Confirmed: Astra to replace ION in late '07

[Pontiac-Custom-S]

Originally Posted by gmhashope

Notice the picture has the Saturn badge on it now also. Great news for GM.

It also has the GM Chicklet on it too! I would prefer to have the Opel badge on all Saturn products. I really like Opel.

[CrunkedRL]

Originally Posted by cincygoblue

Excellent news. I was worried about how long they'd drag their feet. What a great car for Saturn to get it's hands on. Glad to hear the 3-door is official and please bring over the huge windshield and a Redline version. This thing in just 3 and 5 door should sell 80,000 a year.

Yes pleez import the 3-door with the panoramic roof. This would be such a hot seller. Saturn has been noted for their innovation in the past w/ the whole 3 door and later 4 door coupe thing. This would be the perfect transition for them. GM needs to stop with all of this great news my heart can take only so much shock.

[HEVguy]

Awesome (although expected) news! I want one for my work car!!!!

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by CrunkedRL

Yes pleez import the 3-door with the panoramic roof. This would be such a hot seller. Saturn has been noted for the innovation in the past w/ the whole 3 door and later 4 door coupe thing. This would be the perfect transition for them.

Check out this cool 3-D view of the Panoramic sunroof. Scroll down the page one frame and click on 'Vue panoramique en 3D', in the upper right hadn side of the box with the picture of the windshield.

http://www.opel.fr/action/go?page=as...SiteId=GBPFR#2

The only worry is that it'd probably add 2-3000 dollars to the price of the car... small car shoppers aren't always looking to spend a fortune, especially in the US.

Oh, and can you imagine what insurers would gouge people with this windshield?

[CrunkedRL]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Check out this cool 3-D view of the Panoramic sunroof. Scroll down the page one frame and click on 'Vue panoramique en 3D', in the upper right hadn side of the box with the picture of the windshield.

http://www.opel.fr/action/go?page=as...SiteId=GBPFR#2

The only worry is that it'd probably add 2-3000 dollars to the price of the car... small car shoppers aren't always looking to spend a fortune, especially in the US.

Oh, and can you imagine what insurers would gouge people with this windshield?

This is insane! It's almost like a convert without the wind and noise. Yeah I know it would probably be a long shot for most to purchase an Astra this $$$ upgrade, but it would be nice to see a couple in Saturn's line anyway.

[ees1996]

They will probably do a similar change on the astra like they did on the vue push the vents up in the center dash and put the bowtie in the space below.

[nimrod]

any word on pricing? the way the dollar keeps falling this baby will be quite expensive.

[69Firebird400]

It's a shame that they are going to be satisfied with 30-40,000 units sold (which I've said in an earlier post, could be limited by any of several factors, possibly independent of market demand, such as factory capacity, UAW relations, etc.). That's almost 1/10 of S-series peak sales. Now granted, the Saturn lineup was a lot thinner in those days, so if you wanted a Saturn, your only choice was an S-series, but 30,000 is a far cry from almost 300,000.

At least overall Saturn sales will probably be setting records over the next few years. The shame is, they have to amortize the development costs for, say, 400,000 total units over five models rather than just one. Hmm...

[mystikranger]

Omg, a compact that I would actually consider buying from GM! Please GM don't screw up the interior like you did with the Aura. This is HOT HOT HOT!

[tantalize9]

YEEEES! I'm very impressed with GM moving quickly to get rid of that horrid Ion. I can't wait to see this car in person. The pic looks great, if it turns out to be a stunner I'd love to get in line for one. Whomever within GM that had the idea to bring this car over here should be applauded and given a paid dream vacation of thier choice lol

[elderon]

Last I checked the general impression was that the Aura had a great interior..

???

I can't wait to see the final Saturn version of the Astra and the powertrains.

[superstreet]

i already saw that car on the streets but with chevy badges, there si the link with some photos

http://www.chevrolet.com.mx/content_.../pdf/astra.pdf

[throwback]

Originally Posted by CrunkedRL

Yes pleez import the 3-door with the panoramic roof. This would be such a hot seller. Saturn has been noted for their innovation in the past w/ the whole 3 door and later 4 door coupe thing. This would be the perfect transition for them. GM needs to stop with all of this great news my heart can take only so much shock.

SAAB needs to get this option for their cars. Talk about a canopy!

[E. Haskell]

What is the curb weight for the 3-door???

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

What is the curb weight for the 3-door???

2733 lbs for the VXR (240hp Turbo 2.0, 6sp manual, 17" wheels)