General Motors launched its Saturn automobile manufacturing company in 1990, largely in response to the success of Japanese small-car imports in the United States. Saturn's headquarters and primary manufacturing facility are located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
The S-series compacts, developed entirely in-house, were Saturn's first product, and they were marketed, with minor alterations, from the fall of 1990 through the end of the 2002 model year. The S-series line-up included sedans (SL, SL-1, SL-2), coupes (SC, SC-1, SC-2) and wagons (SW-1, SW-2). In the late 1990s right hand-drive versions were exported to Japan. Two engines, unique to Saturn, were available. They were the SOHC and DOHC fours, each 1.9 liters in displacement.
The L-series sedans and wagons were introduced in 2000. They are based on the Opel Vectra and are manufactured in Wilmington, Delaware. These models are available with 4 and 6-cylinder engines.
The VUE SUV was introduced for the 2002 model year and was designed by Saturn. It is manufactured in Spring Hill. Its unibody platform will be shared with the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox.
The ION, which comes standard with a 140-hp twin-cam "Ecotec" 4-cylinder engine, is Saturn's newest vehicle in the line-up and replaces the S-series. It is available in sedan and coupe form.
Both the VUE and ION are available with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Saturn is known for its company-wide "no-haggle" sale policy. Dealers, or retailers, are not authorized to sell any new Saturn at any price above or below list. Customer satisfaction with dealer service is among the highest of any car brand in the U.S.
In 2004, Saturn will be coming out with high-performance "Red-Line" variants of the ION and VUE. The Relay mini-van will be introduced for the 2005 model year. This vehicle will be the first Saturn without polymer side paneling and will be built with other GM mini-vans in Kansas.
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2003 ION2 at Spring Hill headquarters
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