Regardless of the reasoning behind it I think we can all agree that it was definitely a bad move for GM to put such a highly anticipated model such as the 2nd gen Aura on hold especially since Saturn desperately needs this model in their lineup as soon as humanly possible.
The current Aura is a solid fwd midsize sedan but it had unfortunately begun its life with a few bugaboos that I think some consumers weren't willing to overlook such as the outdated and unrefined 3500 pushrod V6/4-spd auto powertrain in the XE, cheap interior materials, and a lack of high-tech gadgetry options. And this makes the delay of the EPII Aura even that more disconcerting because the EPII Aura would resolve most of the current Aura's shortcomings and would give Saturn a much more competitive FWD midsize sedan offering.
The reality of the situation is that the current 08 Malibu is a
much more realized and defined example of what the Aura
should have been at its introduction due to the current Malibu's deletion of an outdated/unrefined OHV V6 powerplant, improved interior materials and design, and better brand identity/image over the current Aura; GM realizes this and I'm sure that most consumers realize this cold-hard fact as well.
I've seen more new Malibus on the road than Auras which is pretty scary considering that the Aura has been on the market twice as long as the 08 Malibu, so it's obvious that the cosumers out there feel more comfortable buying a Chevy Malibu over a Saturn Aura despite the many similarities between the two cars. What this means is that Saturn is going to need something a bit more premium than the Malibu and G6 if it's going to be able to make up for the gap in brand identity and brand image in order to lure consumers into Saturn dealerships.