Red Dawn Rising

The Ion Red Line and Vue Red Line mark the beginning of a new chapter in Saturn Corp.'s life.

The money-losing General Motors Corp. subsidiary hopes the new performance models will provide a much-needed dose of excitement to one of the industry's most boring product lineups — a walk through a Saturn dealership is about as dull as a Bryant Gumbel newscast — and appeal to a new group of consumers.

Both Red Lines are satisfactory efforts by GM's Performance Div. But if improvements from the standard models are the determining factors, the Ion Red Line is clearly the winner over the Vue Red Line.

The Ion has been a disaster since going on sale in 2002. But GM's skunk works have turned the docile car into a scoundrel street machine. The Ion Red Line quad coupe, which costs $20,950, features a serious horsepower increase. The Ecotec 2.0L supercharged 4-cyl. engine churns out 205 hp, up from the Ion's 140 hp.

Improvements include a drive-by-wire throttle (first Ecotec application), bigger intake valves, lower compression pistons supported by new connecting rods and a high-strength steel crankshaft.

The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Rowing through the gears is made easier with noticeably shorter shifts. Saturn says the gears are spaced in even increments to keep the engine in its “sweet spot” between shifts — and it works. The coupe's midrange power is dynamite.

Ion Red Line is the first Ion to feature 4-wheel disc brakes. The front rotors are larger, and the rear rotors are mounted on an all-new rear axle assembly that incorporates revised suspension geometry. The suspension tuning includes larger rear shocks and a 0.4-in. (10-mm) reduced ride height. Even with the handling improvements, understeer remains noticeable.

The Ion Red Line's exterior features modified rocker moldings, a front fascia with a deep air inlet and a rear fascia dressed with a chrome exhaust tip. Buckle up and ride the Ion Red Line rocket in Recaro seats. There also is a new gearshift knob and sport steering wheel. But generally the interior is inferior to such competitors as the Ford Focus SVT, Honda Civic Si and BMW Mini Cooper.

The Vue Red Line cross/utility vehicle is being sold as a regular production option priced at $1,995. That means pricing for an all-wheel-drive Vue Red Line begins at $26,750. Ouch. While the price is too high, the engine's sublime performance almost justifies the outlay. It's fast. It's quiet. It's smooth. It's fun.

It's not GM's.

The 3.5L V-6 engine, supplied by Honda Motor Co. Ltd., is kickin'. The CUV's 250 hp towers over the 143 hp offered with the base Vue. The engine is linked to a 5-speed automatic transmission, and the combination makes for an entertaining drive — dashing from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in about seven seconds, Saturn says.

But the 3.5L also is available as an option with the standard Vue. So the Red Line must distinguish itself in other ways.

The CUV's custom looks include new rocker panels, rear fascia, front fascia with black air intakes, and chrome exhaust tip. The exterior carries a monochromatic theme, with the door and liftgate handles, along with mirror housings, painted body color.

The Vue Red Line ride height is lowered by about 1 in. (26 mm). The suspension is stiffer, and the tires are firmer, so it handles corners well for a CUV. But the ride serves up a subtle sway to the cabin occupants.

The Vue Red Line's biggest flaw is the same as the Ion Red Line: A low-quality interior. Some improvements have been made. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and chrome-accented white gauges are nice additions. But it's not enough to make up for flimsy components and an uncoordinated layout.