2005 Saturn Relay

RELAY IS NEXT STEP IN SATURN'S DRIVE TO GROW BRAND

With the addition of the 2005 RELAY, Saturn continues to grow its brand while maintaining its focus on bringing incremental business to General Motors.

A crossover sport van that combines SÚV-like styling with the functionality of a mid-van, RELAY reinforces Saturn's commitment to offer a family of vehicles that fill the needs of diverse customers. The crossover sport van will be the first Saturn vehicle to seat seven, and joins the small-car ION sedan and coupe, the L300 midsize sedan and wagon and the VÚE compact sport utility truck in the expanding Saturn portfolio.

'The RELAY is the next logical step in Saturn's growth,' said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president for sales, service and marketing. 'The Saturn brand promises of safety and value fit naturally with what customers are looking for in the mid-van segment. It will appeal particularly to those customers who need the versatility of a mid-van but have a strong preference for SÚV styling.'

Targeting existing and new owners
The new entry will help Saturn meet the needs of existing Saturn owners with growing families and active lifestyles. The RELAY also will help Saturn attract a new group of customers, since 50 percent of purchasers in the segment are first-time mid-van buyers. One of Saturn's strategies will be to intercept these first-time buyers, especially the 40 percent of first-time mid-van buyers who select an import brand. The RELAY also will be attractive to current mid-van owners who are considering leaving the segment for SÚV styling.

Targeting import buyers is an important part of Saturn's role to bring 'plus' business to GM - customers who otherwise would have bought an import or another non-GM brand. Approximately 70 percent of Saturn buyers list a non-GM make as their second choice. Import mid-van buyers on average are younger and more affluent; more than 70 percent have children under age 16, vs. approximately 50 percent for domestic mid-van buyers.

Like all Saturn products, the RELAY will be sold and serviced through an award-winning network of retailers who are recognized industry leaders in taking care of customers.

Clean, contemporary looks
The RELAY's exterior is recognizably Saturn - clean and contemporary, complementing its sturdy, SÚV-like stance. RELAY looks efficient, the 'smart choice' for its import-oriented customers.

Wide, prominent, exposed C-pillars - an SÚV styling cue - reinforces the RELAY's strong, durable look. Large 17-inch wheels and wide tires also contribute to a sturdy, aggressive SÚV-like stance.

RELAY has a horizontal front grille treatment, with an approximately 2-inch bumper offset. Picking up a visual cue from the VÚE, the RELAY's ebony-colored lower cladding carries through the rockers then turns and flows up into the taillamps, uniting the fascia with the taillamps in a way that creates a tighter-looking overall package.

The optional roof rack completes the picture. This uniquely designed sport rack has tubular-shaped, satin finish side rails, which gives the vehicle a rugged, purposeful stance.

The RELAY will be available in two trim levels. The base RELAY features standard 17-inch steel wheels with a composite center bolt-on disc, with a six-spoke design and the Saturn emblem in the middle. The uplevel RELAY has six-spoke bright silver painted aluminum wheels that feature Saturn's emblem.

Refined interior
The RELAY's refined interior appointments elevate the design and the appeal of the vehicle. The styling is clean and contemporary, with close attention to fit and finish.

Key interior features include:

• Front overhead console and overhead rail system

• Spacious and flexible rear convenience center/cargo system




• 50/50 split-stowable third row, fold flat bench seat

• Leading edge rear seat entertainment system, which includes an optional DVD player with flip-down screen and integrated controls

Source - General Motors Corporation

SATÚRN RELAY BLENDS SÚV-LIKE STYLE, MID-VAN VERSATILITY IN NEW FAMILY ÚTILITY VEHICLE
From its distinctive design to a myriad of thoughtful features, the 2005 Saturn Relay breaks new ground as a family utility vehicle. The first Saturn vehicle to seat seven people, the Relay also is the next step in Saturn's commitment to offer a growing portfolio of vehicles that fill the needs of diverse customers.

While its exterior styling features SÚV-like cues, Relay also provides the functionality and convenience that mid-van customers need and appreciate: passenger- and cargo-carrying flexibility, a high degree of safety, fuel economy, low step-in height, and excellent ride and handling. Its 50/50-split third-row bench seat can be folded to create a level load floor when combined with an available rear storage bin.

The Relay's refined interior reflects Saturn's intensified attention to detail and craftsmanship across the brand's current and future offerings. The Relay is also distinguished by its wide choice of passenger entertainment systems, including a DVD rear-passenger entertainment system that is standard across all trim levels and the optional Mobile Digital Media Powered by PhatNoise system (available interim 2005) that allows customers to store hundreds of hours of music, movies and other entertainment on a removable hard drive cartridge.

