Tuner enthusiasts love power, and Saturn has answered the call, however, vehicle dynamics are also hugely important if the car is to function as more than a show-off piece. Drivers want cars they can drive hard. Again, Saturn accommodates this desire. First, five-spoke, 17-in. alloy wheels with 215/45-series performance Continental tires provide larger contact patches. Disc brakes up front are 1.5-in. larger in rotor diameter than the standard ION's. In the back, discs replace the standard drums, and the entire system is supplemented electronically by standard ABS. Stiffer springs, heavier stabilizer bars, and harder shocks all contribute to a flatter, crisper ride. Saturn calls the revised suspension "racetrack-bred." Additionally, ride height has been lowered slightly by 10 mm. Quicker steering is achieved by a reduced lock-to-lock wheel effort - the power rack-and-pinion system requires only 2.9 turns instead of the normal 3.5. Dual-stage front airbags, four-wheel discs, and ABS are the standard safety features. Curtain airbags that protect the head and neck are available, and they cover both the front and rear outboard passengers. ION Red Lines are not offered with traction control. Saturn ION Red Lines should appeal to the tuner market in the same way that Dodge SRT-4s, Honda Civic Sis, and Ford SVT Focuses do - as value-priced cars that are "street-worthy" right from the factory. Sure, you can put 20-grand into a Chevy Cavalier, but Saturn offers a hot-rod that's ready to fly right out of the package. For now, the ION Red Line is still a novelty - pilot one and you'll stand out from the crowd. For Saturn, however, the best scenario is one in which driving a Red Line makes you fit in with the masses.
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