Sunday, 14 of March of 2010
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DeLorean Motor Co., has this image at the top of one of its Web sites promoting what it is calling the DeLorean Solstice.
Call Michael J. Fox, DeLorean might be back in the business of making new cars. And the car? A redux of the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which ended production in July.
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP
I distinctly remember the day four years ago when the Pontiac Solstice first showed up in my driveway. I was giddy. Here was a car that was among the most beautiful cars in memory, recent or otherwise.
Had General Motors turned a corner? Was the plodding Detroit automaker finally done with snoozers — too many to list, but including the Pontiac Sunfire, Cadillac Catera, Chevrolet Corsica — and silly styling debacles — Pontiac Aztek and Pontiac Grand Am?
Many in the automotive press thought the inexpensive Solstice, as well as its more upscale twin, the Saturn Sky, were better looking than some cars costing twice as much. Seriously, a Porsche Boxster is a handsome car, but remove the badges and which is hotter? How about comparing the twins to a Mazda Miata? It’s no contest. The Solstice/Sky are hands-down winners.
When the Pontiac Solstice was first introduced in 2004, I was giddy. The Solstice is drop-dead gorgeous, one of the coolest designs in the last 20 years, and certainly the best-looking car for under $30,000.
So when I got a chance to drive it, I was more excited about it any other car I’ve had the chance to drive.
I had already had a few minutes of seat time at a GM press event in Milford the previous year, so I was somewhat familiar. During that initial impression, I tried to write off some issues I noticed right away.
The top was very cumbersome to fold and the storage space in the remaining trunk was laughable. Also, there wasn’t a place to stick a cellphone or change other than a small pocket on the front edge of the driver’s seat.
So when I lived with the car for a week, all of those issues became more important. Dropping the roof became a chore because it requires so much work. Then there were the thoughts of whether I was willing to carry the stuff I had with me for the day in the passenger seat in exchange for being able to lower the top.
Anyone who has driven a Mazda Miata knows how well engineered that car is. To put the top down, you unlatch the header and literally shove it back your shoulders. No loss of trunk space. It’s just beautifully engineered in every way. Despite seeming to have more space than the Solstice, it’s still lighter by 300 pounds.
Now, it would appear that GM will kill the Solstice, along with its twin the Saturn Sky, as well as the Opel GT, which it sells overseas.
The Solstice is a classic case of GM introducing an innovative car before the engineering is really done. See Exhibit A, the Pontiac Fiero.
It’s sad really, because the Solstice could have been great.
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6523729/editorial/open-letter-to-fritz-henderson/index.html
