Saturn seriously wants prospective buyers of its forthcoming SUV to know that it will come with lots of customization opportunities, which the company hopes will play up the vehicle's inherent versatility.
So the GM division has cooked up a couple of specialized versions of VUE to underscore that point and promised to make the additional parts available when it goes on sale in 2002 as a 2003 model.
Focussing on "outdoor" and "urban" themes, the vehicles are meant to "showcase the breadth of retail installed accessories and after-market customization opportunities planned for the vehicle."
That's the view of Jill Lajdziak, vice president of Saturn sales, service and marketing, who adds that "These lifestyle vehicles are great examples of the flexibility and broad appeal that we envision for the Saturn VUE."
Lajdziak believes that "Customization is an important factor among automotive buyers in today's marketplace. In fact, specialty accessories and appearance products alone represent the largest growth segment of aftermarket products, with sales more than doubling from US$1.8 billion to nearly US$4 billion in the past decade."
As a result, she says "The ability to customize a vehicle is especially important in the entry vehicle segment and among younger buyers with active lifestyles," which is why she wants her company to be ready when VUE debuts next year.
Lajdziak says "The outdoor expression version of the Saturn VUE caters to the spirit of adventurous activities such as camping, canoeing and mountain biking. It is designed to reinforce the VUE's capabilities as a genuine light-duty off-road vehicle that can 'get up and go' while carrying a variety of gear."
Exterior features on the outdoor VUE include a brush bar, 16-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a prominent roof rack. Interior features include a rubberized cargo area and floor covering, Ostrich leather accents, and a handheld GPS unit that also plugs into the vehicle.
Similar retail installed accessories will be available upon start of production for the VUE, Lajkziak promises.
VUE's urban expression gets 18-inch wheels, performance tires, and suspension modifications that lower the vehicle approximately 5 cm "for a bold stance." It also has modified front and rear fascias, an integrated spoiler and a three-panel sunroof. Inside, urban VUE gets an integrated navigation system and a rear seat video games system.
"This show vehicle represents the popular customization trends of younger owners," Lajdziak says, so "following the introduction of the VUE, Saturn will work with several aftermarket companies to promote the customization opportunities for the vehicle."
Saturn's objective for the launch of the VUE is nothing less than "new perspectives on the SUV," and Lajdziak thinks these two vehicles "vividly demonstrate a different kind of sport utility. The fresh, contemporary design of the Saturn VUE, along with its base MSRP of under $20,000 in the U.S. (Canadian price objectives are not known), will enable customers to affordably personalize or customize their vehicle when it hits the market later this year."
The Saturn VUE will boast a variety of unique features, Lajdziak points out, including the most powertrain options in the compact utility segment (including a continuously variable transmission or CVT), dent-resistant polymer panels, a low step-in height made possible by its space frame construction, car-friendly bumpers, one-hand operation fold-flat seats, and Saturn's head curtain side air bags.
The unveiling of these specialized versions of the Saturn VUE is part of "an ongoing marketing program to build enthusiasm among potential customers as Saturn expands its line-up with this larger, innovative entry."
She says that, to date, more than 70,000 people have signed up to receive more information about the Saturn VUE. Anyone else interested in getting periodic updates registering at www.saturn.com.
So the GM division has cooked up a couple of specialized versions of VUE to underscore that point and promised to make the additional parts available when it goes on sale in 2002 as a 2003 model.
Focussing on "outdoor" and "urban" themes, the vehicles are meant to "showcase the breadth of retail installed accessories and after-market customization opportunities planned for the vehicle."
That's the view of Jill Lajdziak, vice president of Saturn sales, service and marketing, who adds that "These lifestyle vehicles are great examples of the flexibility and broad appeal that we envision for the Saturn VUE."
Lajdziak believes that "Customization is an important factor among automotive buyers in today's marketplace. In fact, specialty accessories and appearance products alone represent the largest growth segment of aftermarket products, with sales more than doubling from US$1.8 billion to nearly US$4 billion in the past decade."
As a result, she says "The ability to customize a vehicle is especially important in the entry vehicle segment and among younger buyers with active lifestyles," which is why she wants her company to be ready when VUE debuts next year.
Lajdziak says "The outdoor expression version of the Saturn VUE caters to the spirit of adventurous activities such as camping, canoeing and mountain biking. It is designed to reinforce the VUE's capabilities as a genuine light-duty off-road vehicle that can 'get up and go' while carrying a variety of gear."
Exterior features on the outdoor VUE include a brush bar, 16-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a prominent roof rack. Interior features include a rubberized cargo area and floor covering, Ostrich leather accents, and a handheld GPS unit that also plugs into the vehicle.
Similar retail installed accessories will be available upon start of production for the VUE, Lajkziak promises.
VUE's urban expression gets 18-inch wheels, performance tires, and suspension modifications that lower the vehicle approximately 5 cm "for a bold stance." It also has modified front and rear fascias, an integrated spoiler and a three-panel sunroof. Inside, urban VUE gets an integrated navigation system and a rear seat video games system.
"This show vehicle represents the popular customization trends of younger owners," Lajdziak says, so "following the introduction of the VUE, Saturn will work with several aftermarket companies to promote the customization opportunities for the vehicle."
Saturn's objective for the launch of the VUE is nothing less than "new perspectives on the SUV," and Lajdziak thinks these two vehicles "vividly demonstrate a different kind of sport utility. The fresh, contemporary design of the Saturn VUE, along with its base MSRP of under $20,000 in the U.S. (Canadian price objectives are not known), will enable customers to affordably personalize or customize their vehicle when it hits the market later this year."
The Saturn VUE will boast a variety of unique features, Lajdziak points out, including the most powertrain options in the compact utility segment (including a continuously variable transmission or CVT), dent-resistant polymer panels, a low step-in height made possible by its space frame construction, car-friendly bumpers, one-hand operation fold-flat seats, and Saturn's head curtain side air bags.
The unveiling of these specialized versions of the Saturn VUE is part of "an ongoing marketing program to build enthusiasm among potential customers as Saturn expands its line-up with this larger, innovative entry."
She says that, to date, more than 70,000 people have signed up to receive more information about the Saturn VUE. Anyone else interested in getting periodic updates registering at www.saturn.com.