The Fourth DimensION
According to my Concise Oxford dictIONary, an ION is "an atom or group of atoms that has lost one or more electrons."
Judging from Saturn's newest vehicle, the dictIONary editors may be adding a new descriptION in a few years time -- something along the lines of, "an economical, well-designed and innovative vehicle that is easy on the eyes and the wallet."
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| The Saturn ION Quad Coupe at the Detroit Auto Show. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The 2003 Saturn ION is available in two model styles (sedan and quad coupe) with the latter available in two of the sedan's three trim levels (simply identified as 2, and 3 with the ION 1 only available with four full doors). The new models replace the three-door SC1/SC2 models.
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| This clever four-door coupe comes with an optional continuously variable transmission, electro-hydraulic steering, head-curtain side airbags at a price tag starting under $20,000. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
My tester was the ION 3 Quad Coupe, and while coupe implies "a car with a hard roof, esp. one with two seats and a sloping rear" (there's that Oxford again), this coupe has four seats and four doors. The big difference is the two rear doors open towards the rear (sometimes referred to as 'suicide doors').
Just as the GM subsidiary has made a point of doing things a little differently -- from the way Saturns are designed, constructed, sold and marketed -- since bursting onto the crowded auto manufacturing scene a decade ago, the ION coupe comes with a number of unique features. In additION to the clever door design, its optIONal continuously variable transmissION, electro-hydraulic steering, head-curtain side airbags make the ION an economical ride with a price tag under $20,000. And like all Saturns, the ION's body panels are made of rust-proof polymer.