Saturn Astra to Launch in Late-07

[Flybrian]

FOR RELEASE: 2006-12-07

Saturn Astra To Join Lineup In Late 2007

New small car to complete turnover of vehicle lineup in less than two years

DETROIT - Saturn confirmed today that it will add the Astra compact car to its lineup late in 2007, marking an important stage in its product revitalization plan. When the 2008 Astra joins the Sky, Aura, Outlook and all-new Vue, no Saturn will have been in the market more than 20 months, giving the brand one of the freshest product lineups in the industry.

"The Astra is a great fit for Saturn, with its European style and driving dynamics," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "It also signals our efforts to get new vehicles to market quickly and reinvent the entire Saturn product lineup with unprecedented speed."

The Saturn Astra will be nearly identical to the 2007.5 Opel Astra, unveiled this week at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. It will be sold in the United States and Canada in three-door and five-door configurations.

The Astra is part of the larger collaboration between Saturn and Opel. By sharing resources from throughout GM's global network of design and engineering centers, the two brands can develop strong, broad product lineups that will attract buyers to the brands both in North America and Europe. Early examples of this collaboration include the Saturn Sky and upcoming Opel GT, as well as the Opel Antara and 2008 Saturn Vue.

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

More information will be available when Saturn unveils the 2008 Astra at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2007.

About Saturn

Saturn, a division of General Motors Corp., markets vehicles in the U.S. and Canada through a network of about 500 retailers, with a focus on providing innovative products with solid value and excellent customer service. In 2006, the brand has undertaken a major revitalization of its portfolio with four new vehicles: the Sky roadster, the Aura midsize sedan, the Vue Green Line hybrid and the larger Outlook crossover. Next year, Saturn continues its aggressive growth plans with an all-new Vue compact crossover (Spring 2007) and the new European Astra small car (Fall 2007).

More Astra Photos

[Flybrian]

Thank you, Griffon!

[Bimmer325]

Fly, is this official?

[mjdecker]

It's on wieck.. so I'm assuming so.. I was worried that GM would bring over just the sedan and no hatches..

[dimitri0917]

will the coupe/convertible come too?

It would be nice for Sky to have a big bro.

Is America ready for Opel Corsa too?

Edited December 8, 2006 by dimitri0917

[ocnblu]

I'd like to see a near Euro-like choice of engines, as well, maybe like 3. Diesel, economy 4, and turbo 4 for Redline. This is one sweet car.

[CreativeVision]

If it is positioned correctly and optioned with the rigth amenities/engine choices, the convertible above could be a real contender to the Eos.

[Flybrian]

Fly, is this official?

225137[/snapback]

Yup. Direct from GM Media.

I'm personally hoping for a more complete lineup of a sedan, convertible, and Red Line by 2010.

[Brougham-Holiday]

Nice! This looks 10x better then previous small Saturns.

[daves87rs]

Wow. need more pics...

[Mule Bakersdozen LS]

Very exciting! Glad to see the Astra finally unveiled-can't wait to hear more about it, nice color and wheels on the hatchback coupe picture! I hope the interior looks better in person than in the pictures though.

[thegriffon]

How about some shots of the 2007 GTC with Panoramic windshield, now standard with the Cosmo trim level.

[pow]

I hate GM photography. If there weren't other pics of the Astra, I would ignored it.

[FAPTurbo]

'bout damn time someone woke up and smelt the maple nut crunch.

It'll be good to get these, and help boost Saturn's image.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Wow... I gotta say that I'm happy to be a Saturn owner twice

[thegriffon]

I hate GM photography. If there weren't other pics of the Astra, I would ignored it.

225176[/snapback]

There are more and better pics of the 2007 Astra from GM. The GTC and TwinTop haven't changed much, but the 5-door and wagon have been nicely updated. WT584 and TC980 are the old models.

[SuperSport623]

a year ago i wouldnt ever dream of saturn.... now.... saturns becoming desirable!.... GM, continue down this path!

[BlkHhr104]

Kind of depressed on the arrival date haha, but its awsome... I think the Saturn copy makes the Opel copies a bit outdated enless that gold one is pre-MCE..??

[Robert Hall]

Looks great...interesting, I didn't realize there was an Astra sedan. In Europe, I think only recall seeing the hatchbacks...

[thegriffon]

Kind of depressed on the arrival date haha, but its awsome... I think the Saturn copy makes the Opel copies a bit outdated enless that gold one is pre-MCE..??

225196[/snapback]

The gold, red and Panorama ones are pre-2007.5 MCE.

[Intrepidation]

The 2 door hatch is sexy. I hope the sedan makes it's way here, and the convertible and coupe would be nice as well. That would give Saturn more compact body styles than any other manufacturer.

