Saturn S-Series | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Saturn (General Motors) |
Production | 1990–2002 |
Assembly | United States: Spring Hill, Tennessee (Spring Hill Manufacturing) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact car |
Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
Platform | GM Z platform |
Chronology | |
Successor | Saturn Ion |
First generation | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Saturn SL Saturn SW Saturn SC |
Production | 1990–1995 SL 1993–1995 SW 1990–1996 SC |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.9 L LK0 I4 (Gasoline) 1.9 L L24 I4 (Gasoline) 1.9 L LL0 I4 (Gasoline) |
Transmission | 4-speed Saturn MP6 automatic 4-speed Saturn MP7 automatic 5-speed Saturn MP2 manual 5-speed Saturn MP3 manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | SL & SW: 102.4 in (2,601 mm) SC: 99.2 in (2,520 mm) |
Length | SL & SW: 176.3 in (4,478 mm) 1990–93 SC: 175.8 in (4,465 mm) 1994–96 SC1: 173.2 in (4,399 mm) 1994–96 SC2: 174.6 in (4,435 mm) |
Width | 67.6 in (1,717 mm) |
Height | SC: 50.6 in (1,285 mm) SL: 52.5 in (1,334 mm) SW: 53.7 in (1,364 mm) |
Curb weight | SC: 2,293.9–2,416.7 lb (1,040–1,096 kg) SL: 2,320.5–2,456.5 lb (1,053–1,114 kg) SW: 2,397.3–2,499.4 lb (1,087–1,134 kg) |
Second generation | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Saturn SL1 Saturn SL2 Saturn SW1 Saturn SW2 Saturn SC1 Saturn SC2 |
Production | 1996–1999 SL 1996–1999 SW 1997–1999 SC |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door coupe (1997–1998) 3-door coupe (1999-2002) 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.9 L L24 I4(Gasoline) 1.9 L LL0 I4(Gasoline) |
Transmission | 4-speed Saturn MP6 automatic 4-speed Saturn MP7 automatic 5-speed Saturn MP2 manual 5-speed Saturn MP3 manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 102.4 in (2,601 mm) |
Length | 1996–99 SW & 1996–97 SL: 176.8 in (4,491 mm) 1998–99 SL: 176.9 in (4,493 mm) |
Width | 1996–99 SW: 66.7 in (1,694 mm) 1997–2000 SC: 67.3 in (1,709 mm) 1996–99 SL: 66.7 in (1,694 mm) |
Height | 1996–99 SW & SL: 54.5 in (1,384 mm) |
Third generation | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Saturn SL1 Saturn SL2 Saturn SW1 Saturn SW2 Saturn SC1 Saturn SC2 |
Production | 2000-2002 SL 2000-2002 SW 2000-2002 SC |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3-door coupe 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1.9 L L24 I4(Gasoline) 1.9 L LL0 I4(Gasoline) |
Transmission | 4-speed Saturn MP6 automatic 4-speed Saturn MP7 automatic 5-speed Saturn MP2 manual 5-speed Saturn MP3 manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 102.4 in (2,601 mm) |
Length |
2000–02 SL & SW: 178.1 in (4,524 mm) 2001–02 SC: 180.5 in (4,585 mm) |
Width | 2000–01 SW: 66.4 in (1,687 mm) 2001–02 SC: 68.2 in (1,732 mm) 2000–02 SL: 66.4 in (1,687 mm) |
Height | 2000–01 SW: 55.6 in (1,412 mm) 2000–02 SL: 55 in (1,397 mm) 2001–02 SC: 53 in (1,346 mm) |
The Saturn S-Series was a family of compact cars from the Saturn automobile company of General Motors. This was the first series of Saturn vehicles. The automobile platform, the Z-body, was developed entirely in-house at Saturn, and shared very little with the rest of the General Motors model line. It implemented a spaceframe design, which had been used on some Pontiacs during the 80's. This which meant that the side panels did not carry load and could use plastic pieces instead of metal. These polymer panels were dent-resistant—something that remained a selling point for Saturn until just a few years before the Saturn brand was discontinued. The S-series was sold from the fall of 1990 through the end of the 2002 model year, with partial redesigns in 1996 & 2000 (sedans), and 1997 & 2001 (coupes).
The S-series debuted with SL (“sedan level”) models in 1990 for the 1991 model year, a 2-door sports coupe designated SC joined for the 1991 model year and the SW (“sedan wagon”) joined the lineup for 1993.
Taiwan and Japan were the only two Asian countries to import Saturns. From 1992 to 1996, the first- and second-generation sedans plus the first-generation coupes were sold in Taiwan. From 1997 to 2001, the second-generation versions were sold in right-hand drive in Japan, and some Toyota Netz dealerships, and former Isuzu dealerships did offer Saturn products until 2001. At the time of the Japanese launch, the Japanese economy was in a sharp decline after the Japanese asset price bubble had collapsed during the early 1990s.