Saturn Ion History

The Ion replaced the S-Series for the 2003 model year as Saturn's compact, built on GM's new front-drive Delta platform and still assembled at Spring Hill, Tennessee. It retained polymer body panels but introduced an unusual interior layout: the instrument cluster was mounted in the center-top of the dashboard rather than behind the steering wheel, a polarizing touch meant to aid visibility.

Two body styles were offered: a conventional four-door sedan and the Quad Coupe — a four-door body with small rear-hinged 'clamshell' half-doors providing access to the back seat, giving a coupe silhouette without sacrificing rear entry. Engine options ran from a 2.2-liter to a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder. The performance Ion Red Line added a 2.0-liter supercharged Ecotec; a Red Line set a 212.684-mph land-speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2003.

The Ion ran through the 2007 model year and was the last Saturn passenger car built at the Spring Hill plant. It was replaced in Saturn's compact slot by the European-sourced Astra for 2008.