Never thought the day would come: a Saturn I'd actually like to own
 

2007 Saturn Sky Roadster

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(from GM Press Release) With its dynamic design and quick and agile performance, the Sky roadster delivers a bold message about the next generation of vehicles from Saturn.

The Sky, introduced at the North American International Auto Show and slated for production in 2006, is the first vehicle to feature a new look that will influence Saturn’s entire future product lineup. The roadster will be followed by a new midsize sedan and a large crossover SUV as Saturn’s product portfolio doubles during the next 24 months.

“Building on its accomplishments in customer sales and service satisfaction, Saturn is introducing a bold new product design to our vehicles,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “For Saturn, the Sky is not the limit. It’s only the beginning.”

Starting price for the Sky is expected to be less than $25,000. It will be built at GM’s Wilmington , Del. , assembly facility.

Technical harmony

The Sky roadster was inspired by the Vauxhall VX Lightning Concept – created at GM’s Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham , England – signaling the adoption of an international design language for Saturn.

“The Sky’s exterior conveys a sense of technical harmony, combining taut, controlled lines with fluid surfaces to create a dynamic feeling,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of Design for GM North America . “The vehicle’s strong front end is the new face of Saturn, with a pronounced fender peak and a bold, chrome bar that carries an integrated Saturn badge.”

The Sky’s design also features a wide stance with short overhangs and 18-inch wheels pushed to the corners. The convertible top folds completely into the rear compartment and the clamshell hood provides excellent accessibility and reinforces the sports car aura. Projector halogen low beams and reflector optic halogen high beam headlamps extend the exterior’s sophisticated look.

The design philosophy is carried through to the interior, which is driver-focused with integrated controls and displays. Creative use of piano black and chrome finishes combine with available leather seats and technical grains to emphasize richness and precision. Jewel-like detailing on the HVAC and lighting controls is executed with tight fits, highlighting the attention to detail.

Roadster performance

The Sky also has the hardware to back up its bold styling. It is equipped with a 2.4L, 170-horsepower Ecotec engine with variable valve timing and a five-speed Aisin manual transmission with a short throw shifter. A five-speed automatic will be optional.

“The Sky’s performance matches its impressive styling,” said Lori Queen, vehicle line executive for GM’s small cars. “Powertrain, suspension and handling components were carefully selected to provide quick and agile performance.”

Other technical highlights include: Four-wheel independent short/long arm suspension for optimal handling and stability

Coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks for excellent wheel control and road isolation

Hydraulically assisted rack- and-pinion power steering for quick, responsive vehicle control

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS for excellent stopping performance

Wide track width for excellent stability and superior handling

Near 50/50 weight distribution for balanced handling feel

Structural tunnel design and hydroformed longitudinal rails for a stiff body that results in greater vehicle responsiveness and better overall feel

Hydraulic engine mounts for a smoother engine feel

OnStar

With 3 million subscribers, OnStar is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technologies. The 2006 Sky will offer OnStar. Sky owners can interact with OnStar's voice recognition system in Spanish, French or English. With the push of a button an OnStar advisor can change the system to allow the subscriber to interact with the system in their preferred language. Other core OnStar services are stolen vehicle location assistance, remote door unlock, roadside assistance, emergency services and automatic crash notification.

GM is the only automotive manufacturer committed to offering a full range of vehicles with safety protection before, during and after a collision. All OnStar-equipped vehicles come with Automatic Crash Notification. If air bags deploy, the system sends a signal to a highly trained OnStar Emergency Advisor, who contacts the vehicle to see if help is needed, and can contact an emergency responder to send for help. In many cases the occupants are severely injured and cannot speak for themselves. OnStar’s GPS unit allows Advisors to tell emergency responders the vehicle’s location. OnStar responds to at least one air bag deployment in the US or Canada every hour.

