At Detroit this week Saturn's new line up is being introduced. I actually like the Sky better then the Solstice. Even though it will ride softer, that's nothing coilovers and swaybars can't fix. Check out the interiors on these cars. IMPRESSIVE for a Saturn!
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8836_image.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8837_image.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8838_image.jpg
The two-seat Sky is likely to catch the most immediate attention. It’s based on the same Kappa “architecture” – GM-speak for chassis – as the sporty Pontiac Solstice roadster, which goes into production later this year. While Sky will add about $5,000 to the base Solstice, it’s expected to be a significantly more refined and powerful vehicle.
The aggressive front end will be defined by the strong chrome crossbar grille with its integrated Saturn badge. With subtle tweaks, this will be the new face for all future Saturn products, according to General Motors design chief, Ed Welburn.
Sky’s stance will be long, low and wide, though the car’s actual footprint isn’t all that much bigger than the MINI Cooper. Short overhangs, with the standard 18-inch wheels pushed to the corners should further enhance Sky’s sporty appearance. The top is a quick-action manual.
A 2.4-liter Ecotec in-line four with variable valve timing will be the standard engine, for one thing, pumping out 170 hp. It will be mated to a short-throw five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic will be optional.
The roadster’s suspension should also exceed expectations, considering Sky’s price point. It’s a four-wheel independent short/long arm suspension, with coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks for improved wheel control and road isolation. The Sky will boast hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion power steering, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.
When Sky hits market, early in 2006, it will feature one of the more refined interiors to roll off a domestic assembly line, especially considering the price tag. The center console, for one thing, will trade the cheesy-looking black plastic found in most GM products for chrome and piano black.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8840_image.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/8839_image.jpg
The Aura’s interior is designed to make you feel like you’re sitting in a sophisticated living room, said Welburn, something you’d expect to see in Architectural Digest . The show car features an unusual, crosshatch leather that has received such wide internal praise it’s now planned for production. The same Rustica leather is used for door inserts, the steering wheel and shift knob. Indirect ambient lighting also achieves an architectural feel in the concept vehicle.
The Aura show car even features chrome sill plates, with the Saturn logo, and titanium knobs and buttons.
Under the hood, Aura is powered by a 250-hp, 3.6-liter, DOHC V-6 paired with a six-speed automatic with manual shift mode.
Safety features include ABS, traction and stability control, multi-stage front airbags, side airbags and head curtains.
More in store
The Sky and Aura are just two of the new products on tap for Saturn. A crossover utility vehicle, is reportedly being developed with the assistance of GM’s Japanese affiliate, Subaru. Another sedan is likely to bear the telltale fingerprints of Opel.
Eventually, Saturn plans to compete in six or more product segments. That would still make it a niche nameplate, at least when compared with the likes of Chevrolet. But it’s a significant increase from its early days, when Saturn only had a subcompact to offer.
Back in the say, to use the vernacular, Saturn did a lot to enhance GM’s image. The division’s recent decline has been an unmistakable blemish. Its early success using a customer-friendly, no-haggle sales strategy is far less unique today, and less compelling in a market saturated with solid product.
(all info taken from thecarconnection.com)