[turbo200]

I hate GM photography. If there weren't other pics of the Astra, I would ignored it.

225176[/snapback]

the first picture up top is such an unnatural angle; so hard to get a good picture of the actual shape of the car from down below like that.

exciting times for saturn. and the MCE has come with nice touches.....i would also like the convertible here.

[loki]

NICE!

hopefully choices are great for the engines, trans, and body styles "quickly" after launch....2 years tops

[avro206]

So much beter then the ION!!

Any specualtion on powertrains?

[FAPTurbo]

So much beter then the ION!!

225252[/snapback]

What ISN'T better than an ION?

[Intrepidation]

What ISN'T better than an ION?

225256[/snapback]

A first-gen Neon? No wait...it has the gauges in the right place...and handles better.

Wait! The Echo!

Edited December 8, 2006 by Dodgefan

[Northstar]

Looks good. Now here's hoping that they keep the price in check and bring over the performance model too.

[Lexcar14]

I don't know what GM plans to price these Astras out at, but they sure in hell make the Aveo and the Cobalt (less so) look like crap. As a matter of fact, this car looks better than the Versa, Fit, and Yaris.

GM is only planning on selling 30K-40K of them, so that must mean they're going to price it pretty high?

[titan]

This is great news. I sincerely hope that the inital launch of whatever versions they bring over are a success, so that they're encouraged to bring over the other versions. The Astra is kicks ass.

[ZL-1]

It will be sold in the United States and Canada in three-door and five-door configurations.

225123[/snapback]

No sedan. I'd wait for a Red-Line with the 2.0L turbo

[bowtie_dude]

Oh my God, I would SO buy a 3-door Astra with a 5-spd!

[Cory Wolfe]

Give me a dark blue hatch with the panoramic windsheild, please.

[red]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Astra GTC is THE best looking compact on the global market. This will be a great car for Saturn...something I may even consider purchasing as a commuter car (and if the reliability turns out to be good). Hope som of the Astra's neat & different features - such as the piano-black trim and panoramic windshield - cross the pond.

What will the US powertrain lineup be for this vehicle?

[aaaantoine]

I think I know what I'd like to replace the Cobalt with once I'm done with it.

[Drew Dowdell]

This will put some serious hurt on Corolla/Matrix and possibly even Jetta/Rabbit.

[Cadillacfan]

And the Cobalt and the Pursuit. GM's going to do a massive overhaul of the other Delta cars when this baby comes around.

[Guest YellowJacket894]

Sign me up!

I'll take a base 3-door hatch in black. (No, I'm not kidding. I think I'm seriously going to wait and look into this car.)

[PurdueGuy]

Oh my God, I would SO buy a 3-door Astra with a 5-spd! 

225308[/snapback]

Sorry, but if Autoweek is correct, no 5 speed for you. Can you deal with a 6 speed manual instead?

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/61207008/1063

They're also speculating on engine options - they expect no diesels (I guess the ones offered in europe don't meet us specs), and expect a n/a base engine, and 2 turbo'd engines.

[Jazzhead]

How depressing. Another blow for U.S workers. Count me out.

[ZL-1]

I see lots of you like the big windshield thingy. Am I the only one that doesn't like it?

[prinzSD]

This will put some serious hurt on Corolla/Matrix and possibly even Jetta/Rabbit.

225331[/snapback]

Not to mention Mazda

[haypops]

So much beter then the ION!!

don't disrespect the ION

[MyerShift]

Read this in the Detroit Free Press while at work today.

Made me the happiest boy in the world to know that we fianlly get the Astra.

Even the 5-door isn't frumpy!

[sciguy_0504]

Looks good. I hope GM caught our drift about the Aura transformation.

[aaaantoine]

don't disrespect the ION

225418[/snapback]

300,000 miles!?

He must drive cross-continent for a living...

[stickmax]

I'm hoping to see the 3-door, 5-door, wagon, and convertible models. Europe can keep the sedan which really isn't the same car anyhow. I plan on end up with either a 3-door Astra or Mazda3 sedan by the spring of '08.

[ToniCipriani]

I don't like how they added the front side marker on the bumper. If they eliminated the gap between the front arch and the marker itself would looks better.

[DetroitNut90]

I would definitely consider a metallic red or green 3-door with the panoramic windshield, leather seats, and the 6-speed.

[BuddyP]

I really like the outside, but not to giddy about that interior.

[Bizz]

I see lots of you like the big windshield thingy. Am I the only one that doesn't like it?

225404[/snapback]

nope. well, i think its neat. i just wouldnt want to have to apply sunscreen every time i went somewhere or have to pay for a replacement.

or is there a roof-wide visor that can be pulled forward?