The ship has started to turn...

[tgagneguam]

Fayence, France - "The ship has started to turn," commented a fellow auto writer from Britain, as we stood gazing upon a field packed with future General Motors Corp. cars and trucks.

Knowing what an acerbic opinion this particular journalist has had of Detroit automotive hardware in the past, his favorable view was not to be taken lightly.

Though some of the vehicles we were shown at this GM 'global product seminar' in the south of France, such as the Hummer H3, have since become public knowledge, many were revealed on a background information basis only.

While I cannot reveal details of new Saturn models we witnessed, it is widely known that this GM division has a complete line-up of new products coming over the next few years. And from what we were shown, it's reasonable to say that Saturn's model range will change from one of the least inspired to one of the most attractive in GM's global stable. That might sound overly dramatic, but the new models are simply that compelling.

Furthermore, based on the evidence presented in France, it's clear that other GM brands, notably Opel in Europe, have an infusion of convincing new vehicles just around the corner.

But as impressive as GM's French show and tell session was in terms of the mid- to long-term outlook, it is frustrating to observe the painfully slow speed of the company's re-building process. It seems that every time GM takes a solid step forward - witness excellent new products like the Pontiac G6 and the latest Corvette - the overall picture is darkened again by larger corporate concerns, whether it be ballooning health care costs, pension expenses or the crushing overhead of unneeded but hard to close manufacturing operations.

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[tgagneguam]

"...the overall picture is darkened again by larger corporate concerns, whether it be ballooning health care costs, pension expenses or the crushing overhead of unneeded but hard to close manufacturing operations...

...then at least GM is solving the product part of the total equation."

Ah ha, someone's paying attention.

[mrfunji]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

While I cannot reveal details of new Saturn models...from what we were shown, it's reasonable to say that Saturn's model range will change from one of the least inspired to one of the most attractive in GM's global stable. That might sound overly dramatic, but the new models are simply that compelling.

All I can say is I told you so. These new Saturn's are just that great. January can't come faster.

[quinnp12]

such a big teaser. what else was there that was so special beyond saturns and opels (which ill likely never see or drive).
But at least someone outside detroit is seeing something huge happening at GM. Especially considering they were biased against them.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by mrfunji

All I can say is I told you so. These new Saturn's are just that great. January can't come faster.

Yes, and I hope I'm wrong. But I've been disappointed by GM on many more than one occasion. A healthy dose of skepticism is in order.

[mgescuro]

Well... that's definitely a good thing.
And to all those Saturn nay-sayers.... *NYAH NYAH NYAH* ... :P

[dav305z]

yeh it seems anybody who has seen the saturn loves them. they must be some products - i never would have thought id see the day when journalist gaffaw over Saturns!

[Smilingoat]

Originally Posted by dav305z

yeh it seems anybody who has seen the saturn loves them. they must be some products - i never would have thought id see the day when journalist gaffaw over Saturns!

dito, this is still completly shocking, every time i hear it it baffles me. a saturn? i just cant see it as something amazing. and in stead of just saying "saturns are going to be doing a lot better" they are making it sound like saturn may start leading the pack in many catagories... its a crazy world we live in.

[DemonKnightDK]

I bet these new saturns were orginally gonna be for Oldsmobile Why dont buick and pontiac have this kinda porduct line up ready for a jan launch? has saturn been working on this for a wile, or am I right, were these supposed to be olds?

The world may never know.....

[Squachy]

those Saturns have got to be one helluva product lineup to be able to:
1.) Make previewrs guffaw over them
2.) Almost ditch the whole "its all made of tupperware" stereotype completely
3.) Leapfrog every other GM division in attractive, "gotta have" products.

Right now when u think of Saturn you're thinking of the basement dwelling GM division thats struggling to survive (well...to an extent)

Hard to believe that come January when u think of Saturn you'd be thinking of some of the best GM has to offer.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Well... that's definitely a good thing.
And to all those Saturn nay-sayers.... *NYAH NYAH NYAH* ... :P

Ah, but once again, it will take a COMPLETE, ground-up strategy to make Saturn attractive. Saturn naysayers are proven right here... everything will be tossed out the window in favour of better vehicles. I don't know that anyone argued that there was no way Saturn could ever become a great division... the argument was that Saturn, as it sits now, is not. It only makes sense that with great vehicles a divison will be great.

Wiping the slate clean tells me that Saturn had very little going for it. If Saturn sales had tripled on the back of the L-series, Ion and Relay I'd have said that Saturn naysayers were wrong... but it'll continue to tank until this new product arrives. They might as well give the division a new name for all the "Saturn" they're keeping.

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Well... that's definitely a good thing.
And to all those Saturn nay-sayers.... *NYAH NYAH NYAH* ... :P

I'd hold off the celebration for the moment. Let's see the vehicles first, then see when GM decides to bring them to market (2008? 2011??). Then, we'll see how the production versions look.

I'm really hoping that the buzz reflects something great is about to happen, but we've been here so many times over the past 10-20 years.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

Then, we'll see how the production versions look.

Ah good point we're all overlooking. Based on the Lacrosse and G6 show cars I'd have predicted that GM sales would double in 2005. Looking at the production versions, not so sure. Perhaps these Saturn models are closer to production than that, but I still won't be buying Saturn stock based on a few people going ooh and ahh. We have a quote from GM saying that the Torrent was not going to be a rebadged Equinox... and tada! Look at what's coming. I sure hope these Saturns are all that...

[Gixx]

Every time I hear about these new Saturn products I get a little tingle in my pants. That usually doesn't happen with Saturn. Usually it happens when we are getting our a$$es whopped by the imports.

[mbukukanyau]

Problem, GM is aiming it campaign on Buzz and excitement, instead of touting its reliability and value scores.. which are close to rivaling those of the japanese...

I am yet to see a single GM commercial talking about Quality score, reliability scores and customer satisfaction scores...
Instead we get these commercials aimed at Boys and Automotive press types