Auras are on the road!

[RJB]

Well the Saturn Aura is on the roads here in Michigan. And they are what looks like to me as close as you can get to a production car. I have been a skeptic of the Aura but now that I have seen one in person, up close, I have changed my mind. They look very nice and I dare say elegant! The interior was everything that the pictures show. And yes the wheels need to be changed, a little boring for my tastes. But all in all if I were to be shopping for nice family sedan I would consider one of these.

[VenSeattle]

The Aura wheels are growing on me. Seems to be a European thing:

[Dsuupr]

Any new news on the hybird version?

[sciguy_0504]

For some reason, those wheels do not look right on the Aura, though. The Aura's overall design, though, seems to be a Chrysler thing.

[Flybrian]

Man, those wheels don't look right on any of those cars.

[VenSeattle]

For some reason, those wheels do not look right on the Aura, though.  The Aura's overall design, though, seems to be a Chrysler thing.

I think Aura styling is more European than a sad attempt at copying the cloud cars at Chrysler. The cloud cars original intention were to look more European afterall.

Regardless, the Aura also looks noticeably more expensive than the Cirrus/Sebring or Status/Avenger... lets leave Breeze out of this.

Aura

Stratus

refresh

Cirrus

refresh (renamed Sebring)

Sorry, but the Aura puts both generations to shame... The Aura is not a 1990's throw-back.

[Backup7]

I agree. And, I don't see why everyone keeps comparing the Aura's wheels to the Sebring's. They don't even have the same number of spokes.

[CreativeVision]

You've got to be kidding me that you don't see striking resemblances to the last gen Status/Sebring. Take a close look at the two side by side and note the body lines of the lower half of the vehicle. You can't tell me that the line that comes from the front end, over the fender flares, along the rocker panel, and again at the back bumper isn't a almost duplicate.

Also the taillights have almost a similar shapeing to them from the last gen Sebring. The wheels, while not the exact same number of spokes, still invoke that impression to the consumer. And the shape of the greenhouse is also similar. I'm not saying these things are spot on, but they are not different enough to not be compared.

To me there is really nothing too revolutionary about this car. While I admit when I first saw it at the 2005 Autoshow, I fell in love almost instantly, it was the aggressive fender arches and grill that did it for me. The more I see the production model, the more I turn up my nose at the thought of owning what appears to be a new rendition of the Sebring...BOOORRRINGGG!!!

The only thing I like on this car is the crease at the Beltline(shoulder) line. Gives it at least a little bit of brute

PS. Nice Honda Civic Chrome Grill bar...haha

[Ravenfreak13]

> Leave the breeze out!?!?!?!?

[ichbinjohnk]

PS. Nice Honda Civic Chrome Grill bar...haha

A design cue blantantly copied by Honda from Opel/Vauxhal, who have previewed/used for some time. Even the Aura concept previewed this cue before the Civic was shown.

[Guest YellowJacket894]

^

Edited May 19, 2006 by YellowJacket894

[vt_hokie]

To me, the Aura looks just like those earlier Chrysler cars, except with ugly oversized headlights.

[ToniCipriani]

I agree.  And, I don't see why everyone keeps comparing the Aura's wheels to the Sebring's.  They don't even have the same number of spokes.

Edited May 19, 2006 by ToniCipriani

[pow]

A design cue blantantly copied by Honda from Opel/Vauxhal, who have previewed/used for some time.  Even the Aura concept previewed this cue before the Civic was shown.

2003 Accord...

Let's leave it as a coincidence.

Edited May 19, 2006 by empowah

[ichbinjohnk]

PS. Nice Honda Civic Chrome Grill bar...haha

The 2003-2005 Accords did not use chrome bars. The grille received a chrome bar/lower surround in 2006.

[RBB]

2003 Accord...

Let's leave it as a coincidence.

Let's try a '99 626:

or the '00 Protogé:

-RBB

[CreativeVision]

A design cue blantantly copied by Honda from Opel/Vauxhal, who have previewed/used for some time.  Even the Aura concept previewed this cue before the Civic was shown.

