DETROIT - General Motors will try to give the slow-selling Saturn Ion more style and refinement for the 2005 model year, replacing the automatic transmission, fascia, seats and interior materials.
The Ion needed "big changes (to help) those areas that consumers have told us, quite frankly, need improvement," said Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, in a recent interview.
Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars, including the Ion, said last week that GM is applying many of the features developed for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, which shares the Ion's Delta small-car architecture.
"We could roll (Cobalt features) right into the Ion and really get that car to a level that it hasn't been," Queen said.
For the 2005 Ion, GM plans to:
Replace the five-speed automatic transmission with a four-speed to counter complaints of "shift busy-ness," according to spokesman Michael Morrissey.
Replace the small steering wheel with a full-sized one.
Recalibrate the electric steering to improve responsiveness.
Add interior materials to improve appearance and tactile feel at "touch points."
Add laminated steel and insulation to cut interior noise.
Replace seats with better bolstered ones.
Redesign the sedan's fascia.
Full Article
The Ion needed "big changes (to help) those areas that consumers have told us, quite frankly, need improvement," said Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, in a recent interview.
Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars, including the Ion, said last week that GM is applying many of the features developed for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, which shares the Ion's Delta small-car architecture.
"We could roll (Cobalt features) right into the Ion and really get that car to a level that it hasn't been," Queen said.
For the 2005 Ion, GM plans to:
Replace the five-speed automatic transmission with a four-speed to counter complaints of "shift busy-ness," according to spokesman Michael Morrissey.
Replace the small steering wheel with a full-sized one.
Recalibrate the electric steering to improve responsiveness.
Add interior materials to improve appearance and tactile feel at "touch points."
Add laminated steel and insulation to cut interior noise.
Replace seats with better bolstered ones.
Redesign the sedan's fascia.
Full Article