General Motors has announced that it will continue to make the Saturn Ion. Production of the compact sedan was originally scheduled to be stopped at the end of 2006.
However, consumer demand has remained high due to the Ion’s low price and excellent gas mileage. Says Vice President Jim Hall of AutoPacific, “It gets good fuel economy and it’s affordably priced. It would be foolish of them (GM) to get rid of it.”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ion, which costs between $13,000 to $16,000, gets an estimated 24 miles per gallon in the city while 32 mpg on the highway. Sales are up 2.5% so far this year. GM states it will continue to manufacture the Ion until March 2007. A replacement, based on GM’s European Opel Astra, is due by the end of the year.
Source: High fuel costs, its affordability save Saturn Ion via <i>Detroit Free Press</i>
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