Your right I'm forgetting that Aura Concept was shown before the introduction of the new Civic. Prior to the Aura, I hadn't really had much insight into Opel/Vauxhall, so I was not aware this was used there previously as well. Thanks for correcting me on this.

[bowtie_dude]

Man, those wheels don't look right on any of those cars.

And I think they look fantastic.

[91z4me]

Let's try a '99 626:

or the '00 Protogé:

-RBB

Yeah I noticed that too and even the Mazdaspeed6 still uses the bar, body colored now.

Lets be real guys Mazda used it first.

[ichbinjohnk]

Yeah...I'll admit that.

[VenSeattle]

Yeah I noticed that too and even the Mazdaspeed6 still uses the bar, body colored now.

Lets be real guys Mazda used it first.

Saturn is becoming GM Europe (Opel/Vauxhall)... much of the styling cues are not new to GM... just to the US market:

1995 Vauxhall Vectra

1995 Vauxhall Astra Convertible

1999 Vauxhall Astra Van Sportiv

2000 Vauxhall VX 220

So I wouldn't say GM checked out any of the Japanese for styling direction... GM found everything Saturn needed in Vauxhall.

[VenSeattle]

> Leave the breeze out!?!?!?!?

No disrespect meant towards your 1999 Plymouth Breeze. The Breeze was chrome free and did not make it past the refresh. The refreshed cloud car sedans (Sebring & Stratus sedans) are really the only two that have a slight resemblance to the Aura. Even then, they don't look as sophisticated or expensive as the Aura.

[rueben44]

Some people here are really reaching! Do we need to squint our eyes and smoke marijuana to see what some of you see?

[Imaj]

Saturn is becoming GM Europe (Opel/Vauxhall)... much of the styling cues are not new to GM... just to the US market:

1995 Vauxhall Vectra

1995 Vauxhall Astra Convertible

1999 Vauxhall Astra Van Sportiv

2000 Vauxhall VX 220

So I wouldn't say GM checked out any of the Japanese for styling direction... GM found everything Saturn needed in Vauxhall.

I think these pics clarify everything. It's a GM design after all.

[MyerShift]

Lordy!

That black first generation Stratus ES is a hottie!!!!

[VenSeattle]

Lordy!

That black first generation Stratus ES is a hottie!!!!

And see... My favorite was the Cirrus. It's a shame that mine was cursed with a Mitsubishi engine.

[Ravenfreak13]

And see... My favorite was the Cirrus. It's a shame that mine was cursed with a Mitsubishi engine.

I love the 99-00 Cirrus...Though I have my Chrome-less Breeze(the badging was chrome...and some came with chrome bodyside moldings ).

[MyerShift]

And see... My favorite was the Cirrus. It's a shame that mine was cursed with a Mitsubishi engine.

Agree regarding the Mitsubishi engine. I don't know about the first generation, but the second generation of Cloud Cars had a 2.4L turbo in Mexico. THat would have been great in Mk 1 Clouds with a manual transmission.

My Breeze has the 2.0L engine used in Neons and later export PT Cruisers.

[loki]

pretty sure i saw one while in southern Ill. (business run across the river) today, only saw the tail by the time i thought it was the aura, looked like those rear lights.

...wasn't driving , but looking out his window briefly, saw something zoom by and thusly looked out the back of the cargo van...

[mustang84]

Yeah I noticed that too and even the Mazdaspeed6 still uses the bar, body colored now.

Lets be real guys Mazda used it first.

The chrome bar with brand logo centered bit is as old as dirt itself. Mercury was doing it in the mid 90s.

1998 Mercury Mystique

1996 Mercury Sable

1995 Grand Marquis

[PurdueGuy]

The gap above the bar makes a bit of a difference, though. Those subtle details are generally what makes all the difference in styling cars.

[SoCalCTS]

I think Aura styling is more European than a sad attempt at copying the cloud cars at Chrysler. The cloud cars original intention were to look more European afterall.

Regardless, the Aura also looks noticeably more expensive than the Cirrus/Sebring or Status/Avenger... lets leave Breeze out of this.

The stratus was gross. It doesn't even look similar.