Opel Speedster?

[MikeT]

I heard a rumor that GM has decided to import the Opel Speedster and sell it as a Pontiac or Saturn beginning one year from now.
Can anyone confirm?

[JasonD]

There was some discussion about this quite a while ago. IT seemed more likely, although absolutely fartin retarded, that it would go to pontiac. Not really sure whatever came of it all.

[lewis]

Saturns becoming a womans SUV company- don't hold your breath underwater!

[MikeT]

I checked DejaNews and there was some discussion on there about the latest issue of MotorTrend mentioning the Speedster and saying that it will come as a Pontiac. I haven't seen the magazine article so I can't vouch for it.
Personally, I think it would be a great addition to the Saturn line-up since it uses the same 2.2L engine as the L100/200.
http://www.opel.de/showroom/speedster/

oh yeah, thats my new speester....
observer, oh, isnt that one of saturn opels lines...?
no, well, its actually a pontiac.
observer, ponitac? well doesnt opel import the ls to be built here by saturn?
well, no avctually, its just an opel and saturn put their nameplates on it.
observer, so, is pontiac now part of saturn?
well, no, saturn buys the ls from opel, pontiac the speedster and cadillac the catera.
observer, ok im confused enough....sigh
crap, all we buy now is a name and a marketing ploy, joe

[SCDYNE]

AIUIAs I Understand it)
Spring Hill TN will be the only place in the US for the L61 engine to be built (according to GM) after the Assembly plant is finished. So the L61 in America will be Saturn Built, Lotus designed, Opel Engineered, GM Global 4. So who's product is it? GM's.
If the Speedster "concept" was imported at it's 1700lbs of weight, it would have to be REALLY worked over to be streetable. The chances of it EVER coming out in a mas-produced performance sports car with the L61 is limited. The L61 is great when the car weights only 1700lbs but add 500+ lbs of safety and accessories and you have just another under powered American attempt to compete in a market they only know how to fail in.
BUT
The Speedster is built on a Space Frame and uses carbon/plastic body panels. If ANY company in the US could call it there car it would have to be Saturn. Many Opel fans believe that Saturn is the US Opel of years gone by and are expecting to see the Speedster badged as a Saturn.
Would it sell here in the states? HELL YES!
Does it even matter who badges it? Yes and No.
We care because our blood runs Saturn Red, but the general public just wants a well built, light, dependable, American made, mass-produced, sports car. Maybe I have bias, but I see Saturn as being the ONLY GM line that could pull that off without a single hitch.
With the way that Honda over prices Sis and TypeRs at the dealer level it would be awesome to see a limited production vehicle available at a Retailer that didn't have a ADP sticker next to the Sticker saying "$5000 Market Adjustment"

[MikeT]

Catalyst:
It's my understanding that the L61 2.2L will continue to be made in Tonawanda, New York, while Spring Hill will make 1.8L and 2.0L versions of the L850 for use in the new S-Series and possibly (probably?) other cars like the revamped Chevy Cavalier.

[HumpMan]

I've been watching the press on the Opel Speedster for quite a while and unless there are new rumors, the last I had heard was that U.S. would not be getting any version of the Speedster.

The early rumors were that Pontiac would likely get it, as they had some prior experience with 2-seat roadster-type vehicles. I tried to argue that Saturn might be a better choice, as they have current experience with spaceframe/polymer construction, and they (via the L-series) have the earliest experience with the L-850 which is the basic engine for both the Saturn L's and the Opel Speedster. Unfortunately, no one seems to listen to me. <img src="http://www.saturnfans.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/Images/Happy.gif" border="0" align="middle"> Presumably the entire line of engines related to the L-850 will become part of world-wide Ecotec branding that GM is using. Saturn may also have some qualms about doing anything with just 2-seats, as insurance costs seem to be set extremely high with this type of vehicle.

