Should GM Revive the Saturn SKY?

[Charlie]

Recent rumors suggest that even though GM pulled the plug on the Saturn SKY, it may be brought back to help justify the cost investment required to build the Pontiac Solstice. Click here (http://www.saturnfans.com/Cars/Future/skymayreturn.shtml) for the full article.

Should GM Revive the SKY, or should Saturn invest their time and money developing another type of car?

Post your thoughts.

[Xanatos]

Absoutely. Saturn needs a Halo car. Even if it is extremely limited production (which I would like), and carried many features, it should totally be revived. I like the looks of it, and if it was based upon the Solstice platform with RWD, the power, and the looks.

Theres a few cars I want. Either an ION RL, a "V RL" or if it comes out, the SKY. If they SKY does come out, it needs to be wrapped in polymer, not steal, and be pretty much everything a Saturn should be, and then some. It needs to be real competition for it's price range, and really be an abolutely outstanding car. They need to make it available with a hard top, or have it as an option. I would like to see a true 2 seater roadster, but I have no qualms with a 2+2, and think it would be quite unique.

If GM said "Yes, it will be coming out", it will be my next car. Completely fully loaded.

[swoker183]

bring back the sky. i agree with Xanatos. saturn needs a halo car and it has to be polymer. this would be the perfect car for that image. this is a true "saturn fan" car. it doesnt have to appeal to everyone, just the saturn community.

[kknobl]

Bring it back - it wouldn't make sense not to. Bob Lutz wants the Solstice - if they build it, GM will have to justify the expenditure of developing a totally new platform. One car will not do that. They would need to build multiple cars off the said platform to justify its expense. BUILD THE SKY!!

Kevin

[BlackBirdRacing]

Why worry about justifying expenses?

What about takeing a loss and right it up as furthering brand recognition???

Kill the sky!!!
It was never meant to live anyway.

[Galileo]

I'm all for Saturn entering new markets with desireable products. Would I buy a Sky? Probably not..... unless I could afford a second car..... but the Sky design is just too beautiful to throw away.

[SilverNickelQC]

Although i probably would not purchase the Sky it would be a very nice car to look at driving down the road

[SW2Muck]

Umm......YES! Saturn needs an image car, and what a car to do it with! It would definitely help to wipe away any stodgy image that Saturn might already have.

[silverblueL200]

I say yes, as long as they do it right! If they give it a cheap interior and <200h.p, well the reviewers will just rip it to shreds like they do every other Saturn.

[Medicman]

Originally posted by kknobl
Bring it back - it wouldn't make sense not to. Bob Lutz wants the Solstice - if they build it, GM will have to justify the expenditure of developing a totally new platform. One car will not do that. They would need to build multiple cars off the said platform to justify its expense. BUILD THE SKY!!




Why not build both. Screw the expeditures. They are both awesome cars. GM needs some nice looking ragtops/hardtops in it's lineup besides the Vette. Maybe they could steal a few Miata owners if they did.

[Medicman]

Originally posted by Wcook
Although i probably would not purchase the Sky it would be a very nice car to look at driving down the road




I would in a heartbeat. The kids would just have to ride in the trunk. LOL

[DualCamCoupe]

I think they should, but maybe making a Saturn based on the Opel Speedster would be more realistic. Less R&D and possibly more public appeal. Of course, it would need to have polymer.

http://www.blumenau.zaz.com.br/hotrodcenter/opel_speedster1.jpg

as opposed to

http://www.mrtraffic.com/saturnsky.jpg

[SW2Muck]

Since, there seems to be an overwhelming amount of people for "SKY revival", I think we should send these results to Saturn and show them what a mistake they'd be making, by not giving us this car!

[Xanatos]

Originally posted by DualCamCoupe
I think they should, but maybe making a Saturn based on the Opel Speedster would be more realistic. Less R&D and possibly more public appeal. Of course, it would need to have polymer.

http://www.blumenau.zaz.com.br/hotrodcenter/opel_speedster1.jpg


You do have a point on the Opel Speedster. This is a platform that is already developed for a Small RWD Mid-engine platform. GM Europe already spent a lot of money on this, so it would be interesting to see them bring it over on this platform. However, then you have to worry about things like a transaxle that can take the amount of torque that americans want out of their RWD cars that the Speedster does not produce. The Speedster weighs ~960Kg, and the Speedster Turbo is ~1100Kg. These are extremely light cars. The first does 147HP, and the second does 210. These cars have no AC, and other "creature comforts". The are meant to be driven on weekends, and even then, I couldn't drive without AC in colorado on the weekends. 90+ degree weather is hardly windows down weather. Cause then it just blows hot air on you.

