EDAG hasn't released the cargo volume or carrying capacities of
their modified Solstice, but there's probably a good reason for this as it probably won't be particularly large. Despite the new structure, it's unlikely that the car will be able to hold very much considering the fact that much of the Solstice's tail is taken up by the fuel tank and rear differential, though with a fixed roof, the removal of the folding soft top would undoubtedly free up some volume. To boost the on-board cargo capacity, EDAG will showcase an attachable hard plastic carry-on box that snaps onto its roof (see gallery).
EDAG claims that the inspiration for their Solstice comes from the big, finned Pontiac Safari wagons of the 1950s and 1960s, a contrast to the Solstice as their family-friendly size and comfort made them the antithesis of sporty. A more likely source is the Corvette C1-style Nomad II Concept from 2004, which featured a similar roof and tail setup. This is of course, is a given, considering the Nomad II was wrought from the same 'concept car'
chassis that the original Solstice Concept and Saturn Curve Concepts came from.
Having applied a classic-style roof to a contemporary production roadster, not unlike classic roadster-to-coupe modifications such as MG's MGB GT or Triumph's GT6, EDAG's Solstice Hardtop provides a solution of (some) added space without losing any style; a unique approach that should strike a chord with show-goers.
The German firm hasn't announced whether or not it will be producing the car on a limited scale, and nor have they announced a price. For the time being, the Solstice Hardtop is a mere concept car for EDAG, a vehicle in which to attract attention amongst the industry giants.
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| The concept behind the Hardtop works a little like this... (Photo: EDAG) |
EDAG claims that the inspiration for their Solstice comes from the big, finned Pontiac Safari wagons of the 1950s and 1960s, a contrast to the Solstice as their family-friendly size and comfort made them the antithesis of sporty. A more likely source is the Corvette C1-style Nomad II Concept from 2004, which featured a similar roof and tail setup. This is of course, is a given, considering the Nomad II was wrought from the same 'concept car'
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| Inspiration from the Pontiac Safari? Chevrolet Nomad Concept, more likely. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Having applied a classic-style roof to a contemporary production roadster, not unlike classic roadster-to-coupe modifications such as MG's MGB GT or Triumph's GT6, EDAG's Solstice Hardtop provides a solution of (some) added space without losing any style; a unique approach that should strike a chord with show-goers.
The German firm hasn't announced whether or not it will be producing the car on a limited scale, and nor have they announced a price. For the time being, the Solstice Hardtop is a mere concept car for EDAG, a vehicle in which to attract attention amongst the industry giants.
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