While attending the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally in Elkhart Lake, WI., I had an opportunity to test drive the 2005 Saturn Ion Red Line quad coupe.
The Chili Pepper Red model included the new Competition Package, and the driving was on the four-mile sanctioned course at Road America.
Pushing the Ion Red Line to its limits on the racetrack was the best way for members of the press corp to experience first hand the new optional upgrades.
For an additional $1,470 on top of the Red Line Coupe’s $21,450 sticker, the Competition Package makes the Saturn Ion more in tune with the hot front-wheel drive, four-cylinder “tuner” car trends sweeping the nation.
Major mechanical addition to the 2005 Ion Red Line Coupe, already equipped with beefier springs, shocks, bushings, stabilizer bars, and drive axle, is a limited-slip differential.
This feature greatly improves the distribution of torque between front wheels, transferring power to the wheels that are gripping the pavement.
Aesthetically, the Competition Package adds ominous looking gunmetal-finished, six-spoke forged rims surrounded by sticky 17-inch performance tires.
The minor vents located ahead of the front wheels, and the large wing mounted to the lid of the trunk are standard on all Ion Red Line vehicles, but with the Competition Package, a pair of compact projector beam fog lights are mounted low in the front fascia.
All 2005 Ion Red Line Coupes, including those with the Competition Package, use the peppy 205-horsepower, supercharged and intercooled, 2-liter, dual overhead cam, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine.
The only transmission offered is the heavy-duty, short-throw, five-speed manual shifter, which adds a lot of joy to the Red Line experience.
A five-speed automatic available on other Ion models is not available on the Red Line coupe.
Assisting the driver to maximize the performance from the Saturn four-banger, the Competition
Package includes a welcomed supercharger boost and vacuum pressure gauge on the dash, and a novel illuminated ladder tachometer.
This boost gauge is mounted directly in front of the driver, surrounded by six LEDs. Through each shift, the LEDs progress from yellow to red as the engine approaches maximum revolutions per minute.
Utilizing the ladder tach helped to maintain consistence performance while shifting around the curves and through and sharp turns at Road America.
The programmable ladder tach supplements the round 8,000-rpm analog tachometer located in the dash center-mounted instrument cluster.
From a complete stop, the Ion Red Line Competition Package offered strong low-end torque that launched the coupe to 60 miles an hour in a fraction more than 6 seconds before reaching 120 mph on the straightaway.
On the record, a modified Ion Quad Coupe holds the land speed title for the G / Blown Fuel Altered Class at 212.684 miles per hour.
To demonstrate the ultimate performance division took it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where the Red Line established a new land speed record.
For its price in the sports compact car segment, the Ion Red Line performance-bred suspension provided competent handing and ride characteristics, plus the power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with standard Bosch four-channel ABS took hard-stopping punishment with out fading.
Key competitors to the Ion Red Line are the Honda Civic Si, Ford Focus SVT, Nissan Sentra SE-R and Dodge Neon SRT-4. But, only the ION has dual rear-access doors, which makes it easy to load and unload passengers and cargo.
Along with the Chili Pepper Red exterior color, Black Onyx, Pacific Blue and Silver Nickel are available.
Black leather and blue fabric upholstered the Recaro racing-style front seats and matching twin rear seats.
Saturn has come along way since its 1990 inception, and today is boldly changing before our eyes.
Brian Brockman, representing Saturn at the MAMA rally, said, “Saturn will be doubling its portfolio over the next 24 months, which includes the stylish 2007 Sky convertible, the Euro-inspired Aura sporty medium sedan, followed by a large crossover SUV.”
From all indications, Saturn is rising brightly in the heavens once again. |