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Wednesday, May 31, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D6 Big-sized hopes for Saturn' s new mid-sized cars By Jeff Melnychuk SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER he new millennium brings with it many surprises. Sure, models come and go as companies seek the ideal mix of looks, features, safety and bottom-line value. That's no surprise. Then there are other companies that find their niche and steer a straight and steady course through hard times and stiff competition. Saturn is one such company. That's no surprise, either. Since its inception, this GM offshoot has offered basically the same line of cars -- coupe, sedan and wagon -- and refined that lineup to within an inch of its life. All the while trying hard to portray itself as an honest builder and seller of equally honest and wholesome cars -- cars that last and have good resale value. And then there's sales folk who don't work off commission and don't pressure you. For the most part we've bought into this refreshing philosophy that took a lot of angst out of buying a new car. Also, no big surprise. Proof this philosophy works is being driven home for the 2000 model year. Why else would Saturn offer a whole new line of mid-sized cars in addition to their successful compact line? Surprise! You read correctly: a whole new line of mid-sized cars. Saturn's new larger sedans and wag ons -- the L models -- will go head-tohead with Honda and Toyota, plus scads of domestic competition. How on earth does Saturn think it can compete? Certainly the new models have won derful styling that should create plenty of showroom traffic. Next, the new series has dent-resistant polymer panels that will keep it look fresh for many years, just like the smaller Satums we've all become familiar with. And then there's the power. An optional 3.0-litre DOHC V6 -- the first in Saturn's history (surprise!) -- with 182 horsepower puts the new models T right in the thick of competition while helping to stir the soul. And lastly, there's pricepoint. The first of three levels - LS, LSI, LS2 - of sedan will start at about $15,000 with the base 137-horsepower DOHC inline four-cylinder and fivespeed manual transmission. It certainly can't hurt that Saturn is keeping its lineup of compact cars almost completely in tact for the new year, affir mation that what it's been building was the right thing all along. The smaller wagon, sedan and coupes have been reclassified as the S series for 2000 -- S, as in small. While there are three trim levels of sedan, there are just two levels of wagon. The base LW1 gets the 2.2-litre four cylinder, while the LW2 comes with the V6. To keep the price down, the base LS sedan comes with little in the way of power and convenience items that aren't essential to forward motion, save for air standard conditioning. The next step up is where you'll fmd more fun. The LSI receives several power amenities, such as locks and windows as well as AM/FM/cassette stereo and upgraded seat fabrics. The top-of-the-line LS2 gets the V6 as well as alloy wheels, woodgrain trim accents and rear disc brakes. ABS is optional across the line. How will Saturn's new mid-sized vehicles do? If the company sticks to the plan that made it a winner all these years, chances of success are high. And that's no surprise. SPEC SHEET 2000 S atu rn L se rie s Four-door sedan in LS, LS1 and LS2 trim lev els. Five-door wagon in LW1 and LW2 config urations. 2.2-litre DOHC 14 base engine with 137 horsepower. Optional 3.0-litre DOHC V6 rated at 182 horsepower. Five-speed manual, or optional four-speed automatic transmission (standard with the V6). 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