Saturn ION
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saturn ION | |
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| Manufacturer | Saturn Corporation |
| Parent company | General Motors |
| Production | 2003–2007 |
| Assembly | Spring Hill, Tennessee |
| Predecessor | Saturn S-Series |
| Successor | Saturn Astra |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 4-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | GM Delta platform |
| Engine | 2.2 L L61 I4 2.4 L LE5 I4 2.0 L LSJ supercharged I4 |
| Transmission | 5-speed Getrag F23 manual 5-speed Getrag F35 manual 4-speed 4T45-E automatic 5-speed Aisin AF33 automatic VTi CVT |
| Wheelbase | 103.2 in |
| Length | 184.5 in (sedan) 185 in (coupe) |
| Width | 67.2 in (sedan) 67.9 in (coupe) |
| Height | 57.4 in (sedan) 56 in (coupe) 55.6 in (coupe) |
| Fuel capacity | 13 US gal. |
| Related | Chevrolet Cobalt Chevrolet HHR Opel Astra Pontiac G5 |
| Similar | Dodge Neon Kia Spectra Nissan Sentra |
The Saturn ION was a compact car sold by the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors. It used the GM Delta platform. The ION replaced the Saturn S-Series in 2003. As of 2006, the ION was the longest compact car sold in North America. Production of the ION ended on March 27, 2007.
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[edit] 2003-2004
The 2003 ION came standard with a 140 hp (104 kW) DOHC Ecotec I4 engine. The ION's instrument panel is mounted on the top center of the dashboard, rather than behind the steering wheel. The ION is available in sedan and coupe forms; the coupe is called a "quad coupe" due to the two smaller rear-opening "suicide doors" behind the front doors.
A Getrag F23 5-speed manual or an Aisin AF33 5-speed automatic transmission were available. The 2003 and 2004 IONs were available with the VTi continuously variable transmission.
In 2004, Saturn introduced the high-performance Red Line variant of the ION, featuring a 205 hp supercharged engine, and a stronger F35 5-speed manual transmission. Dyno testing would often show an excess of 205 hp at the front wheels in this setup. Stiffer springs with a lowered ride height, performance sway bars, revalved shock absorbers, Recaro racing seats, and a special ground effects package were also included. This model used a 2.0L version of General Motor's Ecotec engine, termed the 'LSJ', developed with GM's Performance Division and track tested at Germany's famous Nürburgring Nordschleife.
[edit] 2005-2006
In 2005 the Aisin 5-speed automatic, along with the VTi CVT used in the quad-coupes from 2003 to mid-2004 were both discontinued for various issues, with reliability being the main issue for the VTi; the Aisin had a common documented problem called shift-flare, which also was somewhat common in other manufacturers that used Aisin transmissions (i.e. Toyota, etc). GM's 4-speed 4T45-E replaced both transmissions and is the only automatic transmission available. While less technologically advanced than the previous offerings, it is a long term proven design.
Also in 2005, the 'hockey puck' style steering wheel was discontinued and the design used in the 2004 Red Line model became standard on all models. In mid-2005, the seats in the base ION1 model were upgraded with new fabrics and a height adjustment feature. 2005 also saw the introduction of "quiet steel" multilaminate technology for sound reduction. The front fascia of the sedan was upgraded as well with a much larger grille opening.
The ECU was switched from a speed density system to a mass air system. An acoustic engine cover was added to reduce engine noise.
In 2006, the long-rumored 170 hp 2.4 L I4 engine with variable valve timing became available for the ION3. This engine produces 170hp and 170 ftlbs torque.
[edit] 2007
The 2007 Saturn Ion's 2.2 L Ecotec engine will have an increase in power from 140 hp (104 kW) to 145 hp (108 kW) at 5600 rpm and an increase in torque from 145 ft·lbf (197 Nm) to 150 ft·lbf (203 Nm) at 4200 rpm. The 2.4 L Ecotec will have an increase in power from 170 hp (127 kW) to 175 hp (130 kW) at 6500 rpm and an increase in torque from 162 ft·lbf (219 Nm) to 164 ft·lbf (222 Nm) at 4800 rpm. The Recaro seats on the Red Line will be replaced with black leather-appointed seats with passenger sensing system.
[edit] 2008
Originally, the ION was supposed to be redesigned for 2008. There were even pictures of the 2008 ION floating around the internet. But, instead, GM scrapped the idea of an '08 ION, and in March 2007, the ION will be discontinued, and will be replaced by the European-built Saturn Astra hatchback, which is a rebadged Opel Astra.
[edit] External links
| Saturn, a division of General Motors, automobile timeline, United States market, 1990s-present | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Compact | S-Series | S-Series | ION | Astra | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | L-Series | Aura | ||||||||||||||||||
| Compact SUV | VUE | VUE | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Outlook | |||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Relay | |||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster | Sky | |||||||||||||||||||
