Rumours about a Sunfire replacement...

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by GMInsideNews.com »GMInsidenews Exclusive: Two Pontiac Kappa Vehicles??By: NSAPJuly 21, 2004http://www.gminsidenews.comRemember that beautiful orange Pontiac Solstice Coupe concept car shown at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show? It was sitting alongside the silver convertible version and it made those two vehicles seem like the perfect dynamic-duo. Since Pontiac is actually producing the Solstice convertible, the big question is, are they going to produce the coupe version as well?There's good news and bad news.We'll get the bad news over with quickly, because the good news is actually great news.Pontiac is not going to produce a coupe version of the Solstice. Sorry to say, that is correct, there will be no Solstice coupe. But that's where the bad news ends.Before you get angry or upset, and start boycotting or petitioning, Pontiac does have an answer to the sport-coupe segment.Since it has been established that the Kappa architecture is great underpinning, Pontiac believes that it would be a great idea to have two Kappa vehicles in the Pontiac line up. Instead of producing a Solstice coupe, they are considering a totally different coupe based on Kappa architecture. The new coupe would have no resemblance to the Solstice, and would very likely be a great replacement for the aging Sunfire, which was due for replacement long ago, and doesn't seem to be getting a Cobalt derived replacement (in the USA).For almost a year now GM enthusiasts have tried to figure out what is going to replace, or take the place of the Sunfire. Now it seems that we will get a second Kappa!! Although there is no known timeframe for when this Kappa coupe will be announced, or if it will in fact get the green light, I think it would be safe to say that a 2006-7 timeframe would be close. Just in time for when the Sunfire makes it’s exit.Production Solstice NewsIn related news, our sources have confirmed that the production Solstice is to have a base price of under $20,000 and a fully loaded Solstice, with every available option will be under $25,000, wel lower than expected. However, the official pricing will be announced in late Spring 2005, followed by the car’s arrival at dealerships in the Summer.

[nismo]

Thank god they're gettin rid of that ugly car they call a Sunfire. By far one of the ugliest GM cars in their line up,next to the Aztek.Inder Singh

[ragingfish]

Don't knock on the sunfire.I love that car, and I'd still be in one if I hadn't been cut off and lost control totalling mine.I love the vibe -- but I loved my sunfire more...

[AKLGT]

would never own one myself. but that's just me. lotsa people like theirs, so it can't be a terrible car, right? lol

[nismo]

JMHO, the Sunfire is a pure girls car. Tha's the main reason I don't own one.Inder Singh

[NovaResource2]

The Sunfire is no more a girls car than the Cavalier. GM J-bodys were great cars. I've owned 3 and all were excellent cars. My '93 Sunbird was quicker than a Vibe GT.I'm pissed that the Solstice coupe is not being produced. I'll bet the Sunfires replacement won't be a RWD car like the Solstice is.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by TRD4reel »JMHO, the Sunfire is a pure girls car. Tha's the main reason I don't own one.I take offense to that comment. I think Merzbow would back me up, the Sunfire was a great car for ANY driver.Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »I'll bet the Sunfires replacement won't be a RWD car like the Solstice is. (removed), if a RWD sunfire existed...*drooooooooooooool*

[drunkenmaxx]

i really approve of the new sunfires. the nose is sweet! the reason it seems like a girl car is because mostly girls drive them. now, if you have a purple one...a lot of people think the vibe is a girls car too, but they can... oh wait, i cant cuss!

[Mavrik]

Well I had a great time with my 96 black Sunfire GT and I can tell you there are some awsome J-body cars out there that are not just for girls. Though there are a few sunflowers out there that are crap haha and I am not much for the look of the sunfire from 2003 and up. I like the old tougher stance.But its about time GM retired an old over used vehicle with something fresh.

[Mr. Poopypants]

I am looking forward to seeing what they replace it with. It's always neat to see what kind of new car a manufacturer will put out.

[ToolGuy]

Nothing wrong with the Sunfire, the GTs with the 2.4L engine have more torque then the Vibe GT. The Cobalt will replace the Cavalier and I imagine the Sunfire only called someting different and like a little different except like the article mentions the Soltice will be a convertible.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Nothing wrong with the Sunfire, the GTs with the 2.4L engine have more torque then the Vibe GT. The Cobalt will be replace the Cavalier and I imagine the Sunfire only called someting different and like a little different except like the article mentions the Soltice will be a convertible. In the article it says that the Sunfire's replacement will not just be a rehashing of the Cobalt.

[Fformula88]

I have seen the rumor regarding a Kappa based Pontiac coupe coming along at some point, but I have also since heard a lot of rumor refuting it. Those rumors peg the Sunfire's replacement as the Pontiac Pursuit, which is the Canadian market Pontiac version of the Delta platform (Cobalt). Those rumors say that GM will sell the Pursuit, possibly under another name, in the US most likely starting sometime next fall. They did not want to intro the Pontiac and Chevy version at the same time, hence the staggared rollout. I'd buy that more than the Kappa platform. I would guess that GM wants to sell a large volume of that type of car, and Kappa will top out at about 20K units for any one type of car. It would make more sense for them to build a mainstream vehicle on a platform that could sustain larger volumes, and save Kappa for other niche vehicles for other divisions.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »In the article it says that the Sunfire's replacement will not just be a rehashing of the Cobalt.It states "does not seem to be..." Leaving it open, however since the two currently are built at the same plant, I would expect it to be built there too but not totally different.

[ragingfish]

FWIW, I was reading in a magazine today that the Kappa platform is specifically a RWD platform. That being said, if they did use Kappa for a Sunfire replacement (which I think is a definite possibility), it makes it sound like it WOULD be a RWD replacement!