Who knew that a Saturn could be this sexy?

The company that built its reputation on the affordable and sensible is rapidly shedding its “car as appliance” discipline with the eye-catching Saturn Sky Red Line. Saturn embracing its highly impractical and indulgent wild side is kind of like finding out the Sunday School teacher likes to dance on top of bars after a drink or two. It’s that fun.

Low-slung, curvy, and sporting an impressive engine, the car is a definite head-turner. But the biggest surprise is not that it can go from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds or that the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine delivers 260 horsepower with 260 pound-feet of torque. What consistently makes onlookers double-take when they get a closer look at the Sky Red Line is that it’s a Saturn. That’s right, a Saturn.

The exterior:
Saturn's Sky Red Line roadster is just two years old, but it’s based on the Vauxhall Lightening. It was redesigned specifically for the U.S. market to set the tone for a much needed new image and freshening up of the entire product line. Apparently prior to the new product line, the biggest selling points for buying a Saturn were price and value, which may not be the best way to build a brand.

To remedy this problem, designers took styling cues from architecture, fashion and watches, and came up with a handful of options. The most futuristic design won, and so the Sky was born.

And curvy doesn’t begin to describe it.

The car’s wide stance gives it a sure-footed look that’s firmly planted on the ground. Minimal overhang on all sides means all the mass is between its 18-inch alloy wheels, where it should be. Popular chrome accents give it a modern look, while the elongated hood and fenders are reminiscent of the Porsche 550 RS. Further rounding out the car are the headrest humps that improve aerodynamics while making it svelte in all directions.

The clamshell trunk pops open with the push of a button on the key fob to reveal a  decidedly shallow trunk. The top stows away fairly easily, but don’t think you’ll be taking this roadster on any shopping trips with the top down. Unless, of course, you put your groceries in the front passenger seat.

The interior:
The interior design of the Sky Red Line is minimal, modern and high-end. The Red Line comes loaded with most of the options, including standard air conditioning, OnStar with optional turn-by-turn navigation with a live operator, XM satellite and an MP3-capable audio system. The Premium trim package ($750) includes leather seats, metallic accents, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. It’s a modest and “worth it” uptick in price to complete the sports car’s design. The Sky Red Line is available with an optional navigation system and Monsoon audio system, but heated seats aren’t even on the menu. Deep-set instrument sockets, low seats and steel foot pedals enhance the racecar experience. While the automatic six-way adjustable driver's seat helps those on the smaller side, the interior might be a bit too snug for those on the other end of the spectrum.

It’s hard to find fault with this vehicle, but if there is anything wrong with this car, it’s the lack of trunk space. That and odd-placed cup holders. But it’s the first generation of the Sky, and Saturn is still probably working out the ergonomics and hasn’t quite figured out the best way to sate U.S. consumers’ penchant for cup holders without ruining the gorgeous lines and taking up too much of the limited interior space.

But you don’t buy this car for the practicality. It’s designed to be a beautiful, sporty roadster, and in that goal it succeeds.

Safety:
When it comes to a convertible, safety is key. The Saturn Sky comes standard equipped with daytime running lights, dual stage driver and passenger front air bags with passenger sensing system, StabiliTrac electronic stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, and OnStar accident notification and services.

The ride:
With its elongated hood, wide stance and low seating, it’s a bit like driving the Batmobile (note: I’ve never actually driven the Batmobile). The car’s handling is responsive without being unwieldy, and the Red Line’s suspension is tuned for performance, but it also has a solid feel from the hydroformed tubes integrated into the body structure. And you don’t get a lot of the vibration and wind noise you’d expect in a convertible, but with the top down the car could benefit from a windscreen.

Ironically, the turbo-charged 2.0-liter, 260-horsepower engine gets better gas mileage (19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway) than the 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower, four-cylinder on the base roadster. But like most turbo-charged engines, the car suffers a bit from turbo lag that makes the 260 horsepower feel underutilized. The model I tested was the five-speed automatic ($925), which may have taken a bit of the fun out of the car.

Another quirk due to the turbo-charged engine is that when the engine is cold it takes a few minutes to build up the boost pressure of the brakes. But once warmed up, it features best-in-class stopping distance.

As a driver on the smaller side, I found myself using “the Force” to guide me a lot. The long hood, headrest humps and low seats make for poor visibility if you’re only 5 feet 2 inches. A passenger even commented that the car “was like driving one big blind spot.”

And forgive me, Saturn, but with an MSRP of $30,405, it’s still good value.

Even though the Sky Red Line is sexy and gorgeous and all that, it never seems like a status vehicle. Which is a good thing. That I felt like a rock star being in this car was not because of its spendy badge, but because the Sky captures the indulgent spirit of a roadster with the design and performance of an exotic European sports car, but at a fraction of the cost.

It’s a hot little number that delivers more fun than you ever thought was possible in a Saturn. And you can still buy it with no-haggle sales.