NORTH SHORE

REWS AU

the street, I was tipressed with bow quiet and

smoath: the four cylinder engine was.In fact, at
I wasn’t sure if I was. driving a

‘equipped with the 3.0-litre V6.”

SATURN retailer's philos-
ophy of low-key selling,
no hassle/no haggle car
prices, and a moneyback
guarantee has attracted a
lot of car buyers who nor-
mally wouldn’t be com-
fortable going into a new
car showroom.
Over the past ten years,
Sarurn’s have proved to be among the most reliable cars ma
in North America, and have achievea high owner-satisfaction
ratings.
However, while most other automobile brands offer a wide
assortment of cars and trucks, Saturn had to make do with just
three compact models: the SL sedan, SW wagon, and SC coupe.

NEWS photo Mike Waketield

THE new Saturn LS sedan and LW wagon are Saturn’s first mid-sized models. Based on a
German Ope! platform, L-Sevies models offer Saturn's ding-resistant plastic body paneis and a

choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines. Prices range between $19,255 and $27,810. Test drive the
new Saturns at Morrey Saturn, 4451 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby.

In effect, Sacurn’s limited model range timited its appeal.

Now, with a ficde help trom GM's Opel subsidiary in
Germany, Saturn has a new mid-sized sedan and wagon, the LS
sedan and UW Wagon. The L Series sedan (“L” stands tor
“Larger™) is about the size of a Honda Accord, and offers com.
parable features with its import and domestic cunipetitors.
Saturn L-Series models are priced between $19,255 and
$27,810, making them at least a couple of thousand dollars
cheaper than comparably-cquipped import competitors.

L-Series models are the first in an expanding range of Saturn
automobiles that will soon include 2 new sport-utility vehicle,
and possibly, a small mini-van.

German /American hybrid

Saturn L-Series models are based on a German Opel plat-
form (GM owns Opel), but have Sarurn-like styling and dent-
resistant polymer (plastic) body panels, just like other Sacurns.
L-Series models are built in Wilmington, Delaware.

L-Series sedans come in three trim levels: LS, LS} and LS2,
and wagons come in so trim levels: LW] and LW2. Neither
Honda nor Tevota ofer wagon versions of their Accord and
Camry models, but they do offer two-door coupe versions —
the L-Series doesn’t.

Saturn LS, LSL, and LWE models have a standard 137-
horsepower 2.2-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine — a new
engine that is exclusive to Saturn. A five-speed manual transmis-
sion is standard on LS and LS} sedans, while a four-speed auto-
matic transmission is standard on LW] wagons.

Better-equipped LS2 sedans and LW2 wagons have a 182-
horsepower 3.0-litre V6 engine and standard four-speed auto-
maiic transmission. In addinon, LS2 and LW2 models include
standard alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, fog lights,
AM/FM,cassette/CD stereo, woodgrain trim, and upgraded
doth seats. For the first ime on a Satum, Icather upholstery is

See Sedan’s next page