We generally prefer to do the shifting ourselves, particularly with a sporting car like this. Our test car came with the 260 horsepower engine and optional five-speed automatic transmission. Not only that, but Sky and Solstice are also available with a direct-injection turbocharged motor that pushes 260 horsepower, more than any factory Miata can claim. A market that was once all but sewn up by Mazda has been cut open again by The General’s duo of entry-level roadsters. Not surprisingly, the ride is pretty stiff.But not as good as: a Sky with a turbocharger and a clutch pedal.įor a car that’s only been in production a few years, the Saturn Sky (and its kissing cousin the Solstice) has infiltrated the sports car market with surprising efficiency. The steering has a noticeable dead center, but it avoids making the car twitchy at high straight-line speeds. The car answers nicely and bites into corners with ease. Although it's not as flingable as an MX-5 (the SKY is heavier), it's still a lot of fun, now that you can swing out the rear end with all that low-rpm torque. My fuel consumption average was higher than that, at 11.8 L/100 km, which is still pretty decent. When equipped with the 5-speed manual, the difference is even greater: 9.1 L/100 km combined rating, versus 10.0 for the base SKY. Ironically, fuel economy ratings are actually better in the turbo SKY than the normally-aspirated model: 9.5 L/100 km combined city highway versus 9.7. It's handy when you're blasting down sinuous back roads, but not really useful on the highway. There is also an 'I' position on the shift gate, which is sort of a sport mode that does its best ![]() Downshifts are quick and effective, and it's nice to see more than 4 gears in a GM automatic. While I was initially disappointed to see that my test car was equipped with an automatic transmission, the 5-speed unit proved worthy of sending power to pavement. Unfortunately, the car is too noisy on the highway, top up or down. The Red Line easily sends its rear wheels spinning, until the traction control system steps in, although a little too abruptly, in my opinion. Stab the gas pedal, and the whirs and hisses while the exhaust system lets out a few backfires. The Red Line version of the SKY comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The SKY is the spark plug of Saturn's renaissance, and should attract a lot of people into their showrooms, where they will find other products of interest, such as the VUE Green Line, the new AURA and the ION Red Line. The SKY is drop-down sexy, and in my opinion, I find the Saturn better-looking than its Pontiac counterpart. Its striking sheetmetal draws stares wherever you go. The SKY is, first and foremost, a question of style. Finally, a GM concept car hits the streets without being severely watered down. A stunning new SKY concept appeared at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, which is the spitting image of the production roadster. Both the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn SKY concepts were unveiled in 2002, but the Saturn was horrendously ugly. Someone had to do something about it, but I don't think anyone was expecting that someone to be General Motors. When introduced way back in 1989 as a '90 model, it was an instant hit and has been pretty much unrivaled ever since. Mazda's MX-5 has been living large for the last 17 years. From the show-car circuit to the showroom floor, literallyĢ007 Saturn SKY Red Line (Photo: Philippe Champoux, )
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