- The Saturn subsidiary was launched in 1985, but its first car, the S-Series, didn't debut until 1991. Saturn had its own distribution network and assembly plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. The S-Series arrived as a coupe, sedan and station wagon. By 1999, 2 million Saturns had been sold, according to fundinguniverse.com.
- The Saturn Vue crossover is the automaker's best-selling vehicle.
The Vue is Saturn's compact crossover offering and best-selling vehicle. Debuting in 2002, the Vue is offered in the base XE, mid-level XR and the top-line and sports-styled Red Line. It's powered by a 164-horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine. A 215-horse power 3.5-liter V-6 is offered on the XE models. The 257-horse power 3.6-liter V-6 is found on the Red Line versions, according to edmunds.com. - The Aura is a mid-size car that replaced Saturn's L-Series.
The economical and spunky midsized Aura replaced the L-Series in 2005. Although the 2.4-liter four-cylinder Aura is not a compact, it delivers exceptional gas mileage with 22 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway. It can reach 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. It's offered in only two trim levels: the base XE and the XR. Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, 17-inch steel wheels, cruise control and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, according to edmunds.com. - The Outlook is a full-size crossover SUV.
The Outlook covers the full-size crossover sport utility vehicle market. It replaced the Relay minivan in 2007, but production was scheduled to end in 2009. It accommodates up to eight passengers and features more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space. It's offered in the base XE and upper level XR trim models and powered by a V-6, according to edmunds.com. - The Saturn Sky roadster.
The Sky was Saturn's effort to join the sports car niche with a spry two-seater roadster. It debuted in 2006 and is powered by a modest 173-horse power 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. But the Red Line trim option equipped the Sky with a turbocharged 260-horse power 2-liter inline-four that could hit zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, according to edmunds.com. - Following initially strong sales, Saturn's popularity waned. The once popular Ion compact sedan was manufactured from 2003 to 2007, while the Relay minivan was produced from 2005 to 2007. The Astra, a three- and five-door hatchback, was a rebadged version of the Opel Astra and produced in the U.S. market only for 2008, according to edmunds.com.
- In 2009, General Motors filed for bankruptcy and received a U.S. government bailout. GM management focused their attention to the company's core brands of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Saturn LLC was scheduled to be sold to the Penske Automotive Group, according to the Associated Press and BusinessWeek. Its future is uncertain.
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