If actor/director Mel Gibson is looking for passionate ways to retweak his recently maligned celebrity persona which has experienced a public relations beating of late, he just may want to drop a call to the folks at General Motors' Saturn division. All of a sudden, Saturn is the talk of the town....and the talk is good.
Saturn's newest two-door entry, the 2007-model year Sky roadster, is light years ahead of where Saturn products and thinking were in 1991, the division's first full year of sales. During its formative years, Saturn was a company selling small, well warranted vehicles aimed at battling fuel-efficient import competitors. While the fledgling division scored points with the buying public thanks to the 'no hassle' new-car pricing (which continues today), styling and sizzle was in short supply. Coupes and sedans resembled rebadged Chevrolet products while a folksy television campaignemphasized corporate branding while sometimes overlooking the merits of the cars.
Throughout most of the 1990s, Saturn stuck to its guns about catering to the small-car market and was slow to offer a selection of 'move-up' vehicles enabling satisfied shoppers to stay within the Saturn family when their needs changed and families started to grow. The 'move up' strategy did wonders for Toyota and Honda sales in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, so why was Saturn so hesitant? It took a decade and a half, but Saturn now has a head-turning convertible spicing up a 2007 model year which has twice as many vehicles as the 2006 model line.
The much anticipated rear-wheel-drive Sky roadster put a smile or two on the motoring media when it made its debut as a concept car during the 2005 Auto Show circuit. In a pleasant twist of fate, the actual production car looks just as good, if not more striking, than the concept.
The two-door Sky shares an automotive platform with the sporty Pontiac Solstice, which made its debut a year earlier in the 2006 model year, but the two are visually distinct. The Solstice has smoother front and rear exterior contours while Sky utilizes an edgier look. More than one observer has noted that Solstice could pass for the younger brother of the long-running Chevrolet Corvette.
But that's where the similarity ends. A 2006 V-8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 cranks out 505 horsepower. Sky isn't quite as aggressive. Like the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky base editions come with a standard 2.4-liter, inline four-cylinder engine cranking out 177 horsepower. Premium fuel is recommended, but not required. Keep in mind, however, the Z06 will set bank accounts back $65,000.
Don't have $65,000 to spare? How about $23,115, the starting price of a nicely equipped 2007 Sky.
Built in Wilmington Delaware, Sky creates a sports car feel with a very low to the ground cloth covered bucket seats. Strong knees and back are needed to enter and exit on a regular basis, yet another reason to stay in shape. Seats are supportive and leg room is decent, but as with many two seat roadsters, it's a cozy cockpit feel. With the top up, those under 6-feet, four- inches will have head room to spare. With the top stowed, the Sky's the limit.
The instrument panel has two large, deep set gauges (speedometer, tachometer) with a smaller third fuel gauge in between towards the top. Sky has much more of a quality interior look than many earlier Saturns. The center console with three easy-to-grab ventilation dials on top and GM's newly design upgraded stereo with large center volume knob and two rows of push buttons looks like it would be home in a Cadillac. The floor-mounted transmission shifter is surrounded by brushed aluminum highlights.
Some minor Sky inconveniences which were are also found in the Pontiac Solstice include two beverage holders actually behind and in between the two bucket seats. To grab a can of soda while driving, one must reach across the body with the left hand. Above the retractable beverage holder is a small storage bin with twist-open knob. It's not big enough for a conventional purse but it will hold a small paperback. Storage nooks that pull out from the dash or in between the bucket seats for loose change or other small items are noticeably a.w.o.l.
Small chrome door handles are high on the side door panels while power window and mirror controls are low on the driver's door. The most convenient way for drivers to operate this is by reaching over with his or her right hand; not very user friendly.
The large, hand-operated parking brake is in between the bucket seat. Standard cruise control is on the three-spoke steering wheel at the 3 o'clock position. Front windshield wipers monitor from a right-side steering column stalk while headlights operate via a twisting action of the turn signal stalk. The rear window is sturdy glass (not plastic) and includes a defroster.
Other notable standard items are air conditioning, antilock brakes, electronic brake distribution, power locks and windows, power mirrors, compact disc player and remote keyless entry. While dual front air bags are standard, side air bags are not offered.
The manual black soft top folds up and down relatively easily, but if one person is doing the task solo, it will require walking from one side of the vehicle to the other to properly align the top when closing.
To open, the trunk's claim-shell deck-lid trunk, hinged towards the bumper end, lifts up from the rear window area (the front hood, hinged towards the front bumper, also opens in a claim-shell style). This deck lid must first be popped open via a key fob or glove box push button before the canvas top bi-folds into the trunk. Unlocking the trunk also automatically unlatches canvas top roof extensions from their mountings on the decklid. With the deck cover up, a single interior latch handle above the rear-view mirror twists counterclockwise to unhook the canvas top from its frontmoorings. Once unlatched, the top manually stows behind the seats after which the decklid may then be closed.
With the top down, truck storage becomes virtually non existent. Even with the top up, a small duffel bag or two is all that's going to squeeze in.
To raise the top, the deck lid must be popped open to unfold the roof and guide it towards the two mooring receptacles above the windshield. The single handle above the rear view mirror is twisted to latch the roof in front. Once the decklid is shut, the two rear canvas extensions snap onto the decklid's top.
The sharp exterior includes air scoops/vents on the sides and hood, although their mostly for show. The circular fuel tank door is on the driver's side rear fender. The whip radio antenna rests atop the fender on the other side and door handles are chrome plated. Side-view mirrors are body colored. Five-spoke aluminum wheels and large 18-inch all-season tires stand out on this diminutive product. The long hood incorporates cat's eye headlight housing on each side.
The only options our test Sky featured was a $850 five-speed automatic transmission (replacing the standard five-speed manual) and a $590 upgraded stereo with compact disc and MP3 capabilities. The bottom line ended up at $25,130 including a $575 destination charge. Starting price was $23,115. Base price for the Pontiac Solstice is a couple of thousand dollars less, but Sky comes with a few more standard features.
Fuel estimates are average at best for a four cylinder engine. Expect 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 m.p.g. highway. The tank holds 13 gallons.
With a relatively svelte 2,933 curb weight, Sky has a decent first step. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder is adequate, but may not quite match Sky's macho good looks. For those seeking extra punch, a Sky Red Line edition is also available sporting a performance-tuned suspension, dual exhaust (instead of one in base models) and a 260-horsepower, direct injection 2.0-liter turbo engine. Red Line starts a few buck more at $27,295. Solstice also offers this engine in its new-for 2007 GXP edition, a power source not available in 2006.
So far, approximately 3,800 Sky roadsters have been sold since spring, with a mix of 60 percent Red Line editions, and 40 percent base models.
Here in Chicagoland, Sky would make a great second or third car. Because of limited room and storage capacity, even a swinging single would be hard pressed to make this a daily driver. But Sky is an attention grabber. More than one query was made when stopped at an intersection from fellow road warriors as to the make and manufacturer of the spunky two-seater during the weeklong test drive.
Sky is one of several new 2007 model year products. In 2006, the Saturn lineup featured basically three vehicles: the compact Ion, Relay minivan and the Vue, a mid-sized car-based sport utility (all three return in 2007). Joining Sky in 2007 are the 2007 Saturn Outlook, a four-door crossover hatchback with three rows of seats and a gas-electric hybrid of the Vue dubbed the Vue Green Line. Also coming on board is the 2007 Aura a new mid-size sports sedan. |