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SATURN ION BLENDS POWER WITH EFFICIENCY IN 2007

Ion continues to demonstrate Saturn's commitment to provide excellent customer care with value, refinement, comfort and safety. With estimated fuel economy ratings of 35 miles per gallon on the highway and a standard 145-horsepower engine, the Ion helps small-car buyers save some money at the pump without sacrificing performance.

The Saturn Ion is available in five models: the Ion 2 and Ion 3 sedans and quad coupes, as well as the performance-oriented Ion Red Line.

Plenty of power options on sedans and quad coupes

For 2007, the standard Ecotec 2.2L inline four-cylinder engine generates more standard horsepower (145 hp/108 kW)* than many of its primary competitors and strong low-end torque for excellent launch feel and passing performance. The engine is rated at 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway (when equipped with a manual transmission). California models with the 2.2L engine are SULEV-compliant.

The available 2.4L Ecotec inline four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT) delivers an excellent combination of power and fuel economy. This engine, available on the Ion 3 with the Enhanced Performance Package, delivers an impressive 175 horsepower (130 kW) and 164 lb.-ft. (222 Nm)* of torque, rated five horsepower more than in 2006.

The Enhanced Performance Package suspension modifications provide the more nimble handling that sport-oriented drivers enjoy. Valves that control the flow of hydraulic fluid within the suspension struts are modified to provide more resistance, and the stabilizer bar diameter is increased.

All Ion engines are from GM's Ecotec family. Each has distinct performance and hardware differences, but all share a basic all-aluminum architecture and construction that includes:

Dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and four valves per cylinder
Twin counter-rotating balance shafts
Low-friction, roller-finger follower valvetrain with hydraulic lash adjusters
Zero-maintenance chain camshaft drive
Extremely compact dimensions and low mass
Direct mounting of all accessories to the engine structure to eliminate common sources of noise, vibration and harshness
Full circle transmission attachment is more rigid than most four-cylinder powertrains for reduced noise and vibration
Oil Life Monitoring System for optimum oil change frequency
No routine maintenance apart from oil/oil filter changes
Catalyst located close to the exhaust manifold to speed catalyst 'light-off' and reduce hydrocarbon emissions
The Ion's standard transmission is a five-speed manual, with smooth shifting and quiet operation. This transmission injects a sporty, European feel to the Ion's driving experience.

The optional Hydra-Matic 4T45 electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission offers reliable operation with seamless shifts. The 4T45 uses Dexron III fluid and is 'filled for life,' meaning there is no scheduled maintenance required for the transmission under normal operating conditions.

All Ions can be flat-towed – pulled behind another vehicle without the need for a special dolly – making Ion an ideal choice for RV owners.

Comfort and convenience

Last year, the Ion received a redesigned center console/center stack with additional inboard knee and leg clearance with enhanced fits and appearance. The design provides additional storage above the radio for storing sunglasses, mobile phones, spare change or other small items.

An available leather trim package (Ion 3) offers additional refinement with leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

The Ion interior continues to feature a distinctive center-mounted instrument cluster. On the same horizontal sight line as the side-view mirrors, the center-mounted design also allows the driver to set the steering wheel in the most comfortable position without needing an adjustment to see the instrument readings.

The quad coupe continues to offer dual rear-access doors. Combined with a front-passenger fold-flat seat, the wide-opening rear-access doors help maximize the usefulness of the interior space by making it easy to load and unload passengers and cargo, even large objects that wouldn't typically fit in a compact car.

Sound decisions

Ion offers a variety of audio choices to make the trip more enjoyable. An AM/FM stereo with CD player is standard on Ion 2, and Ion 3 and Red Line models also add standard MP3 capability.

A comprehensive family of radios provides an upscale appearance with flush design and chrome accents. All sound systems include an input jack to accommodate portable audio players, and a digital signal processor provides improved sound quality. Uplevel radios offer up to 36 station presets (can mix AM/FM/XM together), MP3 folder and playlist access and a Music Navigator feature that allows sorting of MP3s by artist or album.

