Designing Cars Of The Future
April 1st, 2007
At 34, Vicki Vlachakis who is already an acclaimed designer has her stamp on two of GM’s recent triumphs: the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice. The sleek, eye-catching sport convertibles have managed to reinvigorate two GM brands as Detroit strains to avoid ruining the business. Vlachakis is at the front of a small, but increasingly influential pack of smart, young designers that Detroit counts on to make it relevant to an under-40 crowd that doesn’t much care for American vehicles and has almost no loyalty to the home team.
2007 Pontiac Solstice Mallet V8
June 7th, 2006
More power than a Porsche 911 Carrera S, less expensive than a base Porsche Boxster, lighter than a Chevrolet Corvette Z06. That’s a tall order, especially when you add a soft top and a stylish exterior. Too tall, in fact, for any manufacturer, but perfect for Chuck and Lance Mallett of Berea, Ohio. With nearly a decade of experience tuning Corvettes and Cadillacs under their belts and a family racing heritage rooted in the 1950s, these boys get what they want the old-fashioned way-by wielding heavy hammers.