Saturn Sky

Last updated

Saturn Sky
2007 Saturn Sky, front right, 09-09-2023.jpg
2007 Saturn Sky
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Also called
Production2006–2009
Model years 2007–2010
AssemblyUnited States: Wilmington, Delaware (Wilmington Assembly)
Designer Franz von Holzhausen
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door roadster
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform GM Kappa platform/GMX023
Related Pontiac Solstice
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase 95.1 in (2,416 mm)
Length161.1 in (4,092 mm)
Width71.4 in (1,814 mm)
Height50.2 in (1,275 mm)
Curb weight 2,940 lb (1,330 kg) (Base)
3,071 lb (1,393 kg) (Red Line)

The Saturn Sky is a roadster that was produced by Saturn, and was initially released in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa automobile 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 was built at GM's Wilmington Assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside the Solstice. The Sky featured 18-inch (457 mm) wheels and a 2.4  L Ecotec LE5 inline-four engine that produced 177 hp (132 kW), a new 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injected inline-four engine that made 260 hp (194 kW) as well as an optional dealer-installed turbo upgrade kit that made 290 hp (216 kW). Both five-speed manual and automatic transmissions were available.

Contents

The styling for the Sky, penned by Franz von Holzhausen, was based on the Opel Speedster's design. It was available in some European markets as the Opel GT. A rebadged version named the Daewoo G2X was unveiled as a concept vehicle for the South Korean market in 2006. The production version was released in September 2007. [1]

The Wilmington Assembly plant closed in July 2009, ending production as both the Pontiac and Saturn nameplates were retired. [2]

Sky Red Line

Saturn Sky Red Line interior 2009 gray Saturn Sky Red Line steering wheel.JPG
Saturn Sky Red Line interior
2009 Saturn Sky 2009 Saturn Sky in Black, rear left.jpg
2009 Saturn Sky

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 Pontiac Solstice, as well as the same standard 5-speed Aisin manual transmission. An automatic transmission is optional.

The Red Line had a standard torque-sensing limited-slip differential, standard StabiliTrak stability control, and an enhanced sport suspension over the standard Sky (available as a dealer-add on for regular models). Other exterior enhancements included dual exhausts, 18-inch wheels, and a specific front fascia modeled for the Red Line. On the inside, the Red Line had a special leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, special embroidery on the seats and floor mats, metallic door sill covers and stainless steel pedals, special tachometer and gauges, and a digital boost gauge in the Driver Information Center. The Red Line model started shipping in the third quarter of 2006, with a retail price starting at $29,795.

Models
TrimEnginePowerTorqueTransmission
Base2.4  L LE5 I4 177 hp (132 kW)173 lb⋅ft (235 N⋅m)5-speed Aisin AR-5 manual, or
5-speed GM 5L40-E automatic
Red Line2.0 L LNF I4260 hp (194 kW)260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m)

Specifications

2007 Saturn Sky (Base model) specifications: [3]

2007 Saturn Sky Red Line specifications: [4]

Limited editions

2008

For the 2008 model year, GM offered the Carbon Flash Special Edition Saturn Sky. Unlike the two Limited Edition models launched later in 2009, its production was slightly higher at 550 units. [5] The Carbon Flash Special Edition featured a unique metallic Carbon Flash paint color, removable silver racing stripe standard, and Monsoon premium audio standard. The largest differentiator, however, is Carbon Flash Edition's silver inserts in the interior seating and steering wheel that provide a black-on-silver appearance.

2009

For the 2009 model year, GM launched two limited-edition Saturn Sky roadsters jointly; Ruby Red Special Edition and Hydro Blue Limited Edition. Both are VIN-coded [6] and some blue books track it as a limited-edition vehicle. All limited editions featured Monsoon premium stereos.

The Ruby Red Edition featured the Ruby Red color and a unique, removable carbon racing stripe that was exclusive to the 500 Sky units produced in this trim.

The Hydro Blue Edition featured a Hydro Blue color, as well as matching blue-colored stitching in the seats and gear shifter. Also, the word Sky stitched into the seats is changed to matching-blue color as well. All Hydro Blue Edition Saturn Sky units were sold with the removable silver racing stripe.

GM had planned to make 500 Hydro Blue units to match the 500 Ruby Red Special Edition Sky build count. However, Hydro Blue units were being built as GM was declaring bankruptcy, resulting in the immediate termination of the Kappa platform. As such, only 89 Hydro Blue Edition Saturn Sky roadsters were built. [7]

The Hydro Blue paint color (and seat/shifter blue stitching) was offered on the Pontiac Solstice. However, it is not VIN coded as a unique/limited edition, racing stripes were not standard, and seats do not have blue-colored lettering. Hydro Blue is the rarest color in all three vehicles; Sky Roadster, Solstice Roadster, and Solstice Coupe.

