The SKY’s the limit

Saturn Corporation was conceived in the mid-1980s as a new subsidiary of General Motors which was intended to take on Japanese rivals that storming across the US landscape. It would have new and more responsive marketing strategies and more significantly, its own high-tech factory that was not disadvantaged by traditional GM production methods.

As such, Saturn was like the ‘young kid on the GM block’ with a more youthful image and in some ways, it appealed to younger buyers. Not surprising then that this GM division was tasked with developing a concept car which explored all the things that young people had said they want in a car.

The concept car, known as the SKY, is an open-air roadster concept, a response to what young people told Saturn’s researchers they wanted. “They said they were looking for open air and room for their friends and their stuff, balanced with a sense of responsibility. We just know this is a concept worth exploring,” said Dave Smith, Saturn’s brand character chief designer.

The SKY is an all-season vehicle (slightly smaller than a Ford Lynx S) spacious enough to move people and cargo comfortably through traffic without abandoning the coziness of a classic roadster. The compact convertible combines a hip, energetic design that speaks to an individual sense of style with supreme functionality for people on the go, according to Smith.

A versatile seating package allows the SKY to convert easily from two-place to four-place seating. The extra seats in the rear stow away underneath the tonneau cover when not in use.

The SKY also provides easy entry and exit. On this concept, Saturn continues with a unique feature to the brand – a rear access door on the driver’s side. This application is borrowed from today’s Saturn coupe, the only vehicle in the market that has this innovation.

The concept vehicle uses an Ecotec 2.2-litre 4-cylinder engine with a low-pressure supercharger, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, generating 132 kW/180 bhp, plenty for the light composite-bodied car to offer brisk performance.

Saturn’s design philosophy is said to be honest, optimistic and expressive, according to Smith. The “honest” design comes through in that the vehicle clearly communicates its intended use and functionality. The company’s signature upswept lines define the exterior, creating an inviting and expressive look. A continuous upswept line follows the hood cutline embraces the headlamps, and a wide, low front air intake is positioned underneath.

Distinctive lighting treatments on the SKY add appeal to the front and rear of the concept. The long low-profile fog lights glow softly with the striking appearance of arctic ice.

There’s a simple fabric roof that is lightweight and easy to use; when not needed, it can be stowed in the rear of the vehicle.

The taillights use LED technology to give the SKY concept a distinctive lighting signature to the rear of the vehicle. The light from the LED lamps is directed in a way that provides a smooth, even glow. LEDs provides the benefits of lightning-quick illumination, lower voltage consumption and lightweight packaging.

Inside, Saturn designers continued with the upswept character line on the steering wheel centre and the door panels. The instrumentation is mounted in the centre of the console, instead of the traditional location behind the
steering column. This has several benefits. It keeps the driver’s eyes closer to the horizon, eliminates blind spots in viewing the gauges and allows for a smaller steering wheel for a sporty feel. The shifter for the transmission can be folded into the centre console when the vehicle is parked for unobstructed pass-through, a clever idea.

“Here’s a roadster done the Saturn way,'” said Jill Lajdziak, vice president of Saturn Sales, Service and Marketing. “We’ve been offering a different kind of car since our creation and now we are showing off a car the world has never seen – a stirring, open-air roadster that is an equal mix of fun and function. People can take their friends along and easily talk as they go.”

“This concept vehicle is extremely important for Saturn,” Smith added. “We want to infuse Saturn design with even more daring and verve, continuing some of the brand’s signature cues.”

SKY DIMENSIONS
Height : 1301 mm
Length: 4210 mm
Width: 1765.3 mm
Wheelbase: 2601 mm
Tracks: 1575 mm