2005 Saturn Relay Preview

Saturn "Switches" Direction with New Relay

Saturn's new mid-size van, the 2005 Relay, not only will offer General Motors' import fighting brand its first minivan, but also represents yet another sign that it is changing direction.

The new 2005 Saturn Relay mid-size van, the first such offering for the brand, has many SUV-like design elements, including a more aggressive looking hood, 17-inch standard wheels, and a distinctive C-pillar behind the sliding rear doors. Customers told General Motors that they wanted something else out of their minivans than the traditional "soccer mom" image. (Photo: Joe Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press)

The Relay is one of four new crossover sports vans (CSV) that GM is fielding off of the same platform in order to improve its minivan market share. The other three CSVs are the Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, and the Pontiac Montana SV6.

All four vans will be built along the same line in the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia, and the Relay foregoes Saturn's polymer door panels (that "bend and flex") for steel, dropping a feature long known for the brand since its beginning.

"It will appeal particularly to those customers who need the versatility of a mid van but have a strong preference for SUV styling." (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

The Relay and the Terraza were first introduced to the automotive media December 4 at the Stage Three Productions facility on the grounds of the former Warren (Mich.) Tank Plant, where military vehicles had been produced since World War II to the early 1990s. The debut of the vans was also broadcast live on the Internet.

The Relay finally provides Saturn customers with a seven-passenger vehicle, said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president for sales, service and marketing. "It will appeal particularly to those customers who need the versatility of a mid van but have a strong preference for SUV styling."