2010 production

In April and May 2009 the Wilmington, DE. plant built thirty 2010 model year VIN-coded cars on the Kappa platform. Of those, 8 were Saturn Skys. The other remaining included 12 Pontiac Solstice Coupes, eight Pontiac Solstice roadsters, and two Opel GTs. They were then used as GM company vehicles to be evaluated and also as special event display vehicles. These vehicles were built to the 2010 model year specs with 2010 model year changes and had legal 2010 VIN numbers. All 8 2010 SKYs were purchased by the same dealer in Minnesota and subsequently sold as used vehicles. Among changes to the SKY for the 2010 model year was the addition of remote start on automatic-equipped cars, option package changes and additions, and three new colors. Those colors were Kinetic Blue, Opus Green, and Dark Labyrinth Metallic.

2010 SKYs produced

Daewoo G2X

Daewoo G2X (South Korea) 20110528 daewoo g2x 01.jpg
Daewoo G2X (South Korea)

Daewoo had already shown a version of the Opel Speedster called the Daewoo Speedster, but this remained a one-off. In 2006, they showed a show car called the Daewoo G2X; simply a rebadge of the Saturn Sky. In September 2007 it entered production, for the South Korean market only. [1] It remained on sale until early 2009 and 179 examples were delivered in total. [8] The South Korean version was only offered with the turbocharged 264 PS (194 kW) engine from the Sky RedLine, combined with the five-speed automatic transmission. [9]

Production by model year

Model YearTotal Saturn Sky Production [10]
200716,567
200813,662
20094,178
20108
Total34,415

Yearly American sales

Calendar YearTotal American sales
2006 [11] 8,671
200711,263
2008 [12] 9,162
2009 [13] 3,399
Total32,495

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturn Corporation</span> Former car manufacturing subsidiary of General Motors

The Saturn Corporation, also known as Saturn LLC, was an American automobile manufacturer, a registered trademark established on January 7, 1985, as a subsidiary of General Motors. The company was an attempt by GM to compete directly with Japanese imports and transplants, initially in the US compact car market. The company was known for its 'no-haggle' sales technique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GM Korea</span> South Korean subsidiary of General Motors

GM Korea Company is the South Korean subsidiary of multinational corporation General Motors and the third largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo Motors vehicle brand, which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group, in 2002. In addition to importing vehicles for sale into South Korea, the company also operates three manufacturing facilities producing vehicles for the domestic market and for export. The company also operates GM Technical Center Korea, a design, engineering, research & development facility for various GM products, primarily small-size cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac Solstice</span> Two seat sports car model

The Pontiac Solstice is a sports car that was produced by Pontiac. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4 L I4 engine, producing 177 hp (132 kW) and 166 lb⋅ft (225 N⋅m) of torque. The exterior styling of the production Solstice is similar to that of the 2002 Solstice concept that preceded it. Production of the Solstice was to be running before summer 2005, but delays at the Wilmington plant pushed volume production to the fourth quarter. The new hardtop targa top 2009 model was announced in mid-2008. The Solstice uses the GM Kappa platform, which also underpins the Saturn Sky, Opel GT, and Daewoo G2X. It was the brand's first two-seater since the Pontiac Fiero was discontinued in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Chevette</span> Front-engine, rear-drive subcompact built 1976–1987

The Chevrolet Chevette is a front-engine, rear-drive subcompact manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet for model years 1976–1987 as a three-door or five-door hatchback. Introduced in North America in September 1975, the Chevette superseded the Vega as Chevrolet's entry-level subcompact, and sold 2.8 million units over 12 years. The Chevette was the best-selling small car in the U.S. for model years 1979 and 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturn Vue</span> American compact crossover SUV

The Saturn Vue is a compact SUV that was sold and built by Saturn, and it was Saturn's best-selling model. It was the first vehicle to use the GM Theta platform when it was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year. The Vue was later facelifted for the 2006 model year. A second generation model was launched in 2007 for the 2008 model year as a rebadged Opel Antara. The Vue production in North America ended as GM wound down the Saturn brand during its 2009 reorganization.