An AM/FM stereo with six-disc in-dash CD and MP3 player is available on all models, along with the Saturn Advanced Audio System, which consists of six premium speakers and a 160-watt amplifier. XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only) is available and features more than 120 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original commercial-free music and premier news, sports and talk as well as advanced traffic and weather information for select major metropolitan areas nationwide. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $12.99 a month. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments .

Safety and security

Like all Saturns, the Ion was designed with an emphasis on safety and security. OnStar dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment is now standard on all Ion models. OnStar's digital equipment also includes enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the United States and Canada . Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Hands-Free Calling that allows drivers to make and receive voice-activated phone calls using an externally mounted antenna for greater reception.

All Ions feature GM's Passenger Sensing System. If the system detects an unoccupied front passenger seat or the presence of a smaller occupant, the front passenger air bag is designed to automatically turn off so it will not deploy in the event of a frontal collision. A status indicator on the instrument panel alerts occupants that the passenger air bag is on or off. Even with this system, Saturn strongly recommends restraining child passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the second or third row of the vehicle. Never install a rear-facing infant seat in front of an active air bag. Saturn also recommends that all children age 12 and under ride in the rear seat when possible.

Built-in crashworthiness features include the vehicle's structural design, with a steel spaceframe that helps absorb the energy of a crash while protecting the integrity of the passenger compartment.

Dual-stage frontal air bags are standard, and head curtain side air bags – which help protect both front and rear occupants – are available. The Ion sedan and quad coupe offer an optional anti-lock braking system and traction control across all non-Red Line models.

Ion also comes with a factory-installed anti-theft system with remote keyless entry, standard on Ion 3 and optional on Ion 2. An engine immobilizer is standard on every Ion, which reduces the risk of vehicle theft by shutting off fuel to the engine if the correct ignition key isn't used.

Ion Red Line

Combining track-capable performance and comfortable daily driving experience, the Ion Red Line features a 2.0L supercharged and intercooled version of the Ecotec four-cylinder engine that generates 205 horsepower (153 kW). The Red Line is capable of achieving 0-to-60 mph (0-to-97 km/h) acceleration in an estimated 6.2 seconds.

The Ion Red Line features a higher-capacity five-speed manual transmission (F35) than other ION models, mated with a short-throw shifter. A 4.05:1 axle ratio complements the performance-oriented transmission and performance characteristics of the engine.

The Red Line package also features sport-compact tuner-inspired front and rear fascias, rocker moldings and available rear wings. Projector-beam foglamps also are now standard on all Ion Red Line models.

The Red Line Competition Package includes a Quaife limited-slip differential packaged within the five-speed gear box and 17-inch forged wheels with gunmetal finish. Also included in the package is a boost gauge combined with an industry-first, programmable ladder tachometer mounted directly in front of the driver on the top of the steering column.

Other Red Line highlights include:

Standard leather seating surfaces
Beefier equal-length halfshafts
High-flow, performance-tuned exhaust system
Four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS
Racetrack-tuned suspension, including revised springs, shocks, bushings and stabilizer bars
215/45Z R17 (Z-rated) performance tires
10-mm lowered ride height
*Horsepower and torque SAE certified. A new voluntary power and torque certification procedure developed by the SAE Engine Test Code committee was approved March 31, 2005 . This procedure (J2723) ensures fair, accurate ratings for horsepower and torque by allowing manufacturers to certify their engines through third-party witness testing. GM was the first automaker to begin using this procedure and expects to use it for all newly rated engines in the future.

Source - GM

A division of General Motors and a brand of automobiles, the Saturn Corporation began on January 7, 1985 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GM. Active almost exclusively in the US and Canada, GM began manufacturing Saturn vehicles in 1990. GM has moved the brand upmarket during the first decade of the 21st century, to the mid-price segment that was once occupied by Oldsmobile. Similar to Vauxhall Motors in the UK, Saturn is currently becoming the US brand for Opel vehicles.

Named after the rocket that originally took American astronauts to the moon, Saturn's first motto was ‘A different kind of company, a different kind of car.' Saturn's vehicles have become known for their emphasis in quality control along with product reliability.