Additionally, the Sky will offer the GM-exclusive Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system. The AACN system detects collisions, even rollovers, regardless of whether air bags deploy. AACN also transmits other crash data, such as the direction of impact force, the number of and which air bags deployed and the maximum change of impact velocity, so that emergency responders are more prepared with this critical information before they arrive at the accident scene.

Saturn lineup

The expansion of the Saturn product lineup began this year with the introduction of the Relay family utility vehicle. The Relay combines SUV-like exterior styling, a rich interior and the functionality of a mid-van.

The Saturn Ion is significantly refined for 2005, with the sedan receiving improved interior and exterior appearances and more responsive and refined performance. The Vue’s clean styling, numerous safety features and vast array of accessory choices continue to make it a popular choice among customers with active lifestyles. Saturn’s 2005 lineup also includes two performance variants, the 205-horsepower Ion Red Line and the 250-horsepower, performance-tuned Vue Red Line.
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True, it's not very powerful, but that just makes it more of a project car from the beginning, as they all should be.

A forced induction version should be along shortly considering that Saturn's Redline set of vehicles are growing in popularity. And the Ecotec engines are stout little buggers that pretty decent power can be squeezed out of. I just hope they opt for a turbo instead of a supercharger when they do boost the thing.

meh that motor is already avaiable as the 2.0t in the saab 9-3. given that saab 3.0t manifolds bolt right upto the catera 3.0 and cts 3.2 motors (because they are the same motor) i doubt there will be much issue in turboing that motor.

I've never met a Saturn I liked, this one could change my mind. I'd have to drive it.

Very nice! Normally like flat trunks on convertibles, but its not too badly done here. Love the rising front fenders flowing into the headlights. Wild front end! Great steering wheel, reminds me of my Accord's. If Saturn keeps making cars like this, I might even go back to buying domestic... :p

Im with you on this one, prolly the only Saturn id drive. It is dent resistant right?

its an OPEL...............rebadged

is it opel, or is it kappa? i believe the Aisin 5 speed is the same tha used in the 3.2 cts and thats a longitudinal tranny. i believe getrag is supplying the transverse transmissions used in the opel/vauxhall roadster.

Now thata nice looking car...........For once

hope it still comes with dent resistent doors...

At least it can't be much worse than the other Saturns. As a previous owner of one for 6 years, I can honestly say it was the worst car I ever owned. You should never have to turn off the air conditioning to get enough power to merge on to the freeway.

This car has a nice look but like wrongfullyaccuzd, I would have to drive it first.

Looks good. Reminds me of the Dodge Copperhead concept.

The Saturn emblem looks terribly out of place! They should just call it a Kappa so people don't get confused.

I think it's a great looking car... not something I would consider a Saturn if seen on the street without knowing, but hey I like it.

Technically no but bean counters tend to ruin even the most logical of plans.

GM is trying to move Saturn upscale a little bit and I think they'd have to bludgeon the people at Saturn with a crowbar before they let go of such a hot little number.

I always thought the Saturn logo looked stylish and dynamic, and totally out of place on their cookie-cutter cars...

Don't all saturns :hmm:

I would buy this if it had a Saab nameplate. Maybe if it had a Chevy badge. But definitely not as a Saturn. I just...couldn't live with myself.

Oh, and I wouldn't call 170hp 'blistering performance'. More like a moderate tug. Perhaps squeezing a 250hp turbo'ed four-banger and putting a Saab sign on the grill, and it would be buyable.

You'd buy a Saab with a straight face? :) But like I said on another board...if you were embarassed of it...just debadge it and you are good to go.

Personally I'd ride it in pride. If somebody in something less than a Vette tried to give me grief I'd say...

Yes it's a Saturn and yes it looks better than your car.

Now as far as the performance goes it should have a horsepower to weight ratio better than that of a Miata.

Haha, my friend has a Saturn Ion, and yup, it's 100% dent resistent. However if you hit it with a small enough punch of something with alot of force you'll put a hole right through the plastic panel. I have no idea how she did that... women drivers....

/brace for flames

LMAO there is stuff my GF has done to my cars that I don't know how she did them.... :lol:

What's with all the Saturn haters? We have a '97 Saturn that all I've ever had to do it was replace the coolant (temperature) sensor. Ooohh...a whopping $26.00. And I've replaced the front and rear brakes. But, that's primarily because Mrs. O'Rights is damn hard on brakes. Overall, I'd say it's good quality little car. No frills, to be sure, but I didn't pay for them either.

In my book, Saturn rides right along with Kia in the "laughable" car category. Hyundai has worked their butts off to get out of that, and they've finally made it to a respectable level. Maybe Saturn will, too, one day. It's just that they're going from little econo-boxes to a super-car Lotus lookalike. It's a big jump for a little puppy.


By the way, Lockjaw, what's wrong with Saabs? I've never driven a Saab that I didn't love (though I wouldn't buy one, since they're made by GM now, too...my most hated of all car companies).

Nothing wrong with Saab's I just still envision a preppy baby boomer whenever I see a Saab. Kind of like I used to envision Volvo but at least Volvo's look good now.
Saturn IMO is already beyond Hyundai on the pecking order based on the Ion and the Ion Redline alone.

Miata competition eh?

But Miata is a chick car that doesn't look like a chick car to me! :hmm:

I'm with you Bill O'Rights. I'm on my third Saturn and I love the way they drive and hold up. Michigan winters can be absolutley HELL on a vehicle and all three have held up very well. I've had less work done on them then any of my GM vehicles.

The new roadster looks quite cool. I'd like one.

you realize gm has held 50% of the company since 1990 right? they fully bought it in 2000. all you have to do is compare the 9000 with the 9-5 to the positive influence of that merger.

Thats what I was thinking, has a decent engine in it. If gm can keep the price down, it'll do well.

Ok, Ok, Ok. I like the lines, curves, and even the interior, but who let saturn put their logo on the car...

I'd say it looks more like a Vauxhall VX than an Opel.

I'd but it if they had a turbo model.

Eh, those two cars are clones too, both GM-made

As far as I'm aware, it's not a rebadged opel, it's a rebadged Kappa concept car, same as the new Pontiac Solstice and the concept only Chevy Nomad (I think it was called nomad, could be wrong). I still want to see curb weight list for one of them before I start comparing them to Miata's, especially since the Miata now has a turbo in it's Mazdaspeed form. It may only be making 178Hp in stock trim, but since it's already turbo'd, adding more power is relatively easy.

I'm still waiting for someone to make an inexpensive two-seater that's a hard top. Mazda may bring over their Miata coupe from Japan, but they haven't yet.The re-released Toyota MR-2 was a soft top, and now so are the new Pontiac/Saturn kappa's. I don't want a convertible on my 'performance' car, I want a hard top, and everyone has failed me thus far. (considering only new cars, not the older MR2's that got dropped in 1995)

It's supposed to be around 2800 lbs so it's a bit heavier than a Miata it is more powerful when you compare the base models of the two cars. The Mazdaspeed Miata would more accurately be compared to the inevitable Redline Sky. And don't doubt for a second they won't put some power in this car. The Saturn Aura,Saturn's version of the G6, will be getting a Redline version with 300 horsepower. We probably won't see a turbo but definately a supercharged version.

I know they are trying to change their image but to me buying a Saturn is the equivalent of shopping for an appliance. you buy one because it is reliable and inexpensive and to me a car should be bought for emotional as well as financial reasons.

Id have to say it does resemble the Opel Speedster quite remarkably.

sweet lines, but still a saturn. :(

I think its cool looking. Saturn could really make a move into the sports/coupe type of market if this works out well. 2007 also happens to be the year when my favorite line of car enters the us. The OTHER skyline. NISSAN SKYLINE! Based on a revamped 350z platform.