Filed under: Car Buying, Convertibles
Saturn Sky pricing announced
GM announced today that the 2007 Saturn Sky will start at $23,690. That price is for a 5-speed manual, while a Sky with a 5-speed auto will set you back $24,540. The press release indicates only that the roadster will be available this spring, so we have no firm date for when it will go on sale.
The price of entry includes four-wheel disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension with coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks, air conditioning, power everything, and a CD stereo with auxiliary input. A limited-slip diff will also be made available for a price that’s yet to be announced.
For comparison’s sake, the Pontiac Solstice starts at $20,490 and the Mazda MX-5 at $20,995.
GM’s full press release after the jump…
[Source: GM]
Sky Combines Dynamic Style, Performace With Equally-Attractive Price
MSRP of 2007 Saturn Sky to start at $23,690
DETROIT – With its combination of dynamic design and agile performance, the 2007 Saturn Sky signals a bold new direction for the Saturn brand. The vehicle’s price, however, shows the brand’s ongoing commitment to providing solid value to its buyers combined with an industry-standard purchase and ownership experience.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the well-equipped 2007 Sky starts at $23,690 for models with a 5-speed manual transmission, and $24,540 with an optional 5-speed automatic. (Both MSRPs include a $575 destination charge.)
The Sky, available this spring, is the first vehicle to feature a new look that will inspire the design of future Saturn products. The roadster will be followed this summer by the all-new Aura midsize sedan and Outlook midsize crossover utility late in 2006. These vehicles feature the same, dynamic exterior design theme, with inviting, sophisticated interiors.
“The Sky signals a whole new direction for Saturn as we dramatically grow our portfolio,” says Jill Lajdziak, Saturn’s general manager. “It blends the dynamic new design of our vehicles with a strong value proposition in its segment.”
Dynamic Design
The Sky’s exterior features a strong front end that represents the new face of Saturn, with a pronounced fender peak and a bold, chrome bar that carries an integrated Saturn badge. It has a wide, muscular stance with short overhangs and 18-inch wheels pushed to the corners for a true sports car feel. The convertible top folds completely into the rear compartment, and the clamshell hood provides excellent accessibility and reinforces the Sky’s sports car character. Halogen projector beam headlamps and foglamps extend the exterior’s sophisticated look.
The design philosophy is carried through to the Sky’s interior, which is driver-focused with integrated controls and displays. Creative use of piano black and chrome finishes combine with available leather seats and technical grains to emphasize richness and precision. Jewel-like detailing on the HVAC and lighting controls is executed with tight fits, highlighting the attention to detail.
Roadster performance
The Sky also has the athletic performance to back up its bold styling. It is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, 177-horsepower Ecotec engine with variable valve timing and a five-speed Aisin manual transmission with a short throw shifter. An available limited slip differential decreases potential wheel slippage, increasing the Sky’s performance potential ever further.
Other major standard features on the 2007 Sky include:
• Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and dynamic rear proportioning
• Four-wheel independent short/long arm suspension with coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks
• Air conditioning
• Power windows, locks, mirrors and remote keyless entry
• Dual-stage drive and passenger airbags with Passenger Sensing System
• AM/FM/CD Stereo with auxiliary input jack for use with portable audio players
• The 2007 Saturn Sky will be built at GM’s Wilmington, Del., assembly facility.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
egs 7:31AM (1/03/2006)
I am still waiting on the coupe they displayed in the early concepts....
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cowboy bob 7:52AM (1/03/2006)
I rather like the front-end treatment better than the Solstice, but I'm not sure I like it for about three grand more. The Solstice also has announced the Turbo option, which will make the non-turbos like the small horsepower SSR pick-ups. Worthless in comparison. I see brand new 2004 SSR's still on the lot. Lower horsepower, no sale. The turbo should be available on the Saturn as well, anyone know? Also, what body material is the Sky or the Solstice made from? Plastic or metal? Body material selection may be important.
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cuby 8:28AM (1/03/2006)
back when i saw the sky concept at the nyc show a few years ago, everyone seemed to love it, but i think that was predicated upon the assumption that these would be budget cars. like, for-real budget. for saturn, a five grand premium over the miata is a hard sell, regardless of what's standard.
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Tom Dietrich 8:30AM (1/03/2006)
The Solstice is made from 100% hydroformed steel, and I think everything but the doors on the sky are Hydroformed steel.
Last I heard they were debating the supercharger on the Sky and the Turbocharger on the Solstice to differentiate them.
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Lithous 8:42AM (1/03/2006)
I believe Saturn is going completely away from plastic body panels on their vehicles from what I heard. I believe this one is metal.
Looks like at least at first the $25K price won't be a big deal. If the Solstice consistantly gets around $25K bids then the Sky should be worth that much as well (in theory). If you like angular go for the Sky and if you like round go for the Solstice. Hopefully GM can react if the price of the Sky does prove to be too much. It is still around $10K less than it's angular friend the S2000.
http://search-completed.ebay.com/solstice_W0QQfisZ2QQfromZR32QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZ?GetResult&fis=2&from=R32&fsoo=2&fsop=3&sacat=-1
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Peter 9:21AM (1/03/2006)
In the past, I have been a huge supporter of Saturn, owning 4 over the past years. Great cars, in my opinion. And I really like the looks and features of the Sky. I hope it will do well for Saturn. But 24K?! Dang! A couple thousand more, and you can get a 350Z!
