"2007 Sky could be a wonder car for Saturn"

Discussion in 'Saturn Sky' started by Mike, Jun 10, 2006.

  1. Mike

    Mike Guest

    2007 Sky could be a wonder car for Saturn
    By Connie Keane
    MOTOR MATTERS
    Published June 9, 2006

    The Saturn Sky is turning heads. The 2007 roadster is so well-styled
    people are incredulously stopping and asking, "Is that a Saturn?"
    I was asked that question countless times during my week with the
    Sky. Saturn is out to make a strong statement about its new design
    direction for its entire brand. Company executives want the European
    look and they've come right out and said so: The Sky signals a new
    European-influenced design language for Saturn. "The European influence
    is integral in Saturn's design," says Clay Dean, company design
    director.
    As soon as I saw the Sky I noticed its remarkable likeness to the
    BMW Z roadster. My neighbor drives a Z, so I pulled the Sky alongside
    it to make visual comparisons. The Saturn has a more American
    muscle-car look working for it. The front end is bold and the shoulders
    are huge with flared wheel wells.
    The Saturn Sky has a base price of $23,115 and features a 16-valve,
    2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual
    transmission. A five-speed automatic transmission is available as an
    option. The test car had $2,460 in optional equipment and a $575
    destination charge, bringing the as-tested price to $26,150.
    The options made the Sky look like a performance sports car with
    its black performance sports car with its black and red leather seats,
    leather-wrapped steering wheel, stainless-steel clutch, brake and gas
    pedals, and 18-inch chrome-plated aluminum wheels.
    The Sky is a rear-wheel-drive two-seater that generates 177
    horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 166 foot-pounds of torque. The roadster is
    rated to achieve 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on the
    highway. The subcompact Sky has a short wheelbase of 98 inches and
    stands just 50 inches high.
    You have to love being close to the road if you're going to spend
    much time behind the wheel of the Sky.
    I suspect the low-to-the-ground Sky will be a second or third
    vehicle in the garage of its owners. It's a great fair-weather weekend
    day-trip car. It won't carry your luggage.
    With the top down, there is no cargo space. With the top up,
    there's very little cargo room.
    The flip-top is operated manually. It's not as simple as tossing
    the top back as with the Mazda Miata, but there's nothing difficult
    about using the Sky's top. It was very simple for me to handle.
    I popped the trunk release on the key fob to disengage the soft
    top's two latches from the rear deck lid, released the center-mounted
    top latch above the rearview mirror, then stepped out of the vehicle to
    fold the soft top, tuck it away in the trunk and close the rear lid.
    The top is neatly hidden away leaving a clean flow of sheet metal.
    I think some drivers are awaiting the autumn arrival of the
    high-performance Sky. One man stopped me outside the grocery store to
    admire the Sky and said, "I hear they're coming out with a real fast
    one."
    He was referring to the upcoming turbocharged Sky Red Line. This
    roadster will have red-hot performance to match its hot-looking
    exterior styling. The 2007 Sky Red Line has a preliminary horsepower
    rating of 260 at 5,300 rpm and 260 foot-pounds of torque at just 2,500
    rpm and a performance-tuned suspension.
    The Sky Red Line will have unique exterior differences that will
    set it apart as a performance version of the roadster.
    Standard safety equipment on the Sky includes OnStar, dual-front
    air bags and anti-lock brakes.
    And when it debuts this fall, the Sky Red Line will come equipped
    with StabiliTrak electronic stability control.
     
    Mike, Jun 10, 2006
    #1
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