Look for new names to crop up in the Saturn line of General Motors. First on the street are two modified vehicles geared for performance and under the Red Line label for a compact-class Ion Quad Coupe and the car-like Vue sport-utility wagon. But Saturn also scores the Relay, a crossover sport van that looks like an SUV but functions like a minivan with seats for seven and a flat floor for hauling recreational gear.

Saturn's compact-class cars, conformed as a shapely four-door sedan and four-door Quad Coupe, earn refinements inside and out with '05 issues. The sedan shows a new face with revamped fascia and grille marking a slinky body dressed in geometric shapes mingled with angular flanks and smooth rails arching over the cabin. Inside, form-fitting seats are new with larger bolsters for improved lateral support.

The four-spoke steering wheel is larger and comes with revised steering calibrations to enhance the on-center feel for Ion's driver. GM's four-cylinder EcoTec engine enthuses Ion with 140 hp through a manual five-speed transmission or optional new four-speed automatic transaxle (Hydra-Matic 4T45-E). The Ion Quad Coupe has two extra doors set behind the front doors. Hinged at the rear, each back door swings wide and permits easier access to rear seats. In the coupe's cabin, the back of the front passenger bucket folds forward to form a flat horizontal surface, and backs of the rear seats, divided into two sections, also fold flat. Fresh body colors apply, like Dragonfly Green and Pacific Blue, and there are new audio options such as a CD deck and MP3 player or the subscription-based XM satellite radio service.

This special performance issue of the four-door Ion Quad Coupe features a performance-tuned suspension, unique wheels and add-on body parts with aerodynamic accents. A supercharger attaches to Ion's four-cylinder Ecotec engine to push it up to 205 hp. Also, the plant uses a heavy-duty Getrag five-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter stick. Additions like a performance-tuned exhaust system, suspension tweaked and dropped 10 mm, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock brakes (ABS) plus 17-inch forged alloy wheels and sporty Recaro racer-style bucket seats -- all forge a tuner-style sport compact model that's ready to romp in Saturday races but still drive to work on weekdays.

Saturn's compact-class SUV promotes a smooth ride quality in a shapely package containing two rows of seats for passengers and a rear bed for cargo. The wagon reveals the familiar proportions of a sport-utility with the tall stance and boxy cabin but also clean lines of an industrial design with simple shapes. Crafted with a unibody structure typically used for cars rather than trucks, Vue blends the best features of a traditional SUV -- the tall stance and a spacious cabin with flexible seating and cargo capacity -- with the favored traits of a tightly constructed sedan; like easy entry, comfortable seats and an easy-to-drive personality.

For locomotion, the wagon offers the Ecotec four-cylinder engine or a powerful V6 option. The dual-cam four achieves 143 hp, while the advanced 3.5-liter V6 (built by Honda) runs to 250 hp. Entry point occurs with Vue in front-wheel-drive (FWD) format toting the four-cylinder engine and a manual five-speed Getrag transmission or optional new four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic. Next comes Vue with the Honda V6 and a five-speed automatic with grade logic control for either FWD or all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. New paints shades like Dark Dragonfly Teal show up on Vue's 2005 color palette. (CONTINUE...)