SATURN KICKS OFF CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN; ANNOUNCES NAME FOR ITS ALL-NEW SUV

Troy, Mich. -- Saturn is kicking off a multi-tiered communications campaign to tell customers about its all-new SUV, starting with an informative foldout that reveals the name of the SUV via 3-D glasses.

The name -- Saturn VUE -- floats out of a nature scene when viewed through red and blue lenses like those used for 3-D movies. The foldout will be the first in a series of creative communications that will introduce the Saturn VUE (pronounced "view") to prospective customers.

"We think the all-new Saturn VUE will help customers see sport utility vehicles from a whole new perspective," said Cynthia M. Trudell, Saturn chairman and president. "The Saturn VUE brings a number of customer-oriented features like polymer bodyside panels and a continuously variable transmission to the sport utility market, along with Saturn's industry leading retail experience. We think it will change forever peoples' expectations for sport utility vehicles."

The name announcement for the Saturn VUE kicks off a yearlong campaign using direct mail, the Internet, auto shows and other channels to tell customers about the newest member of the growing Saturn family. Customers who want more information on the Saturn VUE can sign up at Saturn.com, return postcards available at auto shows and Saturn retailers, or call 800-522-5000. Customers will receive a regular series of communications about the Saturn VUE, leading up to its arrival at Saturn retailers in the fall of 2001.


VIEWING THE SUV FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Seeing the world in fresh new ways has been a key to the success of Saturn, a company created to change the way cars were built, sold and serviced. Saturn's all-new sport utility vehicle continues this revolution, bringing Saturn's tradition of product innovation and customer service to the rapidly growing market for compact sport utility vehicles.

The name VUE was selected after extensive research because it had a positive image and did not constrain customers' perceptions of the vehicle. "A name that already had a specific meaning might limit peoples' understanding of just how versatile the Saturn VUE is," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president, sales, service and marketing. "For example, an 'outdoor' name might shortchange the vehicle's flexible interior, its responsive on-road performance, or its versatility around town.

"With the name VUE, we can continue to use the strengths of the Saturn brand as the foundation and build awareness of the many features of the vehicle through activities like our pre-launch communications," said Lajdziak. "The name VUE also will help emphasize that the vehicle was designed with the customers' point of view first in mind."


A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUV

The Saturn VUE gives customers the benefits of a traditional sport utility vehicle, including space for five plus over 30 cubic feet of cargo space, in a vehicle that is fun to drive and as easy to maneuver as a midsize sedan.

The Saturn VUE includes a number of distinctive Saturn features not offered by competitors. Dent-resistant polymer bodyside panels and car-height bumpers help keep the vehicle looking newer, longer. Saturn's space frame construction incorporates full-length frame rails and a steel safety cage into a single welded structure. The Saturn VUE will also offer Saturn's head curtain air bags, which are designed to help reduce the risk of head and neck injuries in certain side-impact collisions.

The Saturn VUE will offer a choice of a powerful 138-horsepower twin-cam four-cylinder engine or a 181-horsepower dual-overhead camshaft V6. It will be available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. An advanced continuously-variable transmission (CVT), available with the four-cylinder engine, offers seamless performance with fuel economy comparable to that of a manual transmission.

Like all Saturns, the Saturn VUE will offer customers more than just a great product. It will be sold through a network of 440 dedicated Saturn retailers, who are recognized leaders in satisfaction with customers. Most recently, Saturn ranked as the number one nameplate in the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Study. Saturn has finished first in this study five times out of the last six years.
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