Yesterday GM announced this year's Kappa-based Nomad concept is tenatively approved for mid-MY07 production. Here's a blurb from TCC:


The Nomad is powered by a 2.2L "ecotec" turbo inline-4 producing 210HP. Expect pricing to compete with the MINI, starting just under $20K. Kinda reminds you of a MINI, too, eh?

Cheers,
Ryan

 

If build quality is better than current GM products, this could be a real challenger to the MCS. Might even make BMW up the standard hp figures to 200+. See, competition can be a good thing.

 

I love the roof line...

I wonder how expensive it'd be to chop my MINIs roof line by 3 or 4 inches...

 

I'm partial to the front end! It looks long...probably wouldn't handle (or be as much fun to drive) as a MINI. Honestly, they can style these cars all they want, but they better be prepared to deliver on the handling side of things. I'm personally less concerned about horses even.

Its fortunate that MINI wasn't designed in a vacuum. BWM/Rover designers had a very high level, proven product they had to resonate off of. I mean, how tough is it to mix cheeky, cute, stylish, performance, practical, fun, go-cart ride, affordable, AND safety all in one car? Who would even try to accomplish all this??? But because it was a Mini, they had to...and hats off to them!

Can these other cars compare? I hope they try at least, but I'm guarded, aren't you???

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

will it be offered with a manual
or just a girly automatic?

 

Kudos to GM for finally taking active steps to restore Chevy's image from being the maker or boring rental grade cars (Corvette excepted) and jacked pick up trucks and SUVs to the alternative to every day Japanese reliable but bland products.

It seems to me that GM is waiting an aweful long amount of time to release this baby to the market. By then, the more powerful R56 MINI will be in showrooms and possible more body variants, including a station wagon version (Countryman/Traveller) very similar to the Nomad style and purpose.

GM needs to get this car right from the beginning...period! Price, quality, safety engineering and style has to be upthere with the very best Europe and Japan has to offer. They also need to understand that in order to make this new Nomad into a cult car like the MINI, GM does not need to sell 200K units a year and put on on every driveway! Also the success of this car largely depends on GM's ability to keep it out of the cash rebate/0% financing non-sense that is the #1 resale value killer of nearly every new GM product currently sold.


Bob Lutz has promised a world class platform on the new Kappa chassis. Let's see if the Pontiac Solstice roadster and the Nomad will live up to the promises and expectations of GM's top brass.

 

Well, I'm sure my brother will be happy to hear me say that the company he works for is finally making a car I can afford AND would be willing to drive. :smile:

 

Koolmini - The article on TCC doesn't say which tranny, but you can expect a 5-speed manual at launch and a 4-speed auto later on. (I know, missing a gear or two, but it's better than slush-only)

I am excited about this new small rear-drive platform however!

 

Clo/Wanda

 

I think it looks pretty cool...I wonder how difficult it would be to squeeze a V-6 (or small-displacement V-8) under that hood....

 

>>Koolmini - The article on TCC doesn't say which tranny, but you can expect a 5-speed manual at launch and a 4-speed auto later on. (I know, missing a gear or two, but it's better than slush-only)

 

>>
Clo/Wanda
________________
Spot on Clo!

 

Well if past cars like the GTO and SSR have shown us anything. This Nomad will not look as good and have less power when it actually arrives on showroom floors. The car will need to have refelctors or wrap around lights on the sides of the car in order to meet US requirments.

Not that I do not like the new design, but give me a real Nomad anyday:


_________________
Doug


When in doubt, Choose the burrito