The Solstice is a"me too" car. Pontiac's version of a Miata is not as revolutionary as the Fiero. And the Miata was a Japanese knock-off of an MG.
Chrysler leads the "Big Three" in innovative cars - Prowler, Viper, Crossfire etc. The PT Cruiser was their biggest hit as it was a mass market seller. Those were thought up by "outside the box" thinkers.
One thing I noticed though - everyone's concept vehicles are very often MID-ENGINE, but production vehicles never are. The concept vehicles are built for the "halo effect" in marketing.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-15-2004).]
Ooooh, the 'Aerovette'!!! I actually had a 1/12-scale model kit of this car when I was a kid!! I never thought it made it into full-scale status... what a cool blast-from-the-past!
The Aerovette came very close to becoming the 1980 Corvette.
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12:47 AM
RAREW66 Member
Posts: 1119 From: Davenport, IA USA Registered: Jun 2001
I knew I screwed up when I posted pics of the Corvettes. This is a Fiero Forum. Sorry for the rant.
The Silver Corvette is the XP-895 and has a four rotor rotary engine in it. It was ordered to be destroyed and the engineering staff hid it under a tarp under a semi trailer for a number of years to save it. The blue one is the 1990 CERV III.
This is the Aerovette and yes it was very close to production:
The Solstice is a"me too" car. Pontiac's version of a Miata is not as revolutionary as the Fiero. And the Miata was a Japanese knock-off of an MG.
Chrysler leads the "Big Three" in innovative cars - Prowler, Viper, Crossfire etc. The PT Cruiser was their biggest hit as it was a mass market seller. Those were thought up by "outside the box" thinkers.
One thing I noticed though - everyone's concept vehicles are very often MID-ENGINE, but production vehicles never are. The concept vehicles are built for the "halo effect" in marketing.
I agree that the Solistice is not revolutionary. It is what is usually thought of as a pure "sports car."
In my mind the Prowler and PT Cruiser are not a revolutionary design either. They are both very eye catching, but the trend, started by Chrysler, is to make someting new that has the retro look and feel. The Prowler resembles many a hot rod and a PT Cruiser is the modern day version of a Sedan Delivery (with 4 doors.) Very cool to look at but not revolutionary IMO.
Ford has now jumped on the retro bandwagon with their Mustang and Ford GT. GM will soon have the PT Cruiser clone the HHT.
I agree with you in that cars today are not revolutionary. They are very boring for the most part. I ony brought up the Solstice in that it's the closet thing we are gonna get from Pontiac to a real sports car. Every other Pontiac being made today looks like the other. They bore me.
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07:19 AM
Black-Azz-GT Member
Posts: 2326 From: Florida Keys Registered: Oct 2003
This is a cool thread. Thanks to those that have posted the pics and info.
------------------ -Chris - Custom Gun Metal 86 GT 3.4 5spd 3.4 SOLD & 4.9 being installed "It's too low, too rough, too loud, drinks gas, it's totally impractical, but damn good lookin. In other words, It's almost perfect!" Build up tread or MODS w/ Pics
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07:31 AM
naskie18 Member
Posts: 6258 From: Commerce Twp, MI, USA Registered: Jun 2002
I agree that the Solistice is not revolutionary. It is what is usually thought of as a pure "sports car."
In my mind the Prowler and PT Cruiser are not a revolutionary design either. They are both very eye catching, but the trend, started by Chrysler, is to make someting new that has the retro look and feel. The Prowler resembles many a hot rod and a PT Cruiser is the modern day version of a Sedan Delivery (with 4 doors.) Very cool to look at but not revolutionary IMO.
Ford has now jumped on the retro bandwagon with their Mustang and Ford GT. GM will soon have the PT Cruiser clone the HHT.
I agree with you in that cars today are not revolutionary. They are very boring for the most part. I ony brought up the Solstice in that it's the closet thing we are gonna get from Pontiac to a real sports car. Every other Pontiac being made today looks like the other. They bore me.
I don't think anyone is going to call the Solstice's design revolutionary. But it is getting back to a design theme that lets the car stand out without being busy. Compare it to some other recent cars, BMW's (Z4 for instance) or the Cadillac Art and Science Theme. They rely on a lot of busy lines, often intersecting unharmoniously and creating disruptions in the flow of the car. The Solstice gets back at a smoother, more flowing design, or a "clean" design. It has a somewhat wide stance and does look decently substantial where as the Miata looks too small in person.
At least in the heritage of the Fiero, the Solstice is sebreaking some new manufacturing ground. It'll be the first production car to use hydroformed steel body panels, and there are some other new production methods in how the vehicle is assembled, first as component structures (such as the cowl, header) and how they are bonded to the hyrdroformed frame.
They are also considering doing a Chevy Nomad on the Soltice's Kappa chassis. It was meant to compete with the Mini Cooper.
