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Picture Information
URL: http://riceornot.ricecop.com/?auto=28089
Submitted by: mr_mcmunkee
Comments: 18  (Read/Post)     Favorites: 0  (View)
Submitted on: 10-29-2003
View Stats Category: Car
Description:
Holden concept


   Comments

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#1
10-29-2003 @ 10:50:49 AM
Posted By : DiRF  Reply | Edit | Del
Well, it's obviously a rebadged Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220. They used the grille from the Vauxhall for this 'concept' (I use the term loosely since the VX220/Speedster is a PRODUCTION car.)

#2
10-29-2003 @ 02:54:40 PM
Posted By : Lemming Reply | Edit | Del
We need one of these in the US. Please..Pontiac Fiero or something?

#3
10-29-2003 @ 02:57:05 PM
Posted By : DiRF  Reply | Edit | Del
#2, Supposedly, Bob Lutz has been toying with the idea of bringing this to America as a new Fiero, but with the GTO and Solstice headed for production, this may be on the backburner.

#4
10-29-2003 @ 03:00:59 PM
Posted By : thirtyseven Reply | Edit | Del
It is coming here next year, as the Lotus Elise. The Vauxhaul/Opel Speedster are both just re-engineered versions of the Elise. They were even developed entirely by Lotus.

#5
10-29-2003 @ 03:03:19 PM
Posted By : DiRF  Reply | Edit | Del
#4, Yep. But the Vauxhall/Opel VX220/Speedster are based on the FIRST generation Elise, we're getting the second generation Elise.

It would still be nice to have one of these here as a Pontiac.


#6
10-29-2003 @ 03:05:20 PM
Posted By : thirtyseven Reply | Edit | Del
#5, People over here are to afraid of light/small cars for this to ever make it under a major manufacturer's nameplate. Lotus, being a specialty brand will do just fine. In fact, I may mortgage my house so I can be one of the first in line!

[Edited by thirtyseven on 10-29-2003 @ 03:05:45 PM]


#7
10-29-2003 @ 03:11:28 PM
Posted By : Lemming Reply | Edit | Del
#4, Oh, yeah--I forgot that we're actually going to get the Elise soon. It's about time.

#8
10-29-2003 @ 03:38:19 PM
Posted By : DA_MAISTA Reply | Edit | Del
Try to import one of the Speedster Turbos!
Here in europe, the Opel dealers also handle other GM products like Chevrolet and Caddillac.
Doesn´t that work the other way round with your GM-dealers?


#9
10-29-2003 @ 03:44:53 PM
Posted By : DiRF  Reply | Edit | Del
#8, American manufacturers have been burned trying to sell completely European cars here before.

GM tried selling Opels in the '60s and '70s through Buick dealerships, and FoMoCo tried selling British Fords in the early '90s through LincolnMercury dealerships as 'Merkurs'. They were great cars, but it was just the wrong time.

I think the reason it happened was, European cars were kinda smaller than equivalent American cars back then, and the ones WE got were the underpowered ones...we never got the ones with good power.

There ARE nice Europeans cars out there, but the American manufacturers don't want to spend the money to modify them to American standards and emissions/safety crap...they don't want to chance getting burned again.


#10
10-29-2003 @ 03:51:18 PM
Posted By : DA_MAISTA Reply | Edit | Del
OK, I didn´t know that.
So the only way would be to import one of them used or al least from a private owner, which, together with the safety/emissions hassle would make the whole fun quite expensive.


#11
10-29-2003 @ 04:32:58 PM
Posted By : comradesampo Reply | Edit | Del
#4, Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Speedster/VX220 a lot heavier than the Elise?

#12
10-29-2003 @ 04:39:53 PM
Posted By : ricerocketboy Reply | Edit | Del
we need this as a Pontiac

#13
10-29-2003 @ 05:00:02 PM
Posted By : thirtyseven Reply | Edit | Del
#11, It is slightly larger and "softer" but you have to remember that the elise weighs in around 750 Kg fully loaded, with the Speedster being about 100-150 Kilos heavier. Also, it is still a very "minimalist" kind of car, I.E. no floor mats, power anything etc. I personally think that is a good thing, as these cars are supposed to be just pure sports car bliss to drive. And when I say softer, you have to understand that the concept that a sports car must have a rock hard non compliant suspension is largely an American school of thought, as Lotus' genius is how they can engineer a great riding, comfortable car with an incredibly accurate, adjustable chassis.

#14
10-29-2003 @ 05:56:04 PM
Posted By : Obsidian Reply | Edit | Del
as far as i know - GM has no plans to import and rebadge any Speedster/VX220 as a Pontiac Fiero re-encarnate.

I was thinking about the viability of GM doing so a couple of days ago. GM would need some kind of agreement between them and Lotus to have the cars exported to NA. Next - GM would need the Opel Speedster for it's RHD over the VX220 and it's LHD. Hire some ship freighting line to export a number of them to NA (more costs). When it arrives - GM would do market research to see if a afforable mid-sized - mid-engined market still exist that hasn't already been swamped by the Toyota MR2. (i belive GM rated the orginal Fiero as a compact back in the 80's) Next - let GM designers have a go a making the Speedster look "Fieroish". Finally - set a compeditive price and advertise it.

summary - too costly then - even more costlier now. The Fiero is best left as a legend. (even thought i still think that if GM was to use the old design - including the old body style - it would sell as a wonderful niche product for Pontiac)

[Edited by Obsidian on 10-29-2003 @ 06:00:24 PM]


#15
10-29-2003 @ 08:16:00 PM
Posted By : comradesampo Reply | Edit | Del
#13, Sadly the American Elise is suffering badly from bloat -- it's up to 900kg dry.

#16
7-19-2004 @ 06:30:48 AM
Posted By : cams116 Reply | Edit | Del
#15, That is hella heavy. I've had a ride in the top model one over here, and that was 870kgs or something, but all options, very nice car. And I can tell you 160kmh in 3rd with pleatly left like || that far off the road is awesome, THEN you see how fast they stop.

#17
9-30-2006 @ 11:28:47 PM
Posted By : Adambomb Reply | Edit | Del
#12, As you wish.

#18
9-30-2006 @ 11:35:56 PM
Posted By : DiRF  Reply | Edit | Del
#17, Uh, no, actually... this is based on a Lotus... the Pontiac Solstice in no way derived from this whatsoever...

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