Saturn Ion: the compact that replaced the S-Series

The Saturn Ion replaced the S-Series in 2002 and was the last Saturn passenger car built at Spring Hill, the plant the brand had been created around. It used the GM Delta platform, was sold as a four-door sedan and as the Quad Coupe, and later gained a supercharged Red Line version.

Saturn Ion at a glance

Written from the English Wikipedia article on the Ion.

History of the Saturn Ion

2003–2004: a compact on the Delta platform

The 2003 Ion Quad Coupe appeared at the New York International Auto Show in 2002. The sedan went on sale in the middle of October 2002 and the Quad Coupe followed early in 2003, both powered by the 2.2-litre 140 hp Ecotec four-cylinder. The Ion kept Saturn’s habit of putting the instruments where no other car had them: the instrument panel sat on the top centre of the dashboard instead of behind the steering wheel. The sedan had ordinary doors; the Quad Coupe had half-sized rear clamshell doors that opened backwards to give access to the back seats.

The range was divided into three levels. Level 1 was a sedan only, with cloth seats, 14-inch steel wheels and manual windows. Level 2 was the entry Quad Coupe and the upgraded sedan, with air conditioning and a CD player. Level 3 came with power windows and locks, 16-inch alloy wheels and a better stereo. Gearboxes were a Getrag F23 five-speed manual or an Aisin AF33 five-speed automatic; the automatic had no overdrive, so five ratios fitted in the space of a normal four-speed, and it was filled for life. Early coupes could also be ordered with a VTi continuously variable transmission.

2005–2006: one automatic, a quieter cabin

For 2005 Saturn dropped both the Aisin automatic and the CVT, leaving the four-speed 4T45-E as the only automatic. The sedan received the steering wheel already used in the 2004 coupe, the base car got better seat fabrics with height adjustment in the middle of the year, and GM’s “Quiet Steel” multi-layer sound deadening arrived. The front end of the sedan was restyled with a larger grille opening, the wheel covers were redesigned and an acoustic cover went over the engine. In 2006 the 2.4-litre, 170 hp four with variable valve timing became available in the Ion 3.

2007: the last year at Spring Hill

Both engines were uprated for 2007: the 2.2-litre to 145 hp and the 2.4-litre to 175 hp. The Ion 3 Quad Coupe could be ordered with an Appearance Package of redesigned bumpers, side mouldings, elliptical fog lamps and a chrome exhaust tip, and the Recaro seats of the Red Line were replaced by black leather seats with a passenger-sensing system. Production stopped on 29 March 2007, and the imported Saturn Astra hatchback took the Ion’s place in the range.

Design and features

• Centre-mounted instruments: the instrument panel sat on the top of the dashboard, not behind the wheel.
• Quad Coupe doors: half-sized rear-hinged doors on the coupe gave access to the back seats.
• Compact five-speed automatic: the Aisin unit had no overdrive and no scheduled fluid changes.
• Quiet Steel: multi-layer sound deadening was added for 2005.
• Red Line: a supercharged 2.0-litre coupe with a body kit, unique wheels and a rear spoiler.

Saturn Ion versions

• Level 1: the base sedan with 14-inch steel wheels and manual windows.
• Level 2: the entry Quad Coupe and the better-equipped sedan.
• Level 3: the top trim with alloy wheels, power equipment and a better stereo.
• Red Line: the supercharged Quad Coupe with a body kit and sports seats.
• 2007 Appearance Package: new bumpers, side mouldings, fog lamps and a chrome exhaust tip for the Ion 3 coupe.

The Ion replaced the Saturn S-Series and was itself replaced by the Saturn Astra. The bigger Aura was the sedan above it. More cars are in the Saturn collection.

Sources

• Saturn Ion, English Wikipedia: history, trims, engines, transmissions, end of production