Hey Nick, do you think you could get me better directions as to where the Tech Center is on Van Dyke and 12 mile. I know how to get there, but where is it from that intersection?
Kris
[This message has been edited by shop_rat45 (edited 08-16-2004).]
Problem is, that guy there only has a 1 gallon gas tank. That won't get you too far
Kris, If you're going down Van Dyke to 12 mile, the Tech Center will be on your right hand side, if you're going down 12 mile to Van Dyke, it'll be on your left hand side. I'd recommend going down Van Dyke to 12 Mile, that'll take you right past the visitor entrance to the VEC.
[EDIT] The Tech Center is basically the entire area between 12 mile and 13 mile and between Van Dyke and Mound roads, there's about a million entrances into it, but the easiest entrance to go in to get to the VEC is on Van Dyke before it hits 12 mile, sorry, but I don't remember what number it is. [/EDIT]
Nick
[This message has been edited by naskie18 (edited 08-16-2004).]
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05:27 PM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6091 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
The Aerovette came very close to becoming the 1980 Corvette.
That is the XP-895 which I beleive was a Reynolds Aluminum rebody of one of the two XP-882's. It had a 427 in it and a Toranado trans axle originaly. Fred did you see a rotory in it? They redid these cars so much it is hard to tell which is which. The other XP-882 has exposed head lights and both were built in 1972 originaly.
The 4 rotor was the XP-897 GT [Aerovette] you have in the second pictures you posted. It now is a small block since the rotor died quickly at Road Alanta when it was a pace car. The seals went and they had no spare parts. GM still has that car too, I saw it at the Henry Ford museum a few years ago. It still looks great. Sorry I am not trying to be picky or offend, I have been reading a Corvette book right now and it had this info in it.
It is stated in the book Corvette from the inside by Dave Mclellan [pages 94-96] that the AeroVette was resized for the 2.8 V6. GM was pushing the V6 but Chevy rejected it since they would have to turbo it and most owners groups rejected the Idea of a V6 in a Corvette. On page 96 it is quoted as "Styling , always wanted a mid engine and would keep this propsal alive untill it re-emerged as the Pontiac Fiero." So in a way the XP-897 restyle could be the Fiero's Grandfather.
If you have a chance this book is a good read and give much insite to how GM operates or at time not operates. The Vette has had it's share of major mistakes and corner cutting like the Fiero. Things you look at today and wonder how they could have been thinking some of what they were thinking.
As for the Solstice is going to make money that is why GM will build it. A mid engine is a hard sell to most of the public, most don't care where the engine is they just want a trunk. Also it is harder to share with other lines like the Nomad to help spread the cost to make a larger profit. The bottom line is sales, cheaper to build and larger profit.
[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 08-16-2004).]
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06:18 PM
shop_rat45 Member
Posts: 3271 From: Lapeer, Michigan Registered: Mar 2004
Problem is, that guy there only has a 1 gallon gas tank. That won't get you too far
Kris, If you're going down Van Dyke to 12 mile, the Tech Center will be on your right hand side, if you're going down 12 mile to Van Dyke, it'll be on your left hand side. I'd recommend going down Van Dyke to 12 Mile, that'll take you right past the visitor entrance to the VEC.
[EDIT] The Tech Center is basically the entire area between 12 mile and 13 mile and between Van Dyke and Mound roads, there's about a million entrances into it, but the easiest entrance to go in to get to the VEC is on Van Dyke before it hits 12 mile, sorry, but I don't remember what number it is. [/EDIT]
Nick
Thanks!
Kris
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06:45 PM
shop_rat45 Member
Posts: 3271 From: Lapeer, Michigan Registered: Mar 2004
I amazed that on one has come out with a body kit on the 89 Fiero. At one time the aerovette xp-895 had disapered, glad someones saved it. The picture of the aerovette that I have has a 400 cid small bk. in it.
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06:03 PM
Dec 13th, 2004
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
wth is that blue car in the background behind that silver vette? looks like an italian sports car or something. also with all these detailed pics perhaps we could get some1 to make a pace car kit. i love that fascia.
EDIT: should have looked at page 2. HOLY CRAP, they should have produced that thing. Does it run? more importantly, how fast does it run? it kind reminds me of a xj220 from the front and sides.
[This message has been edited by dohcfiend (edited 05-21-2005).]
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04:30 PM
fieroparts.com Member
Posts: 4831 From: Maine 207-934-1969 Registered: Jun 2000
wth is that blue car in the background behind that silver vette? looks like an italian sports car or something. also with all these detailed pics perhaps we could get some1 to make a pace car kit. i love that fascia.
EDIT: should have looked at page 2. HOLY CRAP, they should have produced that thing. Does it run? more importantly, how fast does it run? it kind reminds me of a xj220 from the front and sides.
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Originally posted by Tigger:
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05:19 PM
Jul 19th, 2005
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
