Also, Johnson Controls (GM's vehicle interior "integrator" on the new minivans) will supply their new overhead storage rail system which allows customers the flexibility to personalize their vehicles with any number of dealer-supplied bins. These 305 mm (12-inch) wide, 229 mm (9-inch) deep bins snap on and off of the overhead rails with ease and can be used to hold sunglasses, MP3 players, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), a first-aid kit, flashlights, or a portable DVD player and screen.
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| The new overhead storage rail system allows customers the flexibility to personalize their vehicles. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Bucking rivals, Uplander's third row seat folds flat on top of the floor. With the lids to the van's storage compartment closed, a flat floor can be created up to the second row of seats. The second row can fold down and flipped forward for additional room as well. Both the cargo system and seats can be removed for added cargo capacity.
"We think this is a better solution rather than having a third row seat that folds into a well," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president for sales, service and marketing while introducing the Saturn Relay, which will share the same seating system as the Uplander.
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| The Uplander might be the vehicle that changes perceptions about GM in the minivan sector. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
"You don't have to pull stuff out of the well and put on ground to flip seat into well. And when you need the extra storage, you can remove the storage unit and the seats."
Production of the Uplander, along with its Buick, Saturn and Pontiac siblings, will start during the fourth quarter of 2004 at the GM Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia. The plant has a maximum capacity of 250,000 units, which will be divided among the four models.