GMI Exclusive: Kappa II Platform Axed From R&D

[Citation84]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Agreed, it sucks that they are being killed. But, the car sold for $20K and they lost $10K per Kappa. That is a huge loss and was being subsidized by the huge truck and SUV sales. Now they lost the truck and SUV's sales which makes the hit even harder on GM. Plus, they will be producing the money pit that is called the Volt. They can't have two huge money pits and survive.

Make that FOUR: Kappa, Volt, Saturn and Saab.............

[genjy]

Originally Posted by jbernie

Keep in mind the Miata/MX5 has been around since 1989 so with the number of years in existance combined with total sales from being the dominant car in class for so long Mazda probably paid of their base costs many years ago and now just need to make the incrimental changes. Overall the body shape has barely changed, slight tweak here and there, a little extra width or length there.

That's like saying the new Camaro's R&D barely cost GM any money because the gen4 Camaro was also a RWD coupe.

The current Miata is a completely brand new design... it has nothing to do with the previous two generations of Miatas.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by jbernie

The Solstice/Sky have served their purpose now it is time to move on and maybe later reintroduce these types of vehicles on a better platform.

The frustrating part is that they already spent a fortune on a 'better' platform for these things! It's not like they had to cobble together some bits and pieces (like Fiero)... they had a blank sheet of paper! Losing as much as they are per model has nothing to do with the economy... actually, they're better off NOT selling many! Who made the decision to build these cars if they knew they were going to lose so much? If they didn't know they were going to lose so much, why not? The fact that they designed this platform to lose money upsets me, and shows a particular level of incompetence.

[johnstarnes]

A possibly dumb idea here....I've seen some specialty built cars where the "frame" is an interconnected network of metal pipes or tubes....could that have practical application in a mass-produced car? Would it be strong enough? I think it is considered a weight saving measure but am not sure.

[TechnoAura]

It is truly sad to see the end of the Kappas on the horizon. Although I knew the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Opel GT were to be image cars only for GM and therefore would not have a long life span, it is still sad to see the end of this platform in the not so distant future. Those on this forum who boo GM have to remember that GM is losing money with each Kappa they build. The original goal was to develop an automobile that would boost GM's image while filling a niche market. Their intent was not to keep this platform forever. At least the public can see what GM is capable of designing and building. Now they (GM) need to boost their image by changing the designs of much of their North American product portfolio.

I was hoping to see GM develop a new rear-wheel drive sport sedan built on the Kappa II platform that would take on the BMW 3-series. I have read bits and pieces about this automobile in the past several months. I guess that plan has been shelved as well. It's too bad. I would have been great to see Pontiac, Saturn, or even Saab with a high-powered smaller rear-wheel drive sedan.

[goblue]

They'll be back on Alpha...someday.

[kmacleod]

Hydroforming the sheetmetal parts was due to the prohibitive costs for conventional metal stamping. The Kappa project never would have left the ground IF each exterior body panel would have taken 12 hits to get the desired shape, Even in a continuous transfer press.

Sad the Solstice and Sky are going away? Absolutely. Glad that GM is cutting "Loss Leaders"? YES. GM wasn't "Loosing" so much money when they debuted on the scene a few years ago.....


The Corvette and other programs have various parts HydroFormed. This will continue.

As others have said on this thread , Hopefully ALPHA will provide a home for two seat roadsters.

NSAP is right, this was a good decision, Even though I love both cars affected by this move..


Ken

[GM-Joe]

The kappa cars are not mainstream to begin with, so I am not shook-up that they won't be around forever. Hopefully, they will be allowed to run out their product development and maybe a little update to the powertrain and / or styling. To spread out costs, I would like to see some interesting derivatives come to life and make a little run. But if you can't build something and at least break even, you should not build it.

[drew770]

So GM wants to cut things that are losing money!! Well, if that's the case you can dump all of Pontiac, Saturn and Buick North America.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by goblue

They'll be back on Alpha...someday.

I can promise you the Solstice will never come back.

[GM-Joe]

Originally Posted by kenman923

That's it. Goodbye GM. My next car will either be a Honda Accord or a Mazda 6.

Wait a moment, maybe Bob Lutz will change his mind and continue to make the Kappa's just for you, then you can justify your purchase of a 2010 Insignia based Aura; what great logic!

How does a two seat convertible equate to an Accord or 6? Ridiculous.

[PontiacBixler]

The way GM makes "One Timer" cars makes me really wonder if they actually value repeat customers.

I've been a Pontiac Guy for many years, but when our lease on our G6 runs up in March I don't really know if I want to get another GM vehicle. Why should I re-up with another G6 if they are just going to cut that one after the next "refresh"? Why should I take a chance on a G8 that is only offered in RWD while I can find plenty of AWD sedans on various lots in other GM brands or *gasp* foreign brands? I'm getting really frustrated with them right now.

[Bravada]

So GM wants to cut things that are losing money!! Well, if that's the case you can dump all of Pontiac, Saturn and Buick North America.

How do you know they are losing money? FWIK, at the very moment all three aren't.

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by nsap

I can promise you the Solstice will never come back.

And if it were, it wouldn't be on Alpha as Cadillac is taking the platform up market. Won't be cheap enough to produce a cheap RWD vehicle.

[wildgoosechase]

Originally Posted by paul8488

What could have been a wonderful small RWD platform that could have spawned all sort of cool cars (Nomad, a RWD G5, a Buick Velite even) has become a one-generation waste of money. Ah well, Solstice and Sky owners should be glad... their cars are about to become collectors items!

Don't worry those cars will just be built off the Cruze platform.....