After the original Sky from Detroit in 2002 and
last year's Curve concept (an Audi Rosemeyer rip-off penned in GM's Advanced Design Centre in Sweden), Saturn has finally bit the bullet with a vehicle a car enthusiast would not be embarrassed to drive.
Built on the same Kappa rear-wheel-drive platform as the Pontiac Solstice, and the similarly styled Vauxhall Lightning concept, The General is making no bones about moving Saturn upscale by investing $3 billion in future products. It looks like Pontiac dealers have lost their patent on "excitement", eh?
The Saturn Sky goes on sale late 2005 in the US at a price of about US$26,000 (only £14,000). Competitors include the Mazda Miata (MX-5 over here, and due for replacement this year) and the Pontiac Solstice. There is a slim chance that there will be a Vauxhall derivative of the Sky, but don't hold your breath.
John LeBlanc - 21 Jan 2005