Saturn Announces New 2006 Midsize Sedan to Replace Defunct L-Series

Manufacturing Saturns outside of the nameplate's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant and Wilmington plant near Newport, Delaware is

Saturn's upcoming Relay minivan was the first to be announced with steel body panels instead of the polymer panels the brand has become known for. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

part of a recent GM trend to more fully integrate the import-fighting brand into the domestic automaker's fold, with hopes to increase build quality. Saturn's upcoming Relay minivan was the first to be announced with steel body panels, replacing the polymer panels that all Saturns have featured as a unique buying proposition since the brand's inception. The Relay will be built alongside the Buick Terrazza, Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana SV6 in GM's Doraville Assembly Plant near Atlanta, Georgia.

In the next 18 to 20 months, GM will announce plans to increase Saturn's product offensive twofold, from its current three model lineup to six. Some analysts expect a sport coupe based on the Curve concept to be one of the production announcements.