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D8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 29, 2000 Saturn reach/ to entercompetitiveSUVcompact market eaturing a space frame and polymer panels, Saturn has added a third model to its line up with the announce ment it will offers a compact sport-utility vehicle next year. Saturn recently unveiled its SUV at the South Florida International Auto Show in Miami, just 10 years after the first Saturn made its auto show debut there. The SUV will join the Saturn SSeries and midsize LSeries at Saturn retail ers in the fall of 2001. "A sport-utility vehicle is the next logical addition to Saturn's portfolio," said G. Richard Wagoner, Jr., president and CEO of General Motors. "The com pact sport-utility market is expected to nearly double by 2005. We want Saturn to ride that wave with a car-like SUV that is engineered from the ground up and built off a unique Saturn platform." The Saturn SUV incorporates Saturn innovations like spaceframe construction and dentresistant polymer bodyside pan F JIM ROBINSON RoadW orthy els, and introduces new features like a continuously-variable transmission (CVT), electricallyassisted power steering, and an interior design that sets a bench mark for user-friendliness. "Customers tell us they are looking for the style, versatility and securi ty of a traditional SUV along with the comfort, performance and efficiency of a passenger car," said Cynthia Trudell, Saturn chairman and president. "The new Saturn SUV is just such a vehicle, one that will change cus tomers' perspectives of what an SUV should be." To help introduce the newest member of the growing Saturn family, Satum will showcase the SUV at auto shows across the country as well as on the Satum Web site, www.satum.com. The Satum SUV will offer customers a choice of a powerful 138 hp, 2.2-litre twin-cam fourcylinder engine or a 181 hp 3.0litre dual-overhead camshaft V6. It will be available with all wheel-drive for improved trac- Saturn plans to tion and security in inclement weather. Fully independent sus pension front and rear enhances both ride and handling. The space-frame for the Satum SUV incorporates fulllength frame rails and a steel safety cage into a single welded structure. Dent-resistant poly mer bodyside panels and carheight bumpers help keep the market an sport-utility vehicle in the fall of 2001. vehicle looking newer, longer. for plastic grocery bags, and a Inside, the Satum SUV is cargo organizer for smaller designed for maximum versatili objects. ty, with a 70/30 split folding rear Most recently in the US, seat and a front passenger seat- Satum ranked as the number one back that also folds flat, allowing nameplate in the J.D. Power and long objects to be carried inside Associates Sales Satisfaction the vehicle. Major operations are Study. Satum has finished first designed for easy one-hand oper in this study five out of the last ation. The rear cargo area six years. includes tie-down points, hooks "A strong product lineup teamed with Saturn's industryleading sales satisfaction is a powerful combination," Trudell said. Satum was created to offer a North American-made alterna tive to popular imports, and to bring new customers to the General Motors family. Satum continues to attract new cus tomers to GM. Nearly four out of five Satum customers say they would have bought or leased a non-GM vehicle had Satum not been available. Over half say they would have chosen an import brand. To further build on this suc cess, Satum is embarking on a multi-year program to expand its product lineup with a portfolio of innovative larger vehicles and to refine its award-winning retail network. Satum is moving into market segments that provide both growth potential and a logical step-up for over two million cur rent Satum customers. In 1999, Satum added the midsize LSeries sedan and wagon. The allnew Satum SUV will follow the L-Series just two years later. The company is continuing to study other new market segments as it plans for additional growth. Few changes to Satum L-Series After the introduction of the mid-sized LSeries sedans and wagons last year, the lineup marches into 2001 with very few revisions. The fuel tank on all models increases to 60 litres from 50, and you can now order front and rear head curtain airbags similar to those available on the smaller S-Series. Sized about the same as a Toyota Camry, the Opel Vectra-based L Series sedans and LW wagons are constructed using polymer body panels that ward off light bumps and dings from shopping carts, bikes and clumsy or inconsiderate door flingers. Powering the base model is a 137-horsepower 2.2-litre SOHC four-cylinder engine. Optional is a 3.0-litre DOHC V6 powerplant that delivers a respectable 182 horsepower. A five-speed manual comes standard on the sedan, but is not available in the wagon. A four-speed automatic is optional. Base price: $20,100 Passenger doors: Four Base engine (hp): 2.2-litre SOHC (137) Optional engine (hp): 3.0-litre DOHC V6 (182) Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive 2001 S a tu rn LS ate olidays.) The m id-dize 2000 LS2 L im ited su pply o f com pany dem onstrators ava ila b le · · V6 182 horsepower · · A u tom atic tran sm ission · A ir conditioning Power su nroof 6-w ay power driver' s se a t · S atu rn advanced audio system with AM /FM stereo a n d CD p la y er · Power windows/m irrors/locks with rem ote R e a r spoiler · $ 28,91(W (includes freight) W e a re now offering a 0.9% finance ra te on o u r rem ain in g 2000 L -S eries vehicles. So this h o li day, g e t a gift fo r y o u rse lf. All o th e r 2000 m odels h a v e a 1.9% fin a n c e ra te . D o w n p ay m e n t/tra d e a n d /o r s e c u rity d e p o sit m ay be re q u ire d . M o n th ly p a y m e n t a n d c o st o f b o r ro w ing w ill v a ry d e p e n d in g on a m o u n t b o rro w e d a n d d o w n p a y m e n t/tra d e . \T h e M S R P o f $ 2 8 ,9 1 0 fo r o u r 2000 L S2 1 S E in c lu d e s fre ig h t, P D I a n d ex cise ta x w h e re ap p licab le. L icense, tax e s a n d in su ra n c e a re e x tra . T h e 0.9% fin an ce ra te ap p lies to c u sto m e rs w ith ap p ro v e d credit. Lim ited tim e offer w hile supplies last. B uy o n lin e a t sa tu rn c an a d a.co m 1-888-4SA T U R N M o to rs In su r a n c e A GMAC Insurance Company Visit your local SSI Retailer and call MIC for a fast, no obligation auto insurance quote* S A T IR N A D if f e r e n t K in d o f C o m pa n y . A D if f e r e n t K in d o f C a r . r and is not acting as an agent or broker or in any other capacity on behalf of Motors Insurance Corporation. M IC offer available to residents of Ontario only. jP S j SATIRN. of Oakville (9 0 5 )8 4 5 -16 10 · www.buddssaturn.saturncanada.com a Dudds Com pany i j£ * J £ SwgR mA * t * k