Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and one of the hottest new

When the roof is up, there is a limit to this Sky. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

drop-tops is from Saturn? Say what? No, the world as we know is not over, but it’s getting a lot cooler one convertible at a time.

The 2007 Saturn Sky is taking planet earth by storm and creating a buzz of cosmic proportions. Ok, I’ll stop with the intergalactic space puns because I’m sure you get the point. Still, the Sky is attracting attention in mammoth proportions, not only with the critics but also with the public.

The most frequently asked question as I approached my temporary two-door tester at either work, the mall or wherever I was parked was, "That’s a Saturn?" Yes, I answered and confirmed

No, really guys, it's a Saturn. Just look at the badges for proof. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

that this fine piece of machinery is in fact the byproduct of American engineering (if not design) gone right, and that the less attractive and far less cool-looking VUE and ION are indeed its siblings.

Accompanying the, "That’s a Saturn?" comment came the following, "Wow, it looks great." I agree. The inspiration behind Saturn’s new face can be largely attributed to Vauxhall’s VX Lightening Concept, which was crafted at GM’s Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham, England. And what a better place for inspiration than from the Europeans?! Let alone the British who are renowned for their roadster designs. Just look at any MG or TR6... Spitfire, Austin Healey or E-Type... the list goes on and on. Getting back to 2007, the Sky looks fantastic. The exterior lines are clean, curvaceous and well crafted, plus its headlights and grille offer a lot more front-end pizzazz in comparison to its Pontiac Solstice cousin and Mazda MX-5 rival.

What also makes the Sky shine is its engine. The standard 5-speed manual transmission is linked to a

Sky makes more standard horsepower than its main competitor, the Mazda MX-5. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

2.4L, 16-valve, DOHC Ecotec four-cylinder that delivers 170 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, ideal for swift acceleration (0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds). And if swift isn’t good enough, the Sky also comes in a super swift Red Line version which offers 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0L, 16-valve turbocharged DOHC I-4, delivering acceleration from 0-100 km/h in a mere 5.5 seconds. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those. Until then, the Sky boasts enough power, perfect for enjoyable city and highway driving.

What good is a well-endowed engine without equally talented underpinnings? Not much. In the case of the Sky, the hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion steering is coupled with a

Short overhangs and massive wheels do wonders in the Sky's looks department. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

4-wheel independent short/long arm suspension with coil-over Bilstein monotube shock absorbers, creating a stable and agile ride. Furthermore, 50/50 weight distribution allows for fantastic handling, especially in tight turns or during those long sweeping high-speed highway corners.

Even in the slick weather, the P245/45R18 all-season BSW performance tires with 18-inch chrome wheels ($950 extra but well worth it) grip the road tightly and do their best to resist slippage when accelerating from standstill. Overall, its grip and general stability helped me feel comfortable behind the wheel of the rear-wheel drive roadster in both the dry and wet weather, also aided by standard four-wheel disc brakes and ABS, not to mention driver and front passenger dual stage air bags.

Moving from outside in, the cabin is very to-the-point. What do I mean by that? There aren’t any useless

Interior is pretty minimalist. Everything you need is at hand. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

buttons floating around to distract the driver from driving. Some convertibles have a plethora of buttonage scattered throughout just to make things look fancier. The Sky’s interior, however, has the essential climate controls, stereo system and the 5-speed manual gearbox all within close range, and they’re easy to identify and operate.

From a design perspective, I don’t particularly fancy the interior as much as the exterior. It’s alright, and I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is boring, but it lacks true inner beauty. That, however, can be cured with a few fancy extra’s including the premium trim package for $1,520, which includes leather appointed seats, a 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel mounted radio controls and metallic finish sill plates and pedals. And for an extra $755, the essential stereo gets a few more essentials including a 6-disc, in-dash CD changer with AM/FM and MP3 capabilities, and auto tone control on top of the standard twin 6-inch door speakers, 1-inch A-pillar tweeters and 3.5-inch rear speakers.

