Saturn concepts |
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Roadster, new sedan point to a new direction |
Saturn is revamping its product line. The company recently added the Relay minivan, but the big changes will come as it adds a roadster, a new midsize sedan and a larger crossover SUV. Concepts of the roadster and midsize sedan will be shown next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The concepts show that Saturn is moving up scale.
The Sky roadster is very exciting. It was inspired by the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept that was designed at GM’s Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham, England. Vauxhaull is owned by GM.
The four-cylinder Sky, expected to be priced at less than $25,000, shares much of its chassis and body with the Pontiac Solstice. It is slated for production in 2006.
Power comes from a 2.4-liter, 170-horsepower Ecotec engine with variable valve timing and a five-speed manual transmission with a short throw shifter. A five-speed automatic will be optional.
GM gave automotive writers an sneak peek at the roadster and sedan last August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Aside from the visual excitement of the body, the next best thing about the Sky is the quality of its interior. The concept had red and gray leather seats and the instrument panel was accented with piano black wood and chrome trim. The controls had the kind of detailing normally found on a luxury vehicle.
Sky will have a 50-50 weight distribution, fully independent suspension and 18-inch wheels.
This handsomely styled sedan points the way to Saturn’s future look even more than the Sky roadster. A chrome bar stretches across the grille and has a larger Saturn logo. This will become Saturn’s new signature.
The Aura is fluid, muscular and powerful, with European design cues and a sense of technical harmony.
“Aura features sculpted surfaces and flowing horizontal lines, creating a dynamic feel – a sense of power about to be unleashed,” said Clay Dean, GM director of vehicle design.
Dean said that seven GM design studios from around the world contributed to the Aura’s design.
The front fascia has a distinctive mesh grille, projector beam headlights and circular fog lamps. Huge, 19-inch wheels are pushed well out to the corners of the vehicle, which results in short overhangs and an aggressive stance.
The Aura is a roomy sedan that is much larger than the current midsize Saturn. The large windshield heightens the vehicle’s interior roominess, which is the result of the steeply raked A-pillar. The concept sported a panoramic roof that featured four sliding glass panels to create a convertible-style open-air driving experience.
The concept is fitted with a 250-horsepower 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 engine with variable valve timing. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift controls. Safety features include side-curtain airbags, side-impact thorax airbags, four-wheel ABS with traction control and StabiliTrak, GM’s electronic stability control system.
The Aura’s elegant cabin is among the nicest I have seen on a GM vehicle. Textured Rustica leather is used on the seats, door panels and steering wheel.
“The Saturn Aura is a modern interpretation of luxury,” said Dave Rand, GM’s executive director of interior design. “We made extensive use of metallic accents that complement the leather to enhance the upscale feel of the environment.”
The Aura also features the latest iteration of GM’s OnStar system, including a function that automatically transmits a signal in case of an accident, notifying OnStar’s headquarters with important details about the severity and location of the crash. Saturn said this function gives advance information to arriving emergency workers.
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