1997 Saturn S-Series Review

good looks, more fun and more value in a coupe than Saturn has given its

pair of two-doors, the SC1 test driven here and the slightly pricier SC2.

For 1997 the coupes are wearing a completely new aerodynamic skin. New,

yet it manages to carry over some of the styling cues from the distinctive

look of the 1991-1996 originals. And there's a new interior to go with

the exterior changes.

Much less obvious but mechanically more important, the coupes are now

on the same 102.4-inch wheelbase as the sedans and wagons. That means a

3.2-inch increase in wheelbase which means a more stable platform for improved

ride quality and more interior headroom.

The SC1--from $12,895, including destination--has a 1.9-liter, four-cylinder,

single overhead cam engine that produces 100 horsepower at 5000 rpm and

114 pound-feet of torque at 2400 rpm. Our test car had the standard five-speed

manual transmission, but a four-speed automatic is optional.

The SC2 uses a double overhead cam 16-valve version of the same engine

that produces 124 hp. In addition to the horsepower, the SC2 comes with