The GM Ecotec engine, also known by its codename L850, is a family of all-aluminium inline-four engines, displacing between 1.4 and 2.5 litres. Confusingly, the Ecotec name was also applied to the final DOHC derivatives of the previous GM Family II engine; the architecture was substantially re-engineered for this new Ecotec application produced since 2000. This engine family replaced the GM Family II engine, the GM 122 engine, the Saab H engine, and the Quad 4 engine. It is manufactured in multiple locations, to include Spring Hill Manufacturing, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with engine blocks and cylinder heads cast at Saginaw Metal Casting Operations in Saginaw, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Kappa platform</span> Automobile platform by General Motors

Kappa was General Motors' subcompact rear-wheel drive automobile platform for roadster applications. The architecture debuted in the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky, and ended production in 2009. These vehicles generally have a "M" in the fourth digit of their VIN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Equinox</span> American compact crossover SUV

The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. It was intended to be a replacement for the North American Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also replaced the first-generation Chevrolet Captiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Speedster</span> Motor vehicle

The Opel Speedster is a mid-engined, targa-topped, two-seat sports car sold by German automaker Opel and introduced in July 2000. It was built in both RHD and LHD versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999 and went into full production the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Theta platform</span> Motor vehicle platform

Theta is General Motors' automobile platform for compact/mid-size crossover SUVs. The architecture debuted in 2002 with the Saturn Vue and was later used for the Chevrolet Equinox and Captiva and similar models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac Montana</span> Motor vehicle

The Pontiac Montana is a minivan that was sold by General Motors under the Pontiac brand for model years 1997 to 2009. Its badge-engineered variants were the Chevrolet Venture and the Oldsmobile Silhouette in the first generation, and the Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay, and Buick Terraza in the second generation. Prior to the 1997 model year, it was known as the Pontiac Trans Sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Cobalt</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The Cobalt replaced both the Cavalier and the Toyota-based Geo/Chevrolet Prizm as Chevrolet's compact car. The Cobalt was available as both a coupe and sedan, as well as a sport compact version dubbed the Cobalt SS. Like the Chevrolet HHR and the Saturn ION, it was based on the GM Delta platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturn Aura</span> Midsize sedan manufactured by Saturn

The Saturn Aura is a four-door, five-passenger front engine/front-wheel drive mid-sized sedan manufactured and marketed by GM's Saturn subsidiary over a single generation from 2006 to 2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generation Chevrolet Malibu, its most closely related platform companion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel GT</span> Sports car manufactured by Opel

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car manufactured and marketed by Opel in two generations — separated by a 34-year hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Antara</span> German compact crossover SUV

The Opel Antara is a compact crossover SUV which was marketed by Opel from 2006 to 2015. Based on the Theta platform, the Antara closely shared its underpinnings and powertrains with the Chevrolet Captiva. However, it only offered five seats instead of seven, and features a different exterior and interior design. Sales commenced in November 2006, as the indirect successor to the Isuzu-based Frontera range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilmington Assembly</span>

Wilmington Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory in Wilmington, Delaware. The 3,200,000-square-foot (300,000 m2) factory opened in 1947, and produced cars for GM's Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Opel, Buick and Daewoo brands during its operation. GM closed the plant on July 28, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette (C6)</span> Sixth generation of the Corvette sports car

The Chevrolet Corvette (C6) is the sixth generation of the Corvette sports car that was produced by Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 2005 to 2013 model years. It is the first Corvette with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model. Production variants include the Z06, ZR1, Grand Sport, and 427 Convertible. Racing variants include the C6.R, an American Le Mans Series GT1 championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE-Pro winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac G8</span> Motor vehicle

The Pontiac G8 is a full-size sedan which was produced by Holden in Australia for export to the United States, where it was sold by Pontiac. The G8, a rebadged Holden Commodore, was released in early 2008 for the 2008 model year in the United States, and in 2008 for the 2009 model year in Canada. Production stopped in mid-2009, following the GM decision to suspend the Pontiac brand. While available, the G8 took the place in the Pontiac lineup of both the Pontiac Bonneville, which ceased production after the 2005 model year, and the Pontiac Grand Prix, which ceased production after the 2008 model year.

References

  1. 1 2 "'G2X Roadster' released!" (in Korean). GM Daewoo. August 23, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  2. "GM Pulls Ahead U.S. Plant Closures; Reaffirms Intent to Build Future Small Car in U.S." GM Media Online. Archived from the original on June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  3. http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2007-saturn-sky2007-saturn-sky-specs.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. "2007 Saturn Sky Red Line". December 2006.
  5. "OFFICIAL Carbon Flash Numbers... - Saturn Sky Forums: Saturn Sky Forum". skyroadster.com.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). service.gm.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "OFFICIAL Hydro Blue Numbers... - Saturn Sky Forums: Saturn Sky Forum". skyroadster.com.
  8. Choi, He-suk (February 6, 2011). "Out on a limb or on to a winner?". The Korea Herald . Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  9. Jurnecka, Rory (April 10, 2007). "GMs roadster goes to Asia: Meet the Daewoo G2X". Motor Trend. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021.
  10. "General Motors: Investors: Sales and Production Reports: Historical Production". GM. July 10, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2009.
  11. "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. January 3, 2007. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  12. "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. January 5, 2009. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  13. "Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Post Sales Gains". Media.gm.com. January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.