'The Relay is a natural for Saturn,' said Scott Horn, Relay marketing manager. 'Saturn's reputation for offering safety, value and customer-focused features fits what customers are looking for in a family utility vehicle. The Relay will appeal particularly to those who need the versatility of a mid-van but have a strong preference for SÚV-type styling.'

Clean, contemporary looks

The Relay's exterior is recognizably Saturn – clean and contemporary, complementing its sturdy, SÚV-like stance. Relay looks efficient, the 'smart choice' for the import-oriented customers that Saturn targets.

Wide, prominent, exposed C-pillars – an SÚV styling cue – reinforce the Relay's strong, rugged look. Standard 17-inch wheels and wide tires also contribute to a robust, aggressive SÚV-like stance.

Relay has a horizontal front grille treatment, with an approximately 2-inch bumper offset. Picking up a visual cue from the Saturn VÚE sport utility, the Relay's ebony-colored lower cladding carries through the rockers then turns and flows up into the taillamps, uniting the fascia with the taillamps in a way that creates a tighter-looking overall package.

The optional roof rack completes the picture. This uniquely designed sport rack has tubular-shaped, satin finish side rails, which help give the vehicle a rugged, purposeful stance.

The Relay is available in two trim levels, Relay 2 and Relay 3. The Relay 2 features standard 17-inch steel wheels with a composite center bolt-on disc, a six-spoke design and the Saturn emblem in the middle. The uplevel Relay 3 has six-spoke bright silver painted aluminum wheels that feature Saturn's emblem.

Versatile, comfortable

Drivers and passengers alike will appreciate the Relay's high levels of comfort, convenience and adaptability.

The Relay interior features a front overhead console and a standard overhead rail system. The rail system neatly integrates the rear HVAC and audio controls, lighting and rear-seat entertainment system/DVD into a single unit. Its snap-in storage and accessory modules provide more functional, flexible storage, and contribute to the van's clean, uncluttered look.

Each of the three storage modules is about 12 inches (305 mm) wide and 9 inches to 10 inches (229 mm to 254 mm) deep, with doors that flip open. These allow customers to snap in any of a variety of specially designed inserts, for items such as CDs, DVDs, sunglasses, cell phones, PDAs or a first-aid kit.

The Relay also offers an available rear storage system. With its doors closed, the box-like cargo system's height lines up with that of the folded third-row seat, providing a level load floor for carrying items behind the second row. The cargo system's doors line up with the dividing line on the split/folding third-row seat, allowing users to create a flat load floor for carrying long objects on one side while permitting passengers to sit on the other side. Second-row bucket seats can be folded and tumbled up against the front seats for increased storage. Captain's chairs, standard on Relay 3, fold flat to permit carrying long objects. All second- and third-row seats are removable.

The Relay's interior styling is clean and contemporary, with close attention paid to fit and finish. The interior includes a sporty three-spoke steering wheel, with ebony rim and center trim matching the upper part of the instrument panel and the upper door trim. Relay 3 models have a leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls.

The Relay uses a light maple color wood grain for its radio and HVAC trim plate and on the door switch plates. Relay interiors are available in an ebony upper / medium gray lower color combination and an ebony upper / medium cashmere lower combination.

Seats on Relay 2 feature cloth inserts with bolsters made of a new 'protein' vinyl that provides leather-like look, feel and wear. The protein vinyl also is used for door trim. Leather seats are optional with the Relay 3.

Standard features on Relay 2 include power heated outside mirrors; power windows and locks; remote keyless entry; front passenger visor vanity mirror; and an overhead rail system for accessory storage modules. The Relay 3 adds body-color door handles; a six-way power driver's seat; rear HVAC controls; and a Convenience Package that includes the rear cargo-area storage module, floor mats, power rear quarter windows, illuminated visor vanity and a theft-deterrent system.

Taking comfort to a higher level, the Relay offers an optional factory-installed remote vehicle starter system, allowing the driver to get a head start on heating or cooling the car's interior from a range of about 200 feet (61 m). The remote vehicle starter system is activated from the remote key fob by first pressing the 'lock' button, then pressing and holding the remote start button for 1.5 seconds. This two-step process helps prevent inadvertent activation, locks the car and engages the anti-theft system.

Wide range of entertainment choices

Relay offers unprecedented entertainment choices. An AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player and six speakers is standard. Also standard is a DVD rear-passenger entertainment system with rear-seat audio controls and auxiliary audio/video jacks. The uplevel Relay·3 also comes standard with dual wireless headphones.

A six-disc, in-dash CD/MP3 player and XM Satellite Radio (continental Ú.S. only) are optional on all trim levels. XM Satellite Radio provides 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 $9.99 a month. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments.

