Spaniards unwittingly resurrect the spirit of TVR, via the Pontiac Solstice and a Chevy V8
Remember the Pontiac Solstice? No? How about the Saturn Sky Daewoo G2X or Opel GT? These were the various guises of the roadster that GM produced, largely as the Solstice and the Saturn Sky, until both the Saturn and Pontiac brands met their doom in 2009.
Now, though, a Spanish firm called Tauro Sport Auto has resurrected the Kappa platform to create this, the V8 Spider.
As the name implies, Tauro Sport Auto has thrown away the old Ecotec four-cylinder engine, in favour of an altogether more delicious LS3 V8, whose 6.2 litres will deliver 440hp, 480hp, 530hp and even 650hp.
Considering the car weighs in at just over 1,200kg, that should make more pretty swift performance, delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or optional auto. Tauro will fit chunkier suspension and bigger brakes to the V8 Spider than that found in the original Solstice, though we do doubt whether that will be enough to tame the power.
The interior of the solstice is largely carried over, too, which is perhaps a mild disappointment for a car with a starting price of 100,000 euros (around £80K). It'll certainly be rare, though, on 30 examples will be made, each with a numbered plaque to remind you just how special you are...
I like this. It makes a refreshing change first from the glut of hybrid guiltmobiles everyone else is churning out, and also from the overweight, over-complicated synthetically-fun carriages for people who want to look like they enjoy driving really fast but don't/can't.
Back to basics, good-looking, probably very high-quality fun with an edge of mystery. Perfect.
I know lets stick an LS in everything. :/ come up with something else?!
Why? They're by far and away some of the best engines on sale today, cheap for what they offer, reliable, capable of being tuned to silly figures and are relatively small and light for their power output as when as being extremely versatile in their application. They also sound great... If there's a viable or better alternative I've yet to see it!
Having said that though, I'd take a Z06 Corvette and spend the saved money on petrol bills.
Why? They're by far and away some of the best engines on sale today, cheap for what they offer, reliable, capable of being tuned to silly figures and are relatively small and light for their power output as when as being extremely versatile in their application. They also sound great...
If there's a viable or better alternative I've yet to see it!
I agree they are amazing engines but this car will just get forgotten its bringing nothing new to the table. I would just like to see more people trying something new thats all i was trying to say
I remember the Opel GT perfectly well, just seen it sat in my garage, not 5 minutes ago!
My wife's car actually, but with a 2L turbo direct fuel-injected engine with 264bhp stock, RWD, LSD and curb weight of 1,300kg, I tend to find more reasons to drive it than she does!!! Great fun and not altogether a bad handler for something built in the States.
I must say the prospect of dropping an LS3 lump in there definitely intrigues me...and we happen to live in Spain, perhaps I should suggest an upgrade to the Mrs???
I agree they are amazing engines but this car will just get forgotten its bringing nothing new to the table. I would just like to see more people trying something new thats all i was trying to say
The problem with new things is that they're often unproven, which is a huge risk for a small firm.
For once I'm going to say that they should have stick a large, supercharged 4 pot in the thing and had a good, solid, affordable roadster as opposed to an over priced Corvette engined pretender.
It was always a good looking car and could have been a corker...
Shame Pontiac has gone to the dogs though, would have loved to have seen a modernised TA or Firebird (in the flesh, not concepts)
