GFerg

GM says it will build 7,000 Solstices this year, has 13,000 orders; production to speed up
JAMIE LAREAU | Automotive News
Posted Date: 9/7/05


PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nearly half of the customers who have ordered the new Pontiac Solstice won't get the roadster until next year.

General Motors expects to build 7,000 units this year, Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars, said at a press event here. GM has 13,000 orders for the car.

Queen says production should speed up in the next 30 days. Solstice production started in mid-July at GM's Wilmington, Del., plant. The automaker had built 1,840 units through Thursday, Sept. 1.

"Now that we're building in higher volumes than we did in the early, early phases, we're seeing bottlenecks and areas that aren't building as smoothly as you'd like them to build," Queen said.

Initial problems with roof leakage and front-end fit are fixed, though.

Pontiac debuted the car on the April 14 episode of NBC's "The Apprentice" TV show. During that show, 1,000 customers placed orders for special versions of the car. Queen said about 750 of the "Apprentice" orders have been filled.

The Solstice is the first vehicle on GM's new rear-wheel-drive Kappa architecture.

GM uses the term "architecture" to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.

GM has said it developed the Kappa vehicles to be profitable at low volumes by using existing GM parts and innovative production.

For example, the company set up a small body-shop module rather than a mainstream automated body shop. The car's chassis and underbody are hand-welded.

"If you want to do more volume, you have to put in more modules for the body shop," Queen says, adding that GM doesn't intend to do that.

GM will build the Solstice and eventually the Saturn Sky roadsters on Kappa architecture, producing between 20,000 to 30,000 of the two cars annually, she said.

Pontiac Marketing Director Mark-Hans Richer said from 17,000 to 18,000 of those cars could be Solstices. GM also will produce a Kappa roadster for its European brand, Opel, in Wilmington.

GM to Solstice buyers: Stay cool

Pontiac's new Solstice is sure getting a lot of buzz. Mostly, it's good buzz, but not all.

After Solstice buyers openly complained on General Motors' FastLane Internet blog about slow shipments of their convertibles, GM responded.

In a posting titled "About the Solstice" last week on FastLane, Tom Kowaleski, GM's vice president of communications, apologized to Solstice buyers for delays in delivery.

"Sorry if we are frustrating you; believe me: We are just as eager to get these cars on the road as you are," Kowaleski wrote. He said GM is taking extra time "to make sure all is just right. We're paying special attention to fits and finishes, interior materials and trim, and all elements of the car's operation."

GM has been slowly increasing production at its plant in Wilmington, Del.

"The Pontiac marketing team … continues to communicate with owners, particularly the first 1,000," wrote Kowaleski. "But they can't get the cars out of Wilmington any faster."

One Solstice customer, who said his dealer just delayed delivery of his car by two additional weeks, had a reply for GM: "Something is a little fishy here."

mmarshall

If any of you guys are interested in a Solstice, unless there is just something about that buck-toothed grille up front that turns you on, I would wait and order a Saturn Sky instead...partly for reasons stated above in the article and partly for Saturn's pricing policies....no-haggle, no discounts, no rebates, and..........most important with a high-demand and short-supply car like this.......NO MARKUPS. Unlike many other dealershps (including Pontiac), Saturn dealers...or "retailers" in Saturn speak.........are not allowed to mark cars up more than list ( although they can put on dealer accessories and charge for them). If they DO ask more than list for a car with no accessories, they can lose their Saturn franchise....especially if people complain to Saturn Headquarters.. Saturn also traditionally outdoes Pontiac in customer service and treatment, and has a no-vehicle-damage 30-day money-back guarantee with a clear title.

Having said this, BOTH of these cars stand ready to give the Miata the first REAL competition in the American market that it has had in quite some time. ( if GM will just build enough of them and not repeat the mistake Toyota made with the MR2 ). Size-wise, they are just a hair larger inside for tall people, and the manual folding top is a little more complex and has a built-in-boot for a cleaner look top-down, but otherwise.....engine, chassis, handling, etc......they are very similiar to the new Miata.

adidosc

just don't plan on "quickly" putting the top down, when it started to rain on my pre-production test ride, i had quite a few dropplets on me before the top was up and secured. oh well, guess everything in life can't be easy. well, if you don't have a power folding roof that is.

Gojirra99

I don't like the design of the Solstice.

The Saturn Sky looks way more attractive.

toy4two

I'm waiting for the Turbo version that will be out next year. 250hp roadster in the 20's, SOLD.

Also the new Turbo version is getting a more aggressive front facisa with larger radiator openings.

mmarshall

I will probably be a better buy too, Amnesty.....for reasons which I posted above.

LexFather

It shows GM can make competative cars when it actually tries to BUILD a great car instead of something for rental agencies.

toy4two

Bob Lutz took personal responsibility, and he told the penny pinchers to go to hell when they wanted to substitue certain parts and get close to the concept but not exactly, he kept saying no. He actually had managers tell his accountants and engineers to call him personally if an employee said, "we can use this part and save some $$$"

That guy did wonders at all the companies he worked for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lutz

With the exception of the Prowler, he has been behind some Kick **** cars for Dodge (Viper) and BMW (pre-Bangle)

-J-P-L-

I don't know why the Solstice is getting most of the attention. The Saturn Sky looks WAAAAY
better. It is also a more upscale model. The Solstice's front end is just ugly with that grill.

toy4two

Lots of performance options straight from Pontiac coming out:

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=1572