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Better late than never? One might wonder whether that’s the philosophy at work inside GM's maverick Saturn division.

Nissan's Smyrna, TN assembly plant and Saturn's plant in Spring Hill, the largest auto assembly plants in the state, are in the midst of launching new vehicles that bear heavy on their companies' success.

For 2002, the Saturn VUE was awarded MotorWeek's Drivers' Choice Award. "...its a good match for the Vue's interior that provides excellent comfort, logically, well-placed controls, and a flat floor in the rear seat."

Saturn is walking a fine line as it works to build a name for its new sport utility vehicle, the Vue, set to roll off the assembly line in Spring Hill shortly.

GM is predicting its innovative continuously variable transmission (CVT) will be a popular option on its all-new Saturn Vue compact cross/utility vehicle, accounting for 50% of the 50,000 deliveries expected in 2002. Branded VTi by GM, the CVT then will be rolled out to two '03 model passenger cars, including the Saturn S-Series replacement, Ion.

Saturn's sport-utility vehicle, the Vue, was not exactly centre stage in General Motors' spot at the Chicago Auto Show, but it was not consigned to the wings, either. This positioning seemed to say much about the uneasy, but finally evolving, relationship between the world's biggest carmaker and its youngest brand.

Four cylinder model incorporates "almost-conventional feeling" continuously variable transmission

It's been 11 years since General Motors launched Saturn, a brand that revolutionized new-car retailing with its no-haggle pricing and exemplary customer service.

It's no longer a different kind of car company. Saturn, angling to become relevant again to America's hip but sensible new vehicle shoppers, shows off its first-ever sport-utility vehicle today.

Saturn's introduction of a fuel-saving transmission in its new Vue sport utility vehicle has been delayed until spring because of faulty parts.

The discovery of several defective parts during testing forced GM to push back the launch to the second quarter.

Saturn is preparing to ramp up production at its Spring Hill plant next month, operating six days a week with three shifts of workers. The new production schedule announced yesterday will go into effect July 16.

Saturn is scheduled to begin the final test run of the assembly line for its new sport utility vehicle this week, but a dispute continues over how many workers are needed at the Spring Hill plant.

The Saturn VUE compact sport utility vehicle will come to market with a highly competitive $16,835 base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), including destination and freight charges.

Saturn executives are giving themselves a year to build up interest in the vehicle and to convince Saturn's fairly loyal customers that the company can build something beyond small economy cars, a goal it's trying to meet with its L-Series sedans.