Buick Astra Approved, Coming in 2011; Opel Update

[nsap]

Buick Astra Approved, Coming in 2011; Opel Update
See, product news is still coming out of GM...
www.gminsidenews.com
May 3, 2009
By: Nsap

(Current Astra shown, Buick version will be the all-new Astra due out at the end of this year.

In late summer 2008 GMI broke news that the Saturn brand was on the chopping block. A few months later General Motors applied for government loans and confirmed that it was looking at "strategic options" for the Saturn brand. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and GM announced that the Saturn brand will be dismantled or sold off by the end of this year. Saturn was intended on being GM's outlet for selling Opel products from Europe in North America. With Saturn gone, that leaves room for Buick to latch onto certain Opel products to expand its own lineup, and we're told the Astra is going to be one of them.

Its no surprise, rumors have been surfacing about Buick getting the Astra for some time now. GMI reported that it was under consideration several months ago. Late last week sources informed GMI, however, that the GM Product Board has approved the Astra for the North American Buick lineup. At this point the car has NOT been approved for Buick in China, that decision will be up to Shanghai GM.

Prior to Saturn's demise, the Astra had a lot of hype surrounding it as Saturn was going to get the all-new Astra in 2010 as a 2011 model. That car was going to be built in North America and was to be designed with the North American market in mind, unlike the 2008 Saturn Astra that GM imported from Belgium. GMI was told that the Buick "Astra" will either be built at GM's Lordstown, OH assembly plant or at their new San Luis Potosi, Mexico assembly plant. Production of the car will start in December 2011 as a 2012 model.

Currently it is unknown which models of the Astra Buick will get. Saturn was supposed to get three and five door hatchback variants, but whether that will hold true for Buick is unclear. The name that Buick will select is also not known at the current time. Naming for new products is decided by marketing and usually does not happen until closer to public reveal.

Opel Issues

Lately there has been a lot of discussion regarding the Opel brand and its viability going forward. It is expected that Fiat SpA will submit a bid in for Adam Opel sometime this week. Magna International has already shown interest and is in discussions. Contrary to some reports, Fiat has NOT been in talks with GM about Opel.

All discussions surrounding selling or buying all or a portion of Opel refers to strictly the Adam Opel brand, not GM Europe AG entirely. GM Europe AG owns all of Opel's designs and engineering. GM Europe AG is not out for an investment partner, Adam Opel is.

GM is not trying to shred assets to avoid bankruptcy. At this point GM has the same chances of going into bankruptcy regardless of what happens with Opel. Bankruptcy chances hinge directly on the bondholders of General Motors, nothing more. In an effort to keep Adam Opel afloat GM is seeking a $4.4 Billion loan from the German government, but a requirement of that loan is that an outside firm invest in Opel. GM is seeking an investment partner to secure the loans for Opel from the German government, but the challenge is finding someone that just wants to invest in the company and not buy it or become a majority holder of it.

GMI sources also mentioned that if Opel does not secure the loans from the German government, it will have to file for bankruptcy. If Adam Opel has to file for bankruptcy protection, it is expected that they will be liquidated under a Chapter 7-like situation as there is no debtor in possession (DIP) financier.

[prototype66]

Please stick with Skylark.

[neshapop]

I guess this will aswer the questions about 3rd Buick model, I was hoping that Sky/Solstice rebadge would do it but probably these are not politically correct cars for ATF to even mention.

Good luck with Buick Astra, nice car if GM does not make another stripper for NA market.

[ausrutherford]

Wait, havent we seen Buick astra spy shots in China?

[godsthere]

I can't really understand the thinking here, a entry level Buick subcompact?
Is there even a market for that type of Buick?

[benroethig]

I can't really understand the thinking here, a entry level Buick subcompact?
Is there even a market for that type of Buick?

Compact. The Astra is more or less the hatch version of the Cruze. As for the Cruze itself, I hope they do not make the same mistake of offering it only it hatch form. They need the convertible, Wagon, and most importantly a sedan.

[ARCANGEL]

Compact. The Astra is more or less the hatch version of the Cruze. As for the Cruze itself, I hope they do not make the same mistake of offering it only it hatch form. They need the convertible, Wagon, and most importantly a sedan.

There is so much wrong with this statement. One the cruze and astra are not the same platform so the astra is not more or less a cruze. Two the cruze has only been released in a sedan not a hatch or wagon yet.

[steinravnik]

Hopefully they get rid of that Atari-esque info display and add a decent radio and sunroof. The 2.0 turbo would be great too.

[benroethig]

There is so much wrong with this statement. One the cruze and astra are not the same platform so the astra is not more or less a cruze. Two the cruze has only been released in a sedan not a hatch or wagon yet.

Look up Delta II and take a look at the position of things in the Astra interior. I think you're confusing the Astra with either