The production 2004 Vue Red Line will be the first in Saturn's new series of performance-tuned vehicles. But even before Vue Red Line reaches the market around the first of next year, Saturn and GM Performance Division are pushing the compact SUV's ultimate limits with the Vue Street Play, debuting at the 2003 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. More power, a lowered body, stiffened suspension, and a number of exterior and interior changes highlight the Vue Street Play. While Vue Red Line will be powered by a 250-horsepower V6 that is also newly available on the 2004 Vue, Street Play adds an additional 50 horses to the equation with a Comptech-installed Eaton supercharger, bringing it to 300 horsepower.

Ground Control front and rear suspension systems with Koni shocks and an OBX strut tower brace provide outstanding handling and lower the Street Play's ride height by 3 inches compared to the Red Line (which itself is about 1 inch lower than the regular Vue). The concept performance vehicle also features a 3-inch stainless steel cat-back exhaust with Corsa dual-outlet stainless steel muffler.

Street Play rides on 20-inch TOYO Proxes P255/45ZR performance tires and two-piece HRE polished aluminum wheels. Stopping power comes from Stainless Steel Brake Corp's front and rear performance disc brakes, sporting a 12.8-in. diameter front rotor with dual piston aluminum caliper and a 12-in. diameter rear rotor with single piston aluminum caliper.

The White Pearl-painted Street Play boasts new performance-styled fascias, the latter with carbon fiber inserts, hood and side rocker moldings. The exterior also features custom Hella projector headlamps with carbon fiber inserts, undertray and a roof-mounted rear wing.

Inside, both driver and front passenger are held in place by four Recaro racing seats with Sparco four-point lap belts and a full-length (front-to-rear) console with two Apple iPods. A new instrument panel cluster includes white-face gauges and an Auto Meter boost gauge. The dash panel, center console and steering wheel are tailored in black Ultrasuede. Street Play also features cast aluminum OBX Type-R foot pedals, perforated aluminum floor mats and a Vue Red Line steering wheel.

The entertainment system of the Street Play includes a Sony 7-inch in-dash AM/FM Monitor radio with CD/DVD and iPod interface and four, MTX two-way, 6-inch speakers.

The performance and appearance enhancements are in addition to the versatility associated with the Vue. In standard trim, the Vue can carry five passengers, or can be configured to carry more than 63.8 cubic feet of cargo with features such as a second-row seat and front passenger seat that fold flat.

SATURN Vue STREET PLAY VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS:

• 3.5-liter V6 with Comp Tech supercharger delivers 300 horsepower
• Vue Red Line 3.5-liter V6 with Comptech-installed supercharger delivers 300 horsepower
• Vue Red Line five-speed automatic transmission with grade logic control
• Ground Control front and rear suspension with Koni shocks
• Ride height lowered 3 inches from Vue Red Line
• 3-inch stainless steel cat-back exhaust with Corsa dual outlet stainless steel muffler
• 20-inch TOYO Proxes P255/45ZR performance tires and two-piece polished HRE aluminum wheels
• Stainless Steel Brake Corp four-wheel disc brakes
• Performance-styled fascias with carbon fiber inserts, hood, side rocker moldings
• Custom Hella projector headlamps with carbon fiber inserts
• Roof-mounted rear wing
• Recaro bucket seats and Sparco four-point harnesses
• Unique front-to-rear center console
• Sony 7-inch in-dash CD/DVD Monitor radio interfaced with two Apple iPods
• IP cluster including Auto Meter boost gauge
• Cast-aluminum foot pedals and perforated aluminum floor mats
• Black interior tailored with Ultrasuede wrapped dash panel, center console and steering wheel

Click here for photos of the Street Play Vue concept.

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Source: General Motors