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cowboy bob 10:32AM (1/03/2006)
Thank you Tom@#4. I was wondering about the skin material, as I live in New York. Although The winter driving of this type vehicle would be rare, the road salt here can destroy a continent in about thirty seconds. Saturns here look good even after some winter exposure, because of the plastic body. I am somewhat sorry to see them go to steel.
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Corey W. 10:52AM (1/03/2006)
I hope it does well, but the pricing is off. Sorry, but in the grand scheme, a Saturn application should not cost more than the same Pontiac. Platform sharing is fine, but what is this saying about Pontiac in comparison to Saturn? And like previously posted 24k put you in range of better established vehicles.
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G. Snyder 11:10AM (1/03/2006)
I think the Saturn comes with more stuff standard, which could explain some of the price difference. Remember that a base Solstice is pretty basic. A few options and you are up in the $25k territory.
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bernie 11:21AM (1/03/2006)
Love it - much more aggressive looking than the chick car Solstice. Best thing fgor Saturn since GM effectively abandoned it a few years ago. Now let's see if they can avoid building it at some truck plant in Missouri and screw up the marketing. When you say "start at 23,900," does that mean it's the Red Tag, you pay what we pay, our product is worthless, good luck on reasale, Pakastani bazar-like haggling starts at $23,900 (on the way down) price?
If GM can find a way to build an interior that doesn't use plastic that rivals a "Hello Kitty" purse (like they used in early VUEs)they may have something.
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Spencer 12:02PM (1/03/2006)
The body panels are not polymer, which is unfortunate. I spoke to someone who said that the Redline version has been confirmed, but no date has been set.
Check out these pictures:
http://www.esp2002.com/saturn_carshow06/
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Steve S 12:04PM (1/03/2006)
With similar options the Sky and Solstice price out the same. The issue as with the Solstice is can GM actually manufacture it in the quantity that is wanted. They have been unable to do so with the Solstice.
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Scott K 1:58PM (1/03/2006)
Um, for those of you balking at the price...a Solstice with each of the features standard on the SKY comes to...
Remember that the SKY will have OnStar system that is optional on Solstice. A/C is a $960 option on the Solstice.
$23320
So an upgraded interior isn't worth the $370 upcharge?
Remember the base Miata and Solstice prices are for fairly bare-bones roadsters. At least Saturn is pricing the Sky where most of these things are optioned to anyway.
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S1500 2:05PM (1/03/2006)
Why does that car remind me of that Opel Speedster a bit?
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Paul 2:19PM (1/03/2006)
11. With similar options the Sky and Solstice price out the same. The issue as with the Solstice is can GM actually manufacture it in the quantity that is wanted. They have been unable to do so with the Solstice.
Posted at 12:04PM on Jan 3rd 2006 by Steve S 0 stars
Steve, I agree. This product is just more junk from the incompetants at GM. more cheap plastic interiors, overweight chassis, more orange peal paint, more sluggish ecotrash motors, more stupid roof trunk config, more bad assembly and bad engineering that should have been done in Japan or Korea if GM wanted a quality intelligent product.
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aaron 4:05PM (1/03/2006)
NO standard ABS.. GM is shitty
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Lithous 4:46PM (1/03/2006)
"Other major standard features on the 2007 Sky include:
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and dynamic rear proportioning"
And I'm the bad guy because I love to mess with import fanboys about their over exaggerations and myths about American vehicles. Chalk up another article with GM bashing and another myth this dude will perpetuate when he tells his friends, "The Sky doesn't even have ABS as standard".
Why don't you do a search for "ABS" on this page?
http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicles/futurevehicles/sky_hi/index.swf
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Rocky Robinson 4:48PM (1/03/2006)
Those who are questioning the pricing relationship between Saturn and Pontiac have not clued into the re-positioning of Saturn. GM is changing Saturn products to be above Pontiacs in order to compete with VW and even Acura. Look at the Aura...it will be a big jump up from its sister car the G6...and the next gen Vue will be based on the Opel Antera concept...again a big step up from the Torrent/Equinox and the current Vue.
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sk 7:31PM (1/03/2006)
"...The turbo should be available on the Saturn as well, anyone know?"
Yes, its called red line and comes with 260hp. Available in fall of 06.
Source saturnfans.com
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stratojet 7:40PM (1/03/2006)
"The body panels are not polymer, which is unfortunate. "
Well, saturn has been criticized very much about "big gaps" in body panels. Now, of course they are dent resistant, but, the socalled "gurus", "auto specialists" and "tree-huggers" of this world don't like gaps. They much prefer to park 1 mile from the next car to avoid dents in their savvy choosen automobile.
"NO standard ABS.. GM is shitty"
Aaron, I am sure does not like wide gaps in polymer body panel. Go educate yourself mister before propagating false affirmations..
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