Saturn Ion Review

2004 Saturn Ion 2.2 L Ecotec Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Engine 16 ...

Press Release:

Bringing a new charge into the small-car segment, the 2003 Saturn ION sets itself apart from competitors with innovative features, unique personalization opportunities and surprising levels of safety, sophistication and fun.

New from the ground up, the front-wheel-drive ION sedan and quad coupe models replace the pioneering S-Series in Saturn’s lineup. The four-door sedan debuts in the fourth quarter of 2002, followed by introduction of the quad coupe in early 2003. The new models were designed to compete head-on with the best cars in the segment. Among the customer-friendly features are a larger exterior, more interior room, a new powertrain, enhanced ride, and responsive, sporty handling.

The ION sedan and quad coupe – so named because it features dual rear-access doors (RADs) – will play an important part in GM’s entry-level strategy. The dual RADs are an industry first, effectively creating a new category of vehicle and providing customers with unmatched functionality without compromising the coupe’s sleek lines.

‘The ION will bring new energy to the small-car segment,’ said Jill Lajdziak, vice president of Saturn Sales, Service and Marketing. ‘We developed these new models to appeal specifically to young customers by offering them more – more sophistication, more content, more fun and more functionality.’

While siblings, the sedan and quad coupe use distinct exterior styling cues. The ION sedan brings a refined, sophisticated, contemporary look to the segment. The ION quad coupe, including its RADs on both the driver and passenger sides, exudes an overall sporty flair. Both maintain the Saturn tradition of polymer side panels, which incorporate the integral Saturn upswept ‘swoosh’ body-side styling element.

In line with reaching out to younger customers, the ION sedan and quad coupe make personalization easy by offering personal-accents kits in a variety of styles and colors. These kits include unique, interchangeable exterior roof-rail kits that are color-coordinated with interior trim kits.

SMALL-CAR SEGMENT The Saturn ION sedan and quad coupe will compete in a small-car segment that accounts for sales of more than two million units per year, which is about 14 percent of the total U.S. new vehicles market, and 28 percent of the Canadian market. Approximately 30 percent of small-car purchasers are first-time new vehicle buyers. The ION models continue Saturn’s legacy of offering innovative small cars – competing primarily with Asian imports – that target a more educated, informed, and safety- and quality-conscious consumer.

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