? Why GM, can't make our fat profit margins eyyy? Your right, the world does not need small, fun, fuel efficient cars. (sarcasm) The next kappa would have finally been a car I would buy, the present one is too fat and the top stinks. Sure they look good, but a miata functions so much better. The looks and that sweet, souped up engine were bright spots that led me to believe the next ones were going to be that much better.

Imagine if mazda had killed the miata after one go around, would they even still be in business??? Thank God they are, I hear there next miata is going to be fantastic and in a world of $4.00 gas I am ready for some top down fun on a budget.

Not to be too negative, but can we just go ahead and start the GM death watch now?

[T'Cal]

I heard an anology about GM once that seems to apply exactly:
GM is so big that it is like an aircraft carrier at sea. When it needs to change direction, or turn around, it needs a lot of time to do so. Changes in direction come slowly.

GM will have to make some changes and I believe that trimming down the number of car lines would be the best place to start. Drop everything except Chevy (value & performance), Buick (near luxury), and Cadillac (luxury) and maybe I'm being a little too generous in keeping Buick.

As for the Kappa I, I agree with those who already posted that GM should do more with the platform. They should add models based on a longer wheelbase such as a Chevy Nomad two-door wagon and a Buick or Saturn four-door sedan. There really is no need for both the Solstice (silly name, BTW, altho I wouldn't want just an alpha-numeric name like the G2) and the Sky (also a silly name). Either differentiate them more (one a two-seater and the other a four-seater vert) or drop one completely but add the aforementioned wagon and sedan.