For some particularly taller individuals, the interior can potentially feel claustrophobic

The styling's so sharp, and so good looking it almost makes you forget about how impractical the Sky is. Almost. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

because there really isn’t that much head or legroom (there’s 1,416 L or 15 cu-ft of passenger room). This intimate interior does serve a purpose and a warm one too. The one time, and only time when I was able to drop the top for longer than 10 minutes just happened to be at night when the temperatures weren’t as favourable as a mid-summer’s night. But I thought, what the heck, I might not get another opportunity to drive with the top down all week because the weather called for showers, showers and more showers! So I drove with the top down in almost freezing conditions and didn’t feel like I was freezing at all. As soon as the heat got going, it warmed me right up. And since there is very little airflow traveling through the cabin 1) because it’s low to the ground, and 2) there just isn’t anywhere for it to stay, I remained cozy. Also to my amazement, the lack of seat heaters didn’t bother me too much. Of course, I would have loved to have them but I could live without. Needless to say, 99 percent of the week I was driving with the top up so I wasn’t fussing with the top-dropping procedure which I’ll touch on in just a bit.

While the Sky was impressive to look at, to drive and to be seen in, it scores low in the functionality department.

Unless you don't pack anything when you travel, the Sky works best only as a second car. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

It fits two people and that’s about it. OK, I’ll be fair. Perhaps a handbag and a chocolate bar as well. Ok, it fits a few more things than that, but not much else. I wish there was more trunk space; there’s only 153L (5.4 cu-ft) with the top up and only 56.6L (2.2 cu-ft) with the top down. But its lack of storage capacity really made me evaluate what I needed to bring with me on my various daily excursions, and what to leave behind. And being a person with pack-rat tendencies, it was an eye opener of just how much stuff I needlessly lug around with me all the time. I guess that’s where a Vue would come in handy, no?

Furthermore, top dropping is tedious. The Sky uses the same system as the Pontiac Solstice and requires the driver to physically be out of the car when putting the roof up or down. Plus the two rear hinges on the trunk require a push-down after the trunk is opened or the top is put back up. That is, however, a small price to pay for something as cool as it is. And after operating this vehicle for an extended period of time, hopefully its tediousness would eventually wear off and just become habitual. Or, you could always bring a friend and ask them to do their part!

If I were to enhance this roadster in any way or ways, this is what I would do: 1) add a cupholder, or some sort

For all of its practicality issues, the Sky is good, affordable, two-seat roadster motoring. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

of storage bin near the gearbox to put my cell phone, beverage or miscellaneous items in instead of the passenger seat; 2) seat warmers; 3) a little bit more room between the door and the seat so I wouldn’t always have to open the door to get my seatbelt through the tiny, tiny space; 4) more trunk space!!!; 5) a power top so that I didn’t have to get out to put it up or down.

The sky isn’t the limit when it comes to Saturn’s ability and potential to produce a cool-looking, great-driving, and envy-provoking car. It extends far beyond. The Sky, fortunately, is tangible in this realm and doesn’t have an out-of-this-world price tag; it starts at $31,665. The only universal question is where to find one since they are flying off the showroom floors faster than you can say the sky is falling.

Specifications (Sky):

• Price as tested MSRP: $36,445
• Body Type: 2-door, roadster
• Layout: front engine, RWD
• Engine: 170-hp, 162 lb-ft of torque 2.4L, DOHC, 16-valve, I-4
• Transmission: 5-spd manual (optional 5-spd auto)
• Seating Capacity: 2
• Exterior Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,091 / 1,813 / 1,274 / 2,415 mm (161.1 / 71.4 / 49.8 / 95.1 in)
• Track (front/rear): 1,543 / 1,561 mm (60.7 / 61.4 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,330 kg (2,933 lbs)
• Competition: Pontiac Solstice, Mazda MX-5
• Web Site: www.gmcanada.com