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D6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 28, 2002 Dare-to-be-different Saturn ION storms onto the scene By Malcolm Gunn W HEELBASE COMMUNICATIONS If you were looking for out-of-the-box think ing in a com pact car, your search is over. The arrival of the all-new ION promises to finally fulfill Saturn's original mandate of pro viding a breakthrough alternative to the mun dane, the every-day and the norm. It was Roger Smith who said things would be different at Saturn. Back in the 1980s and amid great fanfare, Smith, then head of General Motors, vowed to create a division that would blaze a radically dif ferent trail for the rest o f the automotive indus try to follow. However, the first Saturn-branded vehicles to arrive in dealerships a dozen years ago looked downright conventional. In fact, the original SL four-door sedan resembled a shrunk en version o f the Oldsm obile's popular Cutlass Supreme. Aside from its ding-proof plastic door panels, the most radical thing about Saturn was the friendly, no-haggle approach exhibited by the people who sold them. Still, Satum s have continued to sell reason ably well over the years, despite more intense domestic and import-based competition. The launch of both the mid-size L-series sedans and wagons a few years ago and, most recently, the new Vue sport utility vehicle have given buyers more reasons to stop in for a look-see. However, it's the ION that will have everyone sitting up and taking notice. Replacing the original S-series sedans and wagons, this all-new Saturn will come in two distinct four-door flavours. One is a neat-look ing five-passenger sedan, while the other is a four-passenger `quad-coupe' design that features rear doors that are hinged just ahead of the rear wheels. These half-doors are designed to allow easy access to the back seat (there's no pillar between the front and rear openings to get in the way), a feature originally offered by the threedoor Saturn SC coupes back in 2000. The quad coupe's front passenger-side and rear seat can be folded flat, allowing a variety of bulky items, (oddly, including a small kayak, according to Saturn) to be stored inside. The two latest Satums share G M 's new, but enlarged Delta small-car platform that will show up on future vehicles produced by other divi sions. As a result, the ION is significantly more spacious than the outgoing sedan and has more length, width, height and wheelbase. The exterior styling of the ION takes the long-hood, short-rear-deck approach that's cur rently in vogue, with more distinctive creases and angles than the S-series cars. Inside, the instrument cluster has been relo cated to the middle o f the dash for a couple of very sound reasons: to keep the driver's eyes The exterior styling of the ION takes the long-hood, short-rear-deck approach that's currently in vogue, with more distinctive creases and angles than the S-series cars. more focussed on the road; and allow him or her to tilt the steering wheel at the most comfortable angle without worrying about obstructing the view of the gauges. Under the hood, the ION will receive its ver sion of G M 's 2.2-litre DOHC four-cylinder Ecotec powerplant. This gutsy little motor gen erates 137 horsepower, 13 more than the option al DOHC engine used in the S-series. Completing the powertrain will be one of three transmissions. The base five-speed manual can be upgraded to either a continuously-variable unit on all sedans, while a five-speed auto matic, another compact-car first, will be avail able only on up-level sedans and quad coupes. A host of unique options will be available for the ION, including interchangeable roof rails (the curved band between the roof and the doors) that can be color-coordinated with the trim around the gauges and control panel. Also optional will be a head curtain airbag system, a small-car safety item first pioneered by Saturn. An assortment of dealer-installed options will further tempt potential ION buyers. All told, the dramatically different ION sib lings could be just what Roger Smith had in mind all along, and what will draw even more folks into the Saturn camp. Top: Under the hood, the ION will receive its version of GM 's 2.2-litre DOHC four-cylinder Ecotec powerplant. Above: The Saturn ION is significantly more spacious than the outgoing sedan and has more length, width, height and wheelbase. 2003 Saturn ION Four-door compact sedan and four-door quad coupe. 2.2-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower. Five-speed manual transmission, or optional continuouslyvariable or five-speed automatic. The ION is a significantly larger replacement for the outgoing S-series. The innovative quad coupe model is an ideal alternative to those tight-fitting two-doors out there. Drive Away Lease for /m o ./4 8 m os. $0 d o w n p a y m e n t 1.9% lease ra te 'J / a ' purchase financing up to 48 mos. · A u to m a tic T ran sm issio n · A ir C o n d itio n in g · P o w e r W in d o w s a n d L o ck s · R e m o te K eyless E n tr y · A M /F M S te re o w ith C D · R e a r S p o ile r a n d A lloy W h e e ls · P o ly m e r P a n e ls Saturn 2 0 0 2 M id-Size L I 00 Value Package D R IV E AWAY [.E A S E ON A L L 2 0 0 2 S -S E R I E S A N D L -S E R I E S V E H I C L E S * 0 D ow np aym ent D r iv e A w a y L e a s e fo r S ecu rity D ep o sit *0 $ 0 F irst Lease Paym ent m ade by Saturn Satu rn 2002 S C I 3 -D o o r Coupe $ 1 X 1 . 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These offers are License, registration, insurance, adm inistration fees and taxes are extra, unless statw _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ;paym ent is based on a lease o f 80,000 km over A y ears w ith an e x tra charge of 12 cents per ki m etre over th at distance. Lease an d finance rates apply only to custom ers w ith approved G M A C credit. Exam ple: $10,000 at 0% APR, the m onthly paym ent is $209 for -48 m onths. Cost o f borrow ing $0. Discounts or other incentives may be available^ w hen consum ers opt for a cash purchase price offer. By selecting the purchase financing o r leasing offer, consum ers m ay be foreg u i. i· i· r i · i· i <v .· SL ISA, $7,532 For the 2002 SC I ISA and $§,398 for the 2002 L100 Value Package plus taxes. Rates su SATURN. of Oakville 507 Speers Road (905) 845-1610 wwwbuddssatum.saturncanada.com JjT / "" ^ ^ Q SI .I ,, ib eersFM COMPANY Dudds'