I would like to see GM develop this Small RWD Front-engine platform, and spread it across all divisions, including Saturn. It would be nice to see the SKY wrapped in polymer, and share "little" with the Solstice. I know it's stupid to say this, but I do want some practicality in my cars, as well as creature comforts. I would like it to be a hard top that is easily removed and slid into the trunk. I would like an outstanding interior, great power, and an all around excellent car. I'm sure it'll start at 20-25K, and will go up from there, prolly topping out with all features around 30-35K. For that kind of money, it has to have some amazing things on it, and totally be able to keep up with, if not completely whip the competition for it to be able to sell. But as previously mentioned. This is not a mainstream car. This car is designed to attract people to the brand, and then settle on something else, then all of the Saturn fans, and people that really want this car, will scoop them up like hot cakes.

Saturn could also make two "Tiers" of this car. The standard SKY with 200HP / 200ft/lbs of Torque on RWD, starting around 20, then the SKY Red Line, using a Global V6, and be closer to 260+HP, starting around 25K. The later would be limited production (maybe 1000 - 2500 a year if that), and the former would be more main stream with 5000-10000 a year. But I know nothing about convertable car sales, so this numbers can, and most likely will vary. I also don't know the economics behind a car like this, so I'm only guestimating at prices per what "I would like to see" as a consumer. However, be assured, that if this car came out, and was all that and a bag of chips, I would buy it, most all costs aside.

Say if it takes 3 or 4 years to get these out, so were talking about 2006-2007 (for model year 2007-2008), it will be around the time I'm looking for a new car. If this is out, it will be my first choise, and I will purchase it. However, if the Solstice gets the green light, so they can start working on that, I expect to see the Solstice in 2005 for a 2006 Model Year car, and additional cars based on the Solstice platform coming out each year after that. I'm all for the sky. Lets just hope Lutz is too!

[GR898SL2]

The SKY was a good image car for Saturn and still can be. If Lutz is serious about 'growing' the brand, he should consider bringing back this car in limited production with no less than 200 hp inline-4, quality interior and competitively priced with a Mazda Miata. Worry about the Red Line version after the SKY returns and proves successful.

:flag:

[GreyDuck]

The blue convertible looks between an Audi TT and a convertible beetle. They need to do something with that square grill though.

[ProDarwin]

No. Not only is it hideous, but it would be too expensive to be a reasonable car to own. Now if they made it a little better looking, and it dove like a miata.... Then I would be in.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Im a major fan of the sky so of course I am going to say yes.

[DualCamCoupe]

Originally posted by ProDarwin
No. Not only is it hideous, but it would be too expensive to be a reasonable car to own. Now if they made it a little better looking, and it dove like a miata.... Then I would be in.

I don't think its hideous, but it does need some restyling. It just doesn't look sporty enough. Saturn should put on a more aggressive front end. Again, I think they should look to the Speedster as a model, even if they have to make some changes. I do think that the speedster has enough power for a car its size, but the air conditioning is a must.

[eRic 02sc2]

YES! use the speedster/vx220 platform if needed and share with the solstice. REAR wheel drive.

[TommyH]

Originally posted by DualCamCoupe
I think they should, but maybe making a Saturn based on the Opel Speedster would be more realistic. Less R&D and possibly more public appeal. Of course, it would need to have polymer.

Using this car/platform would also pose the SKY not only against the Miata but also the MR2 which alot of people forget about untill they drive one and then they never forget...mmmmm...sorry.

[LynnF]

Yes, an image car! Get that, together with a minivan, and Saturn will finally be off the porch and running with the big dogs.

[ItzJustMe281]

They definitly should. Its a great idea but if they do it needs to have some punch to it like the ION RL for a reasonable price. Noone wants a slow convertable and pay and arm and a leg for.

[IndyVUE]

Yes!

Prerequisites:

Roll off Spring Hill

Polymer (used in the new 'vette & Caddy would be super!)

Serious horsepower

Soft-top and full hardtop (lift off)

And a dealer to confirm delivery date of my new Sky!

( I could postpone my Corvette order for that! :D )