Full Metal Jacket for Saturn RELAY

RELAY is First Saturn to be Built Alongside Similar GM Vehicles

Saturn, following through with what analysts have been predicting for years, is about to undertake a risky step in its brand evolution. Its dent resistant polymer panels, the one completely unique selling feature the GM divisions vehicles offer over competitive brands, will be scrapped for more conventional steel panels.

Currently Saturn vehicles, such as the compact ION sedan and coupe, midsize L-Series sedan and VUE SUV, feature sheetmetal roofs, hoods and rear decklids for structural stability purposes, in combination with polymer on the majority of vertical panels including

The dent resistant polymer panels, one of the only unique selling features of Saturn products, are being replaced with traditional steel panels in their upcoming crossover sport van (not necessarily similar to the CV-1 concept shown here). (Photo: General Motors)

doors and fenders.

The first vehicle to feature a full metal jacket will be the upcoming RELAY, a CSV (crossover sport van) that will also be Saturns first minivan. GM has been concerned about quality perceptions of the polymer panels, particularly regarding inherently wide gaps between the composite panels. Steel panels can be fit closer together, solving this problem.

Not

GM has been concerned about quality perceptions of the Saturn polymer panels, particularly regarding inherently wide gaps between the composite panels. (Photo: General Motors)

only will the new 7-occupant RELAY be the first Saturn with sheetmetal bodywork, but it will also be the first Saturn manufactured alongside a similar GM product - or in this case products.

What other similar GM products? The RELAY will be GMs fourth minivan based on the GMT201 architecture, joining the new Buick Terraza to double fill a vacancy that will become available when the Silhouette soon becomes discontinued along with the entire Oldsmobile division. The new Chevy will be called the Uplander and Pontiac the Montana SV6, retaining the first portion of the current minivan name.

The Generals new minivans, to be built at GMs Doraville, GA manufacturing facility,

Will the new RELAY look similar to the three year old CV1 concept shown here? (Photo: General Motors)

are said to offer sportier styling and more aggressive crossover SUV styling than the current Chevy Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Montana deliver.

Its difficult to say if the new RELAY will carry over any similar styling details as the Saturn CV1 concept that was shown to auto show goers in 2000, but being that the CV1 incorporated polymer panels, and is already a 3-year old design the chance of continuing its unaltered shape forward is slim. One thing is for sure, though, the RELAY will make use of its two box design, the basic configuration of all minivans.

As reported in Automotive News, Saturn insiders have stated that the ION and VUE will continue to using polymer panels over the short term, but the next-generation L-Series replacement sedan will most likely be cloaked in steel. This trend should continue, with Saturns future compact and SUV going all-metal when their replacements are due.

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