Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA, Sports/GTs, Saturn
SEMA 2007: Saturn Super Sky
Click for high-res gallery of Super Sky shots from SEMA
Although it was already shown at the Sport Compact Performance show in Montreal a couple of weeks ago, this funky Canadian-built Saturn caught our eyes here in Las Vegas. This "Top Tuner" Saturn "Super" Sky is like no other Saturn we've ever seen. First of all, it's mid-engined. Second of all, that engine happens to be a Corvette LT-1 V8. What started out as a Saturn Sky now resembles something that could be an Exige or Cayman fighter. Perhaps a little too flashy for our tastes done up as a show car, you can see in profile especially that this could make a very appealing production Saturn. Perhaps it's what the Sky should have been all along. The V8 might be a bit much, but a mid-mount V6 sounds just about perfect. Granted this wasn't even an official Saturn project, but we like the concept. It was said that 10,000 man hours were spent stretching the frame, redoing all of the bodywork and creating that unique center-mount, single seat interior. We say nicely done.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Merc 1:09PM (11/01/2007)
What happens when amateurs try to redesign a car....
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bert 6:42PM (11/01/2007)
They get flamed by amatuers like you, is what happens
Justin 4:12PM (11/02/2007)
agreed bert...there's nothing amateur about it
John R 1:22PM (11/01/2007)
Actually, I don't think this is bad at all. I like it a lot. Replace it with a more practical wheel & tire combo and it looks like it would belong in Japan Super GT.
I would want to say GM should give this a go as Lutz is on about making a mid-engine Corvette. Except this might be proof to leave the Corvette alone as is and come out with some sort of Saturn "Corvair" instead.
But, as much as I would want to see a production version, it ain't gonna happen. The need to concentrate on their more pedestrain models
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John R 1:24PM (11/01/2007)
pedestrian*
gearhead18 1:32AM (11/03/2007)
Yeah this car is pretty cool, I've always liked the Saturn Sky a lot more that the Pontiac Solstice. Mostly because the Solstice is all round and cutesy while the Sky is a more agressive rebadged Opel GT.
Built in Canada! Boo-Yah!
FLR 1:29PM (11/01/2007)
Lose the logos and put on some silver paint and that would be a good looking car.
One critique though, who thought putting a Pontiac Solstice twin grille on the rear of the car was a good idea? ;-)
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Guenther 1:37PM (11/01/2007)
Ever notice you can make almost any mis-shapen piece of crapp look ok by tinting the windows black and painting the rest silver? A mid-engine V8 will never come from GM as long as there's a Corvette. That is part of what killed the Fiero. Remember the Fiero? Well, as it went, the little mid-engined Pontiac was close to receiving parts-bin upgrades for the 1992 model year, when the sum of its parts suddenly would have made the old C4 'Vette look slow. Can't have that.
Guenther 1:54PM (11/01/2007)
check- 1990 Fiero.
Mike 1:38PM (11/01/2007)
Love the body kit...
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h8rain 1:39PM (11/01/2007)
Fix the wheels and clean up the rear quarter a bit, and WOW that is an awesome car. Like a newer MR2. If that with a turbo 4 or a NA 6, and less than 30K, I would be sold.
Again, just WOW at a Saturn!!!
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mk 1:42PM (11/01/2007)
WOW.
that is way, WAY over the top. But there is a fascinating premise here on several levels.
First: Saturn Sky Targa fastback coupe. A b-pillar hoop with a fastback hatchback, and a targa roof would be FANTASTIC on the Sky, especially redline.
Second: Mid engine conversion.
This is less production-ready, but an interesting premise. I would probably stick to a transverse I4, v6, or even V8. The longitudinal arrangement is more appealing, until you see how it completely mangles the car's lines and lenghtens the car behind the cabin.
Cobalt SS has the turbo-ecotec in a transverse arrangement. Mount that to the midship-rear position, and you have a mid-engine'd redline. It would almost have to be this sort of coupe/targa, because the convertible top sure isn't going to get space to fold down.
I would be happy if GM took just one or two cues from this car to build a Sky (and solstice) coupe variant, even Front-engine-RWD. The distorted lines and bling, though, can be left off.
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Vectortrance 1:44PM (11/01/2007)
That thing is killer. Too bad the paint job ruins it. If they had toned it down a bit, it would be right up my alley.
If GM ever wanted to make a mid engine car, I think the Sky would be a good way to go. The Saturn brand could use a sporty and attractive vehicle exclusive to their lineup. Even if a car like that was made in extremely limited runs.
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R 1:48PM (11/01/2007)
Dude, that's awesome. Obviously I wouldn't go with green if this car actually happened.
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FThorn 1:51PM (11/01/2007)
Nice design, crappy paint.
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eurolover18 1:53PM (11/01/2007)
Looks like the new, limited Lamborghini Renvation, or however its spelled
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mk 1:56PM (11/01/2007)
There ya go.
Saturn Sky and Solstice get three bodystyles each.
Standard front engine Convertible (redline/GXP optional)
Standard front engine Coupe (redline/GXP optional)
Mid engined Coupe; limited production, high-output only, turbo ecotec transverse power, similar to old MR2. GX-'R' for Pontiac, Whiteline (as in white-hot) for Saturn. Less weight, less luxury options, high-power, mid-engine handling, nearly race-car spec for the street. Aftermarket companies could shoehorn the transverse V8 out of the FWD sedans into this thing...
I think it sounds like a good idea...
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naggs 2:16PM (11/01/2007)
why would you go thru all that work only to put in the iron lump of an lt1?
that makes no sense at all
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John 2:20PM (11/01/2007)
LT1? Is that a typo?
Hello 1994.
Fuzzy 4:58PM (11/01/2007)
The LT1 in the 'Vette was an aluminum head design, known to go almost 300,000 miles with regular maintenance, and capable of producing huge amounts of power while doing it. Very torquey.