A compact vehicle sold by the Saturn marque of American Automaker General Motors, the Saturn Ion used the GM Delta platform. Replacing the S-Series as Saturn's signature compact sedan and coupe in 2003, the Saturn Ion featured a roomy interior, plenty of cargo space and a more powerful engine. Starting out with promise and enthusiasm with the Ion, Saturn unfortunately failed to make the necessary adjustments for interior materials and engine noise. The ION was the longest compact sold in North America as of 2006. On March 27, 2007, production of the ION ended.

Featured standard with a 140 hp DOHC engine Ecotec I4 engine, the 2003 ION had an instrument panel that was mounted on the top center of the dashboard instead of behind the steering wheel. Available in either sedan or coupe forms, the ION coupe is called a ‘quad coupe' because of the two smaller rear opening ‘suicide doors' behind the front doors. The ION is the first four-door coupe that was ever produced.

An Aisin AF23 5-speed automatic transmission was available, along with a GETRAG F23 5-speed manual. The Aisin was unique in the fact that the transmission lacked an overdrive and allowed for five forward gears to be packaged in the size of a typical four-sped manual gearbox that provided close gear ratios for improved acceleration and fuel efficiency while eliminating the heat and parasitic loss that was generated by planetary gearset. ‘Fill-for-life', the unit did not need to be serviced for the entire length of life of the vehicle. VTi continuously variable transmission was available on the 2003 and 2004 IONs.

Super-sizing the Ion, the Saturn Ion Red Line entered the lineup with a powerful 205 hp I4 supercharged engine in 2004. The Ion Red Line also had a stronger F35 5-speed manual transmission, stiffer springs with a lowered ride height, re-valved shock absorbers, performance sway bars, Recaro racing seats and a special ground effects package.

The Red Line model utilized a 2.0L version of GE's Ecotec engine that was dubbed the ‘LSJ' and was developed with GM's Performance Division and track tested at Germany's famous Nürburgring Nordschleife.

A limited production ‘Special Edition' model was featured in 2004. Simply a Saturn Ion 3 Sedan with upgrades, the Special Edition featured two-tone leather interior, ultra-bright machined face wheels that came with unique lug nuts and center cap. Embroidered floor mats, an automatic dimming rear-view mirror with both compass and temperature displays and a chrome-tipped exhaust pipe were also showcased on the unique model. Available in three different colors, the Special Edition Sedan came in Black Onyx, Chili Pepper Red, and Electric blue and was marketed to bring a premium presence to the sedan and appeal to various consumers.

New sound systems were featured for the 2004 Saturn, along with upgraded Interior Materials, and re-calibrated electric power steering.

For 2005 both the Aisin 5-speed automatic and the VTi CVT that were used in quad-coupes from 2003 to mid-2004 were deleted and replaced b y GM's 4-speed 4T45-E. The only automatic transmission available, the 4T45-E was less technologically advanced then the earlier versions, but was a long term proven design.

The ‘hockey puck' style steering wheel was replaced in 2005 with the design used in the '04 Red Line model that became standard on all models. Halfway through 2005 the seats in the base ION1 model were upgraded with brand new fabrics and a height adjustment feature. To help with sound reduction, the introduction of ‘quiet steel' multilaminate technology was introduced for the '05 model. A much larger grille opening was featured along with the front fascia of the sedan was upgraded. To reduce engine noise, an acoustic engine cover was added. The ECU was moved from a speed density system to a mass air system.

For 2006 the long-awaited 170 hp 2.4 L I4 engine with variable valve timing was made available for the ION3. This new engine produced 170 hp and 162 lb·ft of torque.

The following year featured an increase of power in the 2.2 L Ecotec engine from 150 hp to 145 hp at 5600 rpm. The torque was increased from 145 ft·lbf to 150 ft·lbf at 4200 rpm. The 2.4 L Ecotec engine also increased in power from 170 hp to 175 hp at 6500 rpm, and the torque was increased from 162 ft·lbf to 164 ft·lbf at 4800 rpm.

Black leather-appointed seats with passenger sensing systems replaced the Recaro seats on the Red Line.

The ION was scheduled for a redesign for the ION in 2008, but GM discontinued the vehicle in March 2007 and replaced it with the European-built Saturn Astra hatchback. The Astra is a rebadged Opel Astra.

Elizabeth Johnson

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