Solstice and Sky See Ended Production

Reporting on this story is really too bad. Remember the excitement around the Solstice Concept and the ensuing production vehicle? It really created a wave of goodwill for General Motors and the Pontiac brand. In production it proved to be no less successful, selling out quickly.

Even as the initial excitement wore off, it overtook the Mazda MX-5 Miata in sales - no small feat. GM's Bob Lutz was one of the car's chief champions and it paid off. That's why it's sad to hear that production of the two vehicles based off the Kappa platform - the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, has been stopped.

There was some talk that possibly an independent buyer could come in and make a deal to GM for just the Solstice roadster, but it never materialized. Unfortunately the Saturn Sky wasn't any part of GM's Saturn deal with Penske. The business case would have been difficult to justify continuing the Sky only.

Not only are the two cars being cut, but the plant that makes them - GM's Wilmington, Delaware Assembly Plant has been shuttered.  Oh, the possibilities!

One thing seems pretty clear, history will look well on the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. I could see them being future classics, especially the coupe Solstice. Numbers for it are unclear, but seems as if the first ones are arriving in dealerships while production has already been stopped. If you're interested, go out and buy one before it's too late!