NAIAS technical highlights

The industry kicked off what many are calling the Year of the Car at the January 4-7 North American International Auto Show in January. Cars and car-based crossovers took center stage, with many of the new models being derived from flexible architectures that will spawn many distinct products.

The Pontiac Solstice roadster-first shown as a concept at the 2002 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit-will become a production reality as a 2006 model in the fall of 2005. Built on General Motors' new Kappa architecture, the production model remains remarkably true to the concept, having rear-wheel drive, two-passenger seating, and a reverse-hinged clamshell hood. “Put them side by side and it's very difficult to tell the production model from the concept,” said Franz Von Holzhausen, Design Manager. “The front and rear fascias are slightly longer on the production model, but overall the car remains faithful to the concept.” A design highlight is a top that folds flat into the rear clamshell for a smooth appearance. “There is no visible stack from the folded top to disturb the shape,” said Von Holzhausen.

“True to the thinking behind the original concept, the production Solstice is all about being a ‘back-to-basics’ roadster with gorgeous lines and fun-to-drive characteristics,” said Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman of Product Development and Chairman of GM North America. “The key enabler of Solstice is the new Kappa rear-wheel-drive architecture and component set, which allows us to rapidly and efficiently develop an appealing family of compact and affordable sports cars.”