But last I heard, it was decided that certifying an new powertrain combination for what would probably be fairly limited sales was not worth it. But I would certainly be open to new developments in a U.S. version of the Speedster.

the HumpMan

[SCDYNE]

Did you see that GM said the next Cavalier will be the Astra? If It looks like the current Astra I'm getting one of them bad boys.
MikeT, I have to say you could have a point because the NEWS info from GM I read doesn't say the words "The 2.2L will be built in Spring Hill" It's just stated as "Production of the Next Generation Global 4 engine will be produced from Saturn's new facility. Yet in the SUV article they are stating that the 4 cylinder engine for it will be built in Spring Hill, which is a 2.2L model.
<blockquote><hr>
This is GM’s third module for the global four-cylinder 2.2-liter engine, which is currently produced at plants in Tonawanda, New York and Kaiserslautern, Germany. Up to 800 Saturn team members will produce 2,100 engines a day when the module is operating at full capacity. Initial engine production start-up is scheduled for mid-2002. The Tonawanda plant will supply four-cylinder engines to Saturn for the SUV until the Spring Hill facility is operational.
<hr></blockquote>
That's from GMs media site not an article by AP.

I personally don't care where the damn engine is made. I plan on becoming a MASTER of it's internal workings in all forms. In stock form it will work fine from who knows where, I'll just make it work like it's supposed to for racing.

[chris00sw2]

Where did you see the news that the Cavalier will be the Astra? I'd love to read it.

It was my understanding that the new S-series and the Cavalier were going to share the same new Delta platform. If that new platform is the Astra, things could get interesting indeed!

[lewis]

Speedvision has a German tv program called Motorvision Sunday evenings. There was a segment recently which featured the new Opel Astra Coupe with the 2.2L. They loved it. What a great SC2 THAT would make!

[SCDYNE]

I don't like to give my sources because many people look to me for answers. (Ya, like I know it all) I get most of the info about Saturn and GM from a members only Press Website that GM has. How or why I'm a registered member is not important, but it gives me that edge of info that is VERY usefull when buying and selling GM's stock...

[cityhawk01LW30093SW2]

A sudden hush falls over the message board as all ears turn toward Adam....

[MikeT]

It's my understanding that the new Cavalier will be very similar to the next Astra, and a press release on Oct. 31 pretty much confirms that.
"Chevy will offer a more refined, driver-oriented Cavalier with improved performance and ergonomics. The new Cavalier is being developed alongside the next Opel Astra and will feature a sporty, fun-to-drive character."
(Excerpted from http://www.cnetinvestor.com/newsitem-investor.asp?symbol=106840450 )

I had a 2000 Astra as a rental car for a week, and I was really impressed. The new coupe is really nice too.
http://www.opel.de/showroom/astracoupe/

[Diggs]

When Adam talks, People listen. <img src="http://www.saturnfans.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/Images/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle">

Diggs

[JasonD]

Hehe, it will not be too tough for GM to make an improved Cavalier. The SC2 just needs a more powerful engine, and an exterior which looks awsome as stock.

[SCDYNE]

I would take an Astra yesterday if they were here. I love the look of that car. I undersntand it's the most popular car in Europe. There are less restrictions on performance in Europe and if it's got the 2.2L in it you know that there are going to be parts for it. As I speak to a few performance shops in Europe, I have discovered CAMS, Header, Intake, and a performance PCM have all been made for the 2.2L L850 so far. I'm getting some "prototypes" sent to a place here in the US to have htem tested to see if they are direct replacements. I question the PCM, but not the cams and they are said to make 14 HP more w/ the grears.. All we can do is cross our fingers and hope.
-Adam

[xtremetoy]

Well in front of me is the new Motor Trend with t he article on the Speedster and yes it says it will be here as a Pontiac. AS we know is is based on the Lotus Elsie which was never legal here. And the new Elise and and Exige(hard top elsie) will not be lagal here. THough the M250 will and at one time the M250 was going to be powered by a worked over Saturn/Saab 3.0l V6 but then they decided to go with a Nissan and now they have ddecided ot go with a Renault V6 in the M250 cuase Renualy wioll build car based on the M250. Any way back to the speester, jsut becuase the Elise aint legal could mean this car wont be the same animal over here as a Pontiac. But Pontaic makes sense i mean they did have the Fiero. Also in England the Speedster will be a Vaushall VX220. Lotus knows how to make some nice cars and i wish we could get more of them.

[xtremetoy]

Oh ya the article does mention Saturn. Says the the engine is a Ecotec from the Astra and the Saturn LS which we already know.

[Tenchi Masaki]

Apparently, it seems the UAW is holding up Saturn getting the Speedster. GM really wants to give the Speedster to Saturn. The only thing is that it would cost over $30K and the car would not be built here. That is why the union is holding it up even though next year Saturn will be the one producing the global 4 cylinder for that car. Also, the car has fiberglass panels so Saturn figures they can just stick with that instead of using Polymer.