Saturn/Penske

[Eileen Creason]

Just got the news release! Sounds like a great combination. As a very satisfied Saturn owner, I am pleased to see the brand with its fine reputation and great service network being preserved.

[Rob]

Russ

Do your research my friend. From the Detroit Auto Show information regarding the Saturn Aura Concept. It might be built in the US, but it is based on GM's global platform that shares components from the Opel Vectra.

The Aura is Epsilon, meaning built from the same platform as the Opel Vectra, Saab 9-3, Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6. Hints of the G6 can be seen in the taillight area.
Saturn Aura 3

Saturn will borrow heavily from Opel�s design book. The Aura �face� is very much like that used on the smaller Opel Astra.

Detroit Auto Show:Saturn Aura Concept

[Russ]

Well, then you would be incorrect. The Aura was designed for the US market and does not share any primary components with the Opel Vectra. The styling may be similar, but after all the Opel is a GM product too, right? The body panels, frame, suspension, interior and drivetrain are for the most part unique to the Aura . Aura shares it's Epsilon platform with the Pontiac G6 and the Malibu . There were unsubstantiated rumors, denied by GM and Saturn, that the next generation Aura would be based on the Insignia. If I wanted an anemic, plastic-bodied, econo-box like the S-series; I would not have purchased the Aura (although I do like the idea of the plastic body panels and wish Saturn would have continued to use them, it was a competitive advantage that was lost. The Aura (and Malibu) are world-class designs, as is the Vectra and Insignia. The Aura, and now the Malibu, are manufactured in the GM Kansas City Fairfax facility. It is not a re-badged GM import like the Astra. I take no issue with GM importing or manufacturing automobiles outside the US. Bottom line, the GM (and Ford, and Chrysler) profits stay in the US and have a positive impact on the Federal Trade Deficit and US jobs. Some GM and Ford vehicles are assembled in Mexico and Canada, but the majority of the vehicle components are US-sourced. People who think that the end of Saturn coincided with the S-series demise, are living in the past. Saturn failed because GM neglected to leverage the Saturn brand promise, even after the Aura won 2007 Car of the Year. Advertising was practically non-existant. I wish Penske much luck in his venture, but re-badging a Samsung (Nissan) as a Saturn does not keep me as a customer.

[SilentBob]

Everything I see says it is the Opel Vectra and the 2010 was supposed to be the Opel Insignia. Doesn't matter,Saturn hasn't been the same since 2003 with the end of the S-Series

[Russ]

Boy, what a bunch of Saturn loyalists to not realize that the Aura is NOT a rebadged Opel and is NOT based on the Malibu. The Aura is US designed and manufactured. The Aura was the 2007 car of the year, and the Malibu was the 2008 car of the year - which means the Aura was introduced 1.5 years before the Malibu. To Rikki: I am NOT a Saturn FANATIC as some of you appear to be. I would NEVER have purchased a Saturn product manufactured before 2007. I do like the polymer body panels (long since dropped from Saturn), but the current Aura, Vue and Outlook are the 1st time Saturn got my attention. Please, by all means, continue to sit around the campfire and sing kum-ba-ya if that rings your bell. As I stated, all I want is a reply to my question whether I can continue to take my Aura to the local Chevrolet/Buick/GMC dealer for warranty work as I have since the dealer I purchased my Saturn at closed with no warning, just weeks after I purchased my Aura.

[Rob]

Jerry

Actually the Solstice started production a year prior to the Sky even though they were developed at the same time. It was the only way that both Saturn and Pontiac could have a halo car to bring customers back into the showrooms.

[Jerry]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Brian... well, except for the rebadging thing. Saturn actually had some of their stuff stolen like the way the ion redline was made into the cobalt ss along with the sky being made into the solstice.

[Douglas Biagini]

Folks, I am not bashing Saturn. But I have to tell you, if you think this deal will bring American manufacturing jobs your sadly mistaken. This deal, is about making cars like the Chevy Aveo. For those of you who don't know, the Aveo is manufactured in South Korea by Daewoo. Remember, Daewoo?

Ok so here's what happens, Penske owns a business based around reducing cost for supply chains. This is an opportunity for a very efficient cost management team to use an American brand to sell out America to unsuspecting Americans. These cars will be Korean or possibly Chinese made. These units will be efficient cheap basic transportation. I feel that I will be proven correct on this until proven wrong.

[SilverblueSL02]

I'm still on my 4th (02 SL& wife as the 5th, Vue 08) & i'm hoping by the time I get to 250,000 miles on it(currently @150,000) that Saturn/Penske starts offering somthing as good as the SL's that I've had over the years because is replacements ( ION & Astra ) just didn't cut it.

[carcass]

I hope this link with Penske will mean more performance oriented vehicles and backing for those of us who want something more than just a grocery getter or soccer mom vehicle out of our Saturns.

Q.

[Jack L Keville]

I am happy for the dealers and employees. They seem to be a very professional group and deserve a break. For myself I have mixed emotions as I own a 2008 Sky Red Line which it has been my pleasure to modify a bit.(See photos) Now that Fiat is out of the running for Opel I don't see anyone making them any more even if Penske wanted them. On the other hand it does make my car more collectible. Still, sad to see a very good and beautiful car disappear.