Saturn Astra 100% confirmed

[jmuffe01]

the interior impresses me more than than the exterior still not digging the bodylines that much

[AlphaJaguar5]

Suicide Doors FTW!!!!

[CypressCustoms]

Originally Posted by AlphaJaguar5

Suicide Doors FTW!!!!

I think the new Astra would look pimp as a Quad-Hatch!!!

[jmuffe01]

Originally Posted by AlphaJaguar5

Suicide Doors FTW!!!!

you might be on to something there that would be sweet

[bc3tech]

Originally Posted by emg77 on satfans

Sounds like more confirmation that the Astra will be imported from Europe (at least initially)
From www.detnews.com
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/612070470

Scott Burgess / The Detroit News

The Saturn Astra, sister vehicle to the Opel Astra from General Motors Corp's German subsidiary, will hit American showrooms next fall as a 2008 model, GM said Thursday.

The Saturn Astra, which will be nearly identical to the 2007 Opel Astra unveiled this week at an auto show in Italy, is part of GM's strategy to share engineering and design resources between the two brands to develop vehicles that will appeal to buyers in Europe and North America.

"The Astra enables Saturn to occupy a unique position in the marketplace and to strategically broaden its appeal with consumers who usually have import brands on their shopping list," Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak said in a statement.

"Saturn's partnership with Opel is a natural way to expand our lineup with relevant products that will attract new buyers into our showrooms."

The compact car will be available as a three-door or five-door hatchback. More details will be available when Saturn introduces the Astra at the Chicago Auto Show in February, but Saturn spokesman Brian Brockman said the car will come with an improved powertrain and remain moderately priced.

"We're going to have a lot of focus on value pricing," Brockman said Wednesday.

The Astra will replace the Saturn Ion. Production of the Ion will end in March at GM's Spring Hill, Tenn., plant.

The Astra will be assembled in Antwerp, Belgium, where the Opel version is currently built, Brockman said.

The U.S. Astra is the latest collaboration between Opel and Saturn. Other examples include the Saturn Sky roadster and upcoming Opel GT and the Opel Antara and 2008 Saturn Vue sport utility vehicle.

Pete Hastings, an auto industry corporate bonds analyst with Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. in Memphis, Tenn., said building the Astra for sale globally will save GM valuable capital dollars.

"The cars coming out of the GM Design Center, they've got their act together. They've got the right idea in going forward with the global platform for the cost savings and taking the best from around the world and putting them into these offerings."

Saturn is in the midst of a product renaissance that began with the Sky and continued with the Aura midsize car, Outlook crossover and a redesigned Vue SUV, as well as hybrid versions the Vue and Aura.

With the 2008 Astra, no Saturn will have been in the market more than 20 months, GM said.

once again. boo

[fullthrottle]

Originally Posted by bc3tech

once again. boo

f*** europe

[Sp00ner]

Debut at the Chicago auto show huh?

[sheek360]

u gonna steal it?

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by sheek360

u gonna steal it?

Saturn seems to debut alot of stuff at the Chicago show... GM in general, of course, it's the largest of the North American shows, IIRC....

Point being, there's usually a couple people from Saturn there, without name tags on, these are the people you want to find and comment too... I've got a few comments about that thing... sigh...

[Nukem]

well I think this is the last Saturn I will buy unless I get a Sky RL