Solstice May Be Inspiration but Resulting Kappa Architecture Springs Tantalizing New Concepts
GM likes to call the Chevrolet Nomad and Saturn Curve concept cars, but it's easy to see how they could quickly turn into production cars and bring a Saab sibling along with them for the world, and maybe an Opel/Vauxhall model for Europe. Do the math yourself:
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| GM has a recent repuation of building concept cars that make it into production, and the Chevy Nomad (shown) and Saturn Curve should be no different. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
1) GM now has a rock solid policy of only building concept cars with an excellent chance of going into production (such as the recently announced Pontiac Solstice), so they're not doing these for fun.
2) Engineering VP Jim Queen has recently been promising that the world's biggest car company will soon begin to ''pummel the marketplace'' with original derivatives of production cars.
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| Saturn is on record as saying it will have six models in a couple of years, so a Curve-like roadster would fit nicely. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
3) It's impossible to make a strong business case for designing a unique architecture (in this case, the Kappa architecture) for a niche vehicle as low-priced as Solstice will be, but using it for other small-volume models can make the financial possibilities more attractive.
4) Saturn is on record as saying it will have six models in a couple of years, so a Curve-like roadster would fit nicely with the three existing units and the soon-to-arrive Terraza crossover sport van and still leave room for one more.
5) Chevrolet has plans to surpass Ford as the biggest-selling brand in North America and a segment-busting model like a two-door station wagon like the Nomad would certainly help with that.
6) GM product boss Bob Lutz says we'll see an ''onslaught'' of vehicles wearing the designer Swedish label and a two-seater would fit nicely into Saab's premium driver's car firmament, perhaps as the 9-1.