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Saturn, the American car developed by GM to compete against Japanese cars, is giving up on its rivals' home turf after three years of disappointing sales.

Saturn enters the 2004 model year in full-speed-ahead growth mode, adding to its spectrum of products with the new Red Line series of specialty vehicles.

Saturnalia has learned that Saturn will begin to accept GM Card earnings points towards the purchase of a new L-Series sedan or wagon. S-Series cars are reportedly not included in the promotion.

Despite Saturn's integration into the General Motors fold over the past 10 years, the company is still fostering change at GM.

Saturn keeps selling more cars, but is it making any money "We'll achieve our financial targets this year," President Donald W. Hudler tells WAW, a rather nebulous way of saying Saturn is meeting its budgets.

Last week, General Motors Chairman and CEO Richard Wagner unveiled a four-point turnaround plan to revive the corporation. As part of the plan is an aggressive product assault on all vehicle segments.

Saturn, the only GM domestic division that's unprofitable, should be in the black around 2003 and potentially could post annual sales of 500,000 vehicles by 2005, says Saturn President Cynthia Trudell.

Saturn customers who buy or lease a 2005 Ion, Vue or Relay can now choose either extended vehicle coverage or a "personalization allowance" of up to $1,250.

Saturn plans a new advertising blitz and engineering improvements in coming months to jumpstart sales of its troubled new midsize sedan.

In a few weeks, Saturn officially will launch its sport-utility, the Vue. And during the next year Saturn will get a redesigned mid-sized L series, as well as the Ion, the replacement for the S series. Saturn also has been hinting that at least one more product is in the works - possibly a minivan hybrid.

The Saturn arm of regained its top ranking among automakers for satisfying its customers, followed closely by Cadillac, Lexus, and Infiniti.

Retailers report to SaturnFans.com that Saturn will take a brilliant, back-to-basics "one-price" approach to its sales incentive strategy for the 2005 model year.

Saturn's sales rose 37.5% in March with the ION and VUE posting extraordinary sales gains.

Saturn's February sales rose 10.2% to 19,429 units, up from 17,633 last year.

Set your VCRs... Saturn will once again be featured in a segment on QVC on December 21, 2004.