The available Mobile Digital Media Powered by PhatNoise system (available interim 2005) is a wallet-sized, 40-gigabyte hard drive cartridge that installs in the Relay's overhead rail system. The system's capabilities include:

Storing and playing back up to 10,000 songs in MP3, WMA or WAV formats.
Storing and playing up to 40 typical movies in MPEG format (standard format for movies).
Storing and playing a combination of songs and movies.
The ability to provide the software for playing classic video games.
The ability to provide a voice-browsing interface – if the driver wants to listen to music, the system tells him or her over the radio speakers the song's name, allowing the driver to run through a list of stored music using radio or steering wheel buttons.
Listening to audio books, magazine or newspaper articles transferred from a PC or downloaded from the Internet.
Allowing simultaneous listening to two entertainment sources.
The PhatNoise system's hard drive cartridge is easily removable, so it can be connected to a home PC or laptop to download computer files for playback in the Relay, giving passengers an unprecedented level of entertainment customization.

Responsive performance

The Relay provides the power and control needed to meet the demands of family utility vehicle customers. It's powered by GM's 3.5L 3500 V-6, rated at 200 horsepower (149 kw) and 220 lb.-ft. of torque (298 Nm). This engine delivers excellent launch feel and highway-speed acceleration, with low levels of noise and vibration, low emissions and excellent fuel economy.

The 3500 engine is mated to the Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, which provides smooth, seamless shifts. Electronic safeguards built into the transmission ensure trouble-free performance. When properly equipped, a Relay can tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg) including such items as a 20-foot (6.1-m) boat and trailer or a pop-up camper.

Focus on safety

From its inception, Saturn has been committed to the idea that safety isn't just for customers who can afford a luxury vehicle. The Relay continues this tradition.

The frame is designed with structural enhancements to achieve effective crush, helping preserve occupant space while absorbing energy. Cross-rail reinforcements enhance stiffness and bolster crash protection.

All seven seating positions have three-point safety belts. Retractors for front seating positions have built-in load limiters that allow a controlled amount of give in the belt, thereby reducing the peak load on the chest during the 'ride down' in a crash.

The Relay also has pretensioners in the front safety belt system that deploy at the same time as the frontal air bags to take up slack in the safety belt webbing. Pretensioners also help reduce the amount of occupant movement in the event of a crash to help reduce the risk of injury.

The Relay is equipped with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system in all second-row seating positions. This system provides two lower anchors and a top tether anchor to be used to secure a child seat to the vehicle seat structure. A top tether is also provided in the center position of the third-row. These anchorages are designed to make it easier to properly install compatible child safety seats.

Standard, front dual-stage air bags for both driver and front passenger are designed to help reduce the risk of air bag-induced injury. When the air bag system's control unit detects an impact, it determines whether the crash is severe enough to trigger a deployment, and whether the primary amount of inflation is sufficient. The primary stage alone will deploy in most front impacts requiring the supplemental protection of an air bag, while a secondary stage is designed to deploy in more severe frontal collisions.

In addition, the Relay has GM's Passenger Sensing System (PSS). PSS uses the latest sensing technology to turn the front passenger air bag on or off. If the sensor 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 would 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, GM strongly recommends to restrain child passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the second or third row of the vehicle.

Optional seat-mounted side-impact air bags also help provide head and torso protection for the both the front passenger and the driver.

The Relay makes crash avoidance a priority as well. Large, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock system are standard. On FWD models, GM's sophisticated StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system is optional.

StabiliTrak helps improve stability and control. Its precise, all-weather control is particularly beneficial on slick road surfaces or during emergency maneuvers. StabiliTrak uses sensors to detect the direction the driver is steering by 'reading' the steering wheel position and the vehicle's response to steering wheel input. When the system determines that the vehicle is not responding adequately to steering commands, it then works to help bring it on course by automatically reducing engine torque and applying precise amounts of pressure to front right or left brakes. These brake and engine interventions, which require no driver activation, help realign the vehicle's actual path with that being steered by the driver.

The optional Versatrak all-wheel-drive system is lightweight, quiet and efficient. The on-demand system is one of the most advanced approaches to all-wheel drive. If one or both front wheels lose grip, the Versatrak system goes into action, with no buttons to push or levers to throw. The system is poised to help drivers make use of the traction available by not only transferring torque from front to rear, but also from side to side between the rear wheels – an ability not found in many competitive systems.

All Relay models come with the OnStar system, including a one-year subscription to the Safe & Sound plan. OnStar-equipped Relays feature new sixth-generation hardware with digital and analog coverage. OnStar's Gen 6 hardware also includes upgraded 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 Únited States and Canada. Úsing the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Personal Calling that allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls using a powerful three-watt digital/analog system and external antenna for greater reception.

Source - GM Corporation