Captain Amazing

I hear it is getting a turbocharged 2.4 litre engine with 253hp. Should be a fun little car. Do you think it will give the Honda S2000 a good run?

tuj

Hopefully will be better than the Ion Redline, which was a lackluster effort at best. A turbo Sky/Solstice should have a superior power to weight ratio over the S2000; the real test will come in the chassis design.

Red Devil

It has neither double wishbone nor multi-link suspension, as I recall, but instead short/long arm in the rear and McPherson in the front. I'm thinking it will fall short of the S2000 in overall capability.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

however its looks are killer compared to the boring s2000 design.

babylou

Short long arm is double wishbone. Plus every car production suspension is multi-link with the exception of a single link McPherson strut setup.

The Sky uses wishbones front and rear. Just like an NA and NB Miata and every open wheel race car of the last gazillion years.

Xyntax

It looks like an Opel Speedster(?) or something like that. Is it a Saturn original or just a rebranded Euro car?

Aoshi Shinomori

I think it could do well in that market, but I feel that the S2000 will outperform it in just about every aspect save straight line. The Sky is a pretty sweet car though, can't wait to start seeing them and the Solstices on the road.

truemagellen

253 HP...I seriously doubt it

until the late 90s many of the Saturns didn't even break 100HP!

Aoshi Shinomori

Heh, tr00f. I think It's possible though, Saturn's Ion Redline was said to have 205 and people were dynoing them around 205 or so I have confidence that they can hit that power mark. Mmm, it'll have torque too :p

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

isn't it suppose to be a SUPERCHARGED Ecotec, just like in the ION Redline?

truemagellen

wow...not bad...but we will see...I've never been a fan of saturns after taking a test drive years ago and asking the saleswoman why it sounds like a truck

she says what are you talkign about?

I'm like yea an 18wheeler uninsulated cabin...yes

she looks at me with a blank look

We open up the hood and I could have taken my pocket knife and stabbed a whole in the firewall it was so cheap...I then look under the steering column and no insulation whatsoever

I didn't walk I ran from the dealership

therm8

It really depends on what engine they use. The Ion uses a prepped 2.0L Ecotec. The Solstice/Sky use a 2.4L Ecotec. If they prep the 2.4L for boost, 253hp will be easy to obtain, with plenty of room for the aftermarket. If they use the 2.0L, 253hp might be a stretch. They could probably do it, but they'd need to add alot of airflow.

truemagellen

time for Mazda to stick our beloved rotary into the Miata...competition will be interesting (especially since the Miata overall is lighter and then you add in the 1.3 Rotary and hot dang )

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

i'm actually interested how well the boosted, direct injection 2.3L MZR turbo from the MS6 will work in the NC MX-5 :D

truemagellen

that would be insane :D

Aoshi Shinomori

I don't think the miata will ever see OEM rotary, but it is an interesting concept. Does anyone know how much the Miata engine weighs? How the Renesis compares weight wise, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure the 4 cylinder will be a bit lighter.

truemagellen

the MX-5's current engine is a 2.0 liter while the RX-8's is 1.3 liter

my guess is dry they are similar if not the same but wet...the MX-5 is heavier

if that is true imagine the power of a the 1.3 liter in the tiny miata...sounds like a Solstic/Sky Kickass idea

SHOWOFF

Saturated in Urine I mean Saturn is from what I hear trying to be more of a VW style brand over the next few years.

RX8SpdDmn

There's gonna be a Shooting Brake Miata in the next couple years (think Miata coupe). Throw the rotary in there, call it an RX-7, and you've got yourself a track car!

There WAS rumor that the new MX-5 was gonna have a rotary option, but that's been eliminated for now.

The Miata weighs 25xx lbs, I believe, which is 2-300 less than the Solstice/Sky. The Solstice/Sky may be able to overcome the Miata in straight line acceleration with a hopped up model in the future, but the Miata will always be able to out handle it. Currently, it smokes it in a straight line, too!

I drove the new MX-5 and it felt nice. Like a lighter version of our RX-8s (which it pretty much is). I'd want the sport suspension and LSD, but I could imagine what it would be like with these options. It had enough power to be considered quick and fun.

Aoshi Shinomori

The 1.3 and 2.0 don't designate weight though. I'm talking about how much the metal the makes up the engine weights not how much they can hold. I think the Renesis probably is a larger engine as well, taking up a bit more space under the hood.

babylou

A Renesis weighs 302 lbs dressed. The NB Miata 1.8 l weighs about 300 lbs +/- 10 lbs dressed and the new 2.0 is claimed by Mazda to be 42 lbs lighter than the 1.8. Therefore the new 2.0 is about 42 lbs lighter than the Renesis. Of course the Renesis has 68 more hp and is not as tall or as long as the 2.0 so maybe both engines have equal inertial contributions to roll and yaw forces. I'll take my Renesis in a red Miata or RX-5 or RX-7 or whatever you want to call it.

ECHO1

it's very possible, espescially if the sky is based off the GM based Vauxhall Lightning:

"The VX Lightning has a new version of Vauxhall’s all aluminium 2.2 ECOTEC engine, reworked with a supercharger to produce a maximum power of 240hp and 305Nm of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is mated to the new engine, which drives the rear wheels. The chassis incorporates independent suspension, the front end using a simple and reliable strut configuration with a rack and pinion steering."





from cardesignnews.com, and this is back in '03

Aoshi Shinomori

That is a sharp looking car, I like it, but the rear might need a little work. It's over the edge which is something GM needs to do I think. The Solstice and the Sky each have a little bit of that though, at least they're moving in the right direction.

Edit: I forgot to mention, the wheel vents were stolen from the 8, GM can't even think of things on their own :p

truemagellen

thank you! that is what I was referring too

I've never heard the weight specs on the 2.0 but impressive engineering to say the least...yes the compact size and placement could really keep the miata on balance

Mazda just do it :D

RPIRX-8

Um, excuse me, I'm going to change my pants now......

Just tell me where I can buy THAT car