Saturn Sky

The Saturn Sky is a roadster automobile which will go on sale in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa platform shared with the Pontiac Solstice. The Sky concept was shown at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, with the production version following at the 2006 show. It will be built at GM's Wilmington, Delaware plant, alongside the Solstice and the Opel GT. The Sky features 18 in (457 mm) wheels and a 2.4 L Ecotec LE5 I4 engine that produces 177 hp (132 kW). Manual and automatic transmissions are available, both with five gears.

The styling for the Sky, penned by Franz von Holzhausen, is based on the British Vauxhall VX Lightning design. It will be available in the UK as the Vauxhall VX Lightning, in some other European markets as the Opel GT, and in Korea as the Daewoo G2X. The Solstice, Sky, and GT are built in Delaware; the G2X will be produced by GMDAT in Korea. The aggressive styling has garnered praise as a welcome departure from the typical, conservative "Saturn look".

The Sky is priced at US $23,690 (CA $31,665) with a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic will cost US $24,540.

Models

Trim	Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission
Base	2.4 L LE5 I4	177 hp (132 kW)	170 ft·lbf (230 N·m)	5-speed Aisin AR-5 manual (Optional 5-speed GM 5L40-E automatic)
Red Line	2.0 L LNF I4	260 hp (194 kW)	260 ft·lbf (353 N·m)

Specifications

In the June 2006 issue of Car and Driver Magazine, a test of the 2007 Saturn Sky posted numbers that are respectable in the sports convertable market, but are not as quick as those of the Mazda MX-5 or its Kappa sister, the Pontiac Solstice.

• 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h): 7.3 seconds
• 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h): 21.9 seconds
• 5-60 mph (8-96 km/h): 7.7 seconds
• 1/4 mile: 15.9 seconds @ 88 mph (141 km/h)
• Top speed (estimated by Car and Driver): 123 mph (197 km/h)
• 70-0 mph braking: 174 ft
• 300 ft skidpad: 0.86 g
• EPA fuel economy: 20 mpg city/28 highway

Red Line

A Red Line model of the Sky was introduced on April 11, 2006 at the New York Auto Show. It uses the same 260 hp (194 kW) turbocharged Ecotec engine as the Solstice GXP, as well as the same standard 5-speed Aisin manual transmission. An automatic transmission is optional.

The Red Line will get a standard torque-sensing limitied-slip differential, standard StabiliTrak stability control, and an enhanced sport suspension over the standard Sky (currently avalible as a dealer-add on for regular Skys). Other exterior enhancements include dual exhausts, 18 in wheels, and a specific front fascia modeled for the Red Line. On the inside the Red Line will receive a special leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, special embroidery on the seats and floormats, metallic door sill covers and stainless steel pedals, special tachometer and guages, and a digital boost gauge in the Driver Information Center.

Prices start $27,895 for the Red Line model, which will arrive in Saturn dealers in the fall of 2006.

See also

• Vauxhall VX220 and Opel Speedster, the European-markets predecessors, both based on the Lotus Elise and built by Lotus Cars.

External links

• 2007 Saturn Sky Redline Forums and Info
• Saturn Sky Discussion Area
• Vauxhall VX Lightning