This is an installment in a series of posts looking back on show cars that we feel deserved a little more attention than they got. If you have a suggestion for a Forgotten Concept topic, please shoot us a line or leave a comment below.
Saturn Curve Concept
Overview
First Shown: 2004 Detroit Auto Show
Description: Small 2-seat sports coupe
Sales Pitch: “The Curve signifies Saturn’s evolution, both in styling and product.”
History
First seen at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, the Curve Concept coupe was an early Harbinger of a small sporty Saturn that would arrive later in the decade. Riding on General Motors’ Kappa architecture, which would underpin the production Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky convertible sports cars, the Curve was powered by a supercharged 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine similar to the one found in the contemporaneous Chevrolet Cobalt SS. The Saturn concept was penned by Michael Mauer, one time lead designer at Saab. The Curve–like all Kappa vehicles–featured rear-wheel drive and seating for two. The concept car was ultimately passed over for production in favor of the Sky, a convertible concept first seen at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The Sky would see production beginning in 2006 as a 2007 model. All told, 34,415 Skys would be produced before production ceased in 2010 when the Saturn brand itself was discontinued.
Forgotten Concept: Ford Probe III
CG Says
Mechanical twins, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky differed only in design. One interesting key difference is that the Solstice was offered—very briefly—in coupe form, something which was clearly considered for the Sky, but that never happened. I like the looks of the Curve, and rather wish it had seen production instead of the Sky—it’s a fun looking little coupe.
Saturn Curve Pictures
(Click below for enlarged images)
