What is the Saturn Ion Red Line?
Saturn has been known as the "Family Friendly" and "Different" car division of General Motors. Now, interested in some image changing and attracting new buyers, this new model is designed as a performance enthusiast's car and is GM's and Saturn's first entry into the sport compact market. Although the new model is track-capable, it gives a road-friendly ride for everyday driving, and has been designed with room left for buyers to perform vehicle personalization. When does the new Saturn Red Line go on sale, and how many does Saturn hope to sell?
Production started in April and models should be in dealerships soon. Saturn hopes to sell 5,000 units annually. What are the Ion Red Line's performance stats?
The zippy new model's stop and go data includes: zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds; ¼ mile in 14.8 seconds; top speed of 144 mph; zero-to-60 stopping distance of 119 ft.; and a maximum latitude of 0.85 g.
How does it handle and what makes it go and go smoothly?
Built on GM's Delta architecture, with parts pulled out of the GM toolbox and an Ecotec engine that has been supercharged and inter-cooled, the new Red Line is a capable new player in the sports compact car segment. We drove it on roadways surrounding GM's Proving Grounds, in Milford, MI, and found it easy and fun-to-drive, with just enough performance feedback to tickle our senses and give great on-road handling. Where we really enjoyed it, however, was at a new test track on the grounds of GM's testing facility. While displacement has decreased slightly to 2 liters, the addition of a blower makes the Red Line good for 200 hp. and 200 lb.-ft. of torque. (Compared to the 140 hp. and 145 lb.-ft. in the naturally aspirated 2.2, this output is largely significant in a vehicle this small package). Ready-on-tap power is routed through a short-throw 5-speed Getrag manual transmission and gets routed to 215/45-series performance Continental tires with large contact patches. Disc brakes up front are 1.5-in. larger in rotor diameter than the standard ION's and, 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. What's its best feature?
The Red Line Ion's is exciting because of its fun factor and its price. Its exterior looks are pleasant, but certainly not head-turning and the same can be said for its interior styling. Where it shines is on the road, when there's no one in sight and the road is good, as well as on the track, where it handles just like a sport compact car should. And, as Saturn hopes, there's a lot of room to go or grow, for those with the right interest. Look for souped-up models at SEMA this fall!
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