While we were debating the shortcommings of Cavalier in the youth & tuner markets, Saturn is planning to bring out a 200 horsepower Saturn Ion coupe. By comparison, the Neon SR/T has 205 horsepower (Neon & Ion weigh 2645 & 2766 respectively).

http://64.4.8.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_la...dnH%2fandl1845

 

The connection didn't work, so here's the text from Automotive news:

"Sept. 27 -- Don't laugh, but top executives at Saturn plan to introduce a hot rod version.

That's right, Saturn, which began life as a plain vanilla car for people who don't like cars but want to be treated well at the dealership.

Coming in early 2004 is what's know as a "tuner" version of the new Saturn Ion Quad Coupe. It will have a 200-hp engine crammed under the hood and be easily tuned and customized for maximum performance.

And as if that's not enough, those wild and crazy car guys are also talking about a Saturn convertible.

If you tell any current Saturn owners, do it carefully because they might not believe it. And make sure you whisper the news to Marion the Librarian."

Autoweek's story on same subject:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=01341292

 

This ought to be interesting although i can't really picture a saturn being popular in the youth tuner crowd, but then again i've seen some really rediculous kinds of cars in that crowd

 

I think that the Saturn image will kill that car's sales regardless of the performance.

 

I say good for Saturn! It isn't my thing but it's a segment that GM definately has neglected for too long. As far as Saturn's image being detrimental to the car....Honda if I recall was in the very same situation about 10 years ago, having a reputation for good quality, good service, boring "uncool" cars. All it takes is some time for street credibility.

 

I think this is good news and if it works out, it should help to form a distinct "alter-ego" for Saturn and fill in gaps inbetween markets which may not have been covered by GM before

 

It seems as this is round 2 of the muscle car's death, with high insurance rates killing potential owners of V8 musclecars, kids are turning to this $hit. You see it more and more as time goes on. Damn. And now it's time to cater to them to make $. Even if some of these little compacts are quick, it's still just disgusting to hear something that sounds like a rice rocket bike, except with slower revs, making sure it goes thru the entire rpm range of farts very slowly, making sure to annoy everyone within a 1/2 mile radius.

 

Those numbers may look similar, but I highly doubt the Saturn will come close to the quoted performance numbers of the Neon (0-60 in under 6.0 sec). And how are they arriving at 200, supercharger, turbo? Standard 2.2 Ecotec output is 137hp/142lb-ft.

I think this car will stand a fair chance at acceptance; it seems the VUE is being well received despite Saturn's boring reputation. An upgraded appearance to match the performance will attract buyers attention in this segment, which also inculdes the Mazdaspeed Protege and Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V.

BTW, here's the standard version:
Ion Quad Coupe ...just add ground effects, new rims, a fancy wing and boost guages and they should do fine.

 

So is this a turbo engine or a n/a engine?
I would have a lot of respect if this was a n/a engine. 200hp is easy to come by with a turbo on a 130hp engine. I did once read that the Ecotec was an engine with high potential, but it was never tapped into. Share this engine with a hopped up Cavalier and I'd say those were strong efforts into the sport compact market.

 

Saturn has quietly been doing VERY well in One Lap Of America for the last 2 years . Last year I think they finished 13th overall in its class with a of all things a Turbocharged L200 with an ecotec and a manual tranny . They did really well with the coupe they ran the year prior . GM's race program with the Cavalier and Sunfire are producing insane hp #'s for a 4cyl . Last I heard , the turbocharged Cav drag car was making close to 800 hp . I think for GM to get 200 hp out of an ecotec would be a cake walk for them .

 

You could saw the same thing about subaru but the WRX seems to be doing ok. the Ion is also about 10 times better looking than any Subaru and at least Saturn makes coupes.

 

The thing about the Subaru though is that it not onlly filled its own niche in teh market (awd turbo), but many people and enthusiest already knew about the car and its performance. I dunno, but I just see a lot more kids heading down to the Honda\Acura\Toyota dealer before thinking of Saturn. The car will sell some, but I doubt there will be a big rush to get them.

 

They sure have.

What's also sort of neat is that they enter the coupe's support vehicle...a Saturn wagon jammed with spare parts for the coupe and two engineers....in a different class (what a great idea!), and the support vehicle seems to do pretty respectably.


I say GO FOR IT Saturn!!

 

This is hardly a traditional coupe (it has 4 doors!) and while an improvement over the previous car, I don't think this is a car people will flock to over its styling.

lol, and everyone likes to take shots at Subaru's styling all-of-the-sudden! Granted, most of their cars are pretty humble looking, but they are hardly duds like GM's Aztek. Where are the really well-styled cars at GM outside of the Corvette, anyways?? Saturns certainly aren't more inspiring...

 

The Aztek would fit in good at Subaru, it is ugly and is AWD. as far as cars from GM that are good looking other than the Vette, the WS6 Trans Am is one of the sickest looking cars ever made, and all the new Caddy's coming out are bad ***. just wait until all the V-series cars are out!!! I don't know how many of you have made it to one of the big auto shows this year but the Cien was the sweetest car there in NY. (GT40 was also a damn nice ride)