A roadster is born

摘要

When General Motors' Pontiac Solstice show car rolled onto the stage at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, the sleek little roadster was greeted with gasps and cheers from the journalists in the audience. But the reaction put GM executives in a bit of a bind. Concept vehicles like Solstice have traditionally been used by automakers as a way to establish a brand's image. But in recent years, manufacturers have also used these chrome-covered prototypes to test public reaction to concepts they'd like to put in production. For GM, the warm reception seemed proof positive that Solstice would resonate with buyers around the world. There was just one problem, recalls GM vice chairman and "car czar" Bob Lutz, "We didn't have a platform to use for Solstice."