Smith said GM research "confirmed that the old assumptions of what young people wanted were definitely outdated. Unlike the generation before it that longed for a two-passenger roadster that looked cool but wasn't very practical, this generation of Saturn buyers was looking for something that was fun and functional."
One of the things Saturn's designers recognized was that Sky had to get people talking, in all senses of the word. Research with potential buyers showed that they "placed a great deal of importance on fostering conversation with their friends," Smith said. "So we looked at fresh approach for Saturn that would lend itself to this idea."
So the "instrumentation is placed in the center of the vehicle where every passenger can see it, and the headrests are arches rather than solid designs so that conversation can flow more easily from the front seat passenger to the back seat passengers."
A versatile seating package allows the Sky to convert easily from a two-place to four-place seating. The extra seats in the rear stow away underneath the tonneau cover when not in use.
Saturn Sky also provides easy entry and exit, Lajdziak pointed out, thanks to a feature that's unique to the brand — a rear access door on the driver's side.
Whether in the Sky or other future production vehicles, Smith said Saturn's design philosophy would be "honest, friendly and intuitive."
The "honest" design comes through in the way the vehicle clearly communicates its intended use and functionality.