GM chairman RickWagoner recently promised that the company's Saturn division would broaden itsmodel range and price structure to move upscale a little to take on such importbrands as Honda and VW, and now the company is showing a sketch of one of thevehicles that will help take it there.
When thetwo-seat, rear-drive Sky roadster makes its official debut at the Detroit auto show in earlyJanuary, it will also showcase the design direction Saturn will take with itsnext generation of models over the next two years.
Along with theproduction Sky, the Detroit auto show will also give consumers a first look at a concept for the nextmid-size Saturn sedan, that will go into production in mid-2006.
Sky itself willnot appear in Saturn stores until early 2006, and a mid-size sport-wagon willfollow later in 2006, as a 2007.
''The new formvocabulary of Saturn has been influenced by GM's design talent from around theglobe,'' says Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Design. ''Taut, controlled linescombine with harmonious and fluid surfacing to create a technical and dynamicfeel.''
While the productionversion of Saturn's two-seat roadster will be the same as a concept model that wasshown in 2002, Welburn says there is ''no design link between the two vehicles.''
As for Saturn'sfuture price positioning, Wagoner said it would probably cost a little morethan GM's Chevrolet line but not as much as Honda or VW.
Whatever elsehappens, Saturn has no intention of giving up the no-dicker, low-impact salesphilosophy that made it successful in the first place. photo: General Motors
When thetwo-seat, rear-drive Sky roadster makes its official debut at the
Along with theproduction Sky, the
Sky itself willnot appear in Saturn stores until early 2006, and a mid-size sport-wagon willfollow later in 2006, as a 2007.
''The new formvocabulary of Saturn has been influenced by GM's design talent from around theglobe,'' says Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Design. ''Taut, controlled linescombine with harmonious and fluid surfacing to create a technical and dynamicfeel.''
While the productionversion of Saturn's two-seat roadster will be the same as a concept model that wasshown in 2002, Welburn says there is ''no design link between the two vehicles.''
As for Saturn'sfuture price positioning, Wagoner said it would probably cost a little morethan GM's Chevrolet line but not as much as Honda or VW.
Whatever elsehappens, Saturn has no intention of giving up the no-dicker, low-impact salesphilosophy that made it successful in the first place. photo: General Motors