Saturn Skys at the assembly plant

[spacemonkey]

AutoWeek likes to make up press releases. The S/C'd solstice stuff they had is not the first thing they have had completely wrong. The Solstice GXP has already been released in LA and Detroit autoshows with a 2.0L Direct Injection turbo Ecotec with 260HP/260ft-lbs. Speculation says a Sky redline won't be far behind, and look at the Opel Lightning for proof. Pics were also leaked from the factory showing a Saturn Sky with a twin outlet exhaust.

I remember the GXP release. It is a 4 cylinder car so I guess it would be easy to turbocharge and still meet emissions and regulations

But however I wont look to european models as proof. Becuase they have totally different emissions rules and taxation rules. Just because BMW comes out with a turbocharged 335i in Europe doesnt mean we will see it here. Turbocharging is popular over there because they are taxed on engine displacment....hence why OHC engines are so poular in Europe. Along with tax saving encentive like Diesel powered engine. More green your car is the more money you save.

Turbo cars generate more carbs then a SC car. Hence why alot of supercharger kits are 50 state legal.

Rule of thumb is 4 cylinder cars are okay for turbocharging since they produce minimal carbs already. anything mroe then 4 cylinders cant be turbocharged unless its a specialty or super exclusive/exotic car.

So I guess I was miss informed about the autoweek article. But however its still early and because GM release the car doesnt mean its going to be like that when it comes out.

A Supercharger ecotec from a corporate standpoint will save money because it is an existing engine in the US. ITs in the saturn Ion redline. Bringing a engine that does not exist in the states only raises cost. #1 it has to be imported becuase its not built here. And if they decide to be built here theyhave opportunity cost...how many regular ecotec engien do you waste (stop making) while producing that one turbo ecotec..an assembly line only has so much capability? Not easy since they closed a few of their plants down. #2 test will have to be done to meet emissions and federal regulations. and #3 a DI compenents are expensive....when you produce so few. So I was thinking a SC ecotec has already meet all that criteria and can be droped in to reduce cost. If the car's cost skyrockets up to lets say $28-30K then they have lost their objective. And will suffer the same fate as the S2000.

Also its why GM can dump a LS2 and LS7 into anythign and call it their performance model. Simple cost savings.

 

[Mallard]

The S/C Ecotec in the Ion/Cobalt does not fit in the Solstice/Sky. The s/c doesn't have enough clearance between the shock tower. The GXP that was released is a full production model. The only thing that may change is the hp rating since it hasn't undergone the SAE rated test. Everything about the engine has already been released, including the fact that it's being built alongside the regular Ecotec in a full production engine plant.

 

[dmitrik4]

i like it a lot except for the fact that even up, the top is still wrinkly. look at the c-pillar on the yellow car. the solstice has that problem too, apparently.

edit: saab makes a turbo 6 in the 9-3...i don't see why, say, a turbo 6 would produce any more pollution than a V-8 or a supercharged 6. and you're going to have to explain why a turboed engine is dirtier than a supercharged one....

SCs are more popular w/ OEs than turbos b/c the power characteristics of a SC have a broader appeal, esp in the US, than those of a turbo.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

i prefer the solstice and the mx5 to the sky, cleaner lines and curves whee

 

[Amemiya]

I like the Sky way better than the Solstice.

 

[vindication]

still preffer the solstice to either the sky or even the mx-5. was driving next to a yellow solstice on friday. so much better looking in person than in pics. I just wanted to jump on it and have my way with it right there and then

 

[romecandleboy]

was driving next to a yellow solstice on friday. I just wanted to jump on it and have my way with it right there and then

Actually, that would be quite dangerous.

 

[Prodigy]

It looks like a wanna-be corvette-rx8-mazda3