Saturn SC2 is the short name from the sports coupe level of the first division of Saturn vehicles produced at the beginning of the 90s. The launching of the S Series by General Motors came a smart plan to diminish the impact of the Japanese imports on the American market. After Saturn SC2 became a market hit, Japan and Taiwan actually began imports of these vehicles on their markets, which only proves that the fame General Motors reputed for the Saturn S Series was of international magnitude. In the years following the release, no improvements have been made to Saturn SC2, upgrades appeared as late as 1999.

Saturn Sc2

A suicide door was added on the lateral back of the Saturn SC2 model on the driver’s part. In the case of the SC design, this extra feature was a big change as it was a sure change in the manufacturing of sports cars. Only cab pickup trucks had such a lateral door, and no other regular vehicle use one. The manufacturing of Saturn SC2 continued until 2003 when GM took the decision of replacing the S Series with a new smarter model, Saturn Ion. The production of this latter model also ceased in 2007 as well when GM chose a new market approach.

Saturn Sc2

Saturn SC2 was also remarkable by the manual transmission that triggered a very efficient fuel consume. One gallon of gas was enough for forty miles according to the ratings and the data in the Saturn SC2 highway tests. This initial engine was rated at only 124 horsepower, but in 1995 upgrades were made to the initial SC model: thus, the producer incorporated a lid reflector in the trunk and further added a lower front bumper; yet the cabin decorations were not neglected either. Exterior design changes appeared with a second generation of SC2, which got more daring curve lines.

Saturn Sc2

According to reviews Saturn SC2 was not very different from SC1, the latter only received black outside mirrors while the SC2 variant remained with colored ones. Saturn SC2 came with standard fog lamps, anti-break lock was optional and it also had some kind of traction control. Then, as for the manual transmission, Saturn SC2 and SC1 were identical, and the same similarity was preserved in the dashboard look, daytime running lights and even wheelbase. The improvements of Saturn SC2 were inspired by the sedan and station wagon models produced by General Motors.

Saturn Sky surely makes a surprising differentiation from the traditional Saturn car concept: we are talking about the first sports car in the division with an immense market success. Saturn Sky is a very new brand in the Saturn group, even if it shares some of its features with Pontiac Solstice and Opel GT: this is the case with the Kappa automobile platform that is present with all the three GM designs.

Saturn Sky

Saturn Sky comes with 18 inch wheels and two forms of motorization: you can go for the 177 horsepower Ecotec LE5 engine or the turbocharged one that produces no less than 260 horsepower. Further on, Saturn Sky brings two types of transmission, manual and automatic, and this difference reflects in the price of the vehicles too. The model produced in the Red Line is definitely more expensive with a price of about $30,000; yet the five speed automatic variant is almost $5,000 cheaper.

Saturn Sky

What is there additional in the Red Line Saturn Sky? There is a better suspension over the average quality present with the basic Saturn Sky model, plus, plus, there have been improvements made in the stability control system. Dual exhausts, unique leather design in the cabin with special tachometer and digital control panel are just a few other features of the Saturn Sky Red Line variant available since the end of 2006. Add on options are found with the dealers in case you want to enhance some specificity of a standard Saturn Sky, and this applies very well to the improvement of the suspension.

Conversions of the Saturn Sky into more powerful vehicles is well accomplished by Mallet Cars, Ohio who have registered exceptional results with the adjustment of the car with a V8 engine. Thus the horsepower outcome is higher than 400 with the turbocharged versions overpassing 750 horsepower. Other possible Saturn Sky configurations apply to the torque or the brakes that can be replaced with some custom-made ones.

Saturn Sky

Furthermore, Saturn Sky has been subjected to electric conversions, or at least efforts are being made in that direction by teams interested in making it more price convenient as a fuel-free vehicle. No fuel consume, but the same great feeling a sports car gives? That really sounds awesome!. Needless to say that a V8 Saturn Sky engine has a high gas consume, which is surely alarming for environmentalists. Given the ever stricter need to use the planet resources wisely, time may come when fuel-powered engines be banned from car production.

The impressive sales of Saturn Aura allowed for this mid-sized car to get in the top of the best cars produced by General Motors. The popularity of the concept became apparent in 2006 when it was made public at the New York Auto Show, and though it was meant as a replacement for the Saturn L-series, Saturn Aura brings a breath of fresh air to the entire Saturn collection. The consequence of this new direction is market preference for American cars instead of European imports particularly since in recent years the focus has fallen on the latter in the United States. Saturn Aura thus rivals with its distant relative: the European Opel Vectra.

Saturn Aura

The standard Saturn Aura includes folding mirrors and side marker lights, and these design features are clearly an imitation of European car design. The other aesthetic details make Saturn Aura a nice and good car with 17 or 18 inch wheels and all season tires in both the XR or XE models. The improvements in car appearance are relevant for the structure of the cabin too; now Saturn Aura allows the buyer a choice for saddle leather seats and back seat radio control. Yet, despite the real advantages in the standard model, Saturn Aura has been bad-mouthed for the quality of the materials used in the interior.

Saturn Aura

The technical features include an ABS system for all the four wheels, heated seats and both lateral and frontal airbags, with all these elements present on the standard models. Saturn Aura also spoils its users with 224 horsepower for a 3.5 liter V6 engine. The difference between Saturn Aura XR and XE becomes noticeable in the properties of the suspensions: thus Saturn Aura XE has soft suspensions while Aura XR has more rigid sportier ones. Moreover, this concept gap is further reflected in the price of the car with the soft variant coming cheaper.

Saturn Aura

Saturn Aura is also available in the hybrid environment friendly form following the green line traits. It relies on a belt alternation system and it has the same system of suspension as the gas-fueled XE models. This hybrid design brings 164 horsepower and the advantage of an important improvement in terms of fuel consume. In order to encourage the purchase of ecological cars so as to save or preserve the environment, governmental laws regulate a $1,300 tax credit drop. This means that after you buy the Saturn Aura hybrid you’ll save the above mentioned sum that you’d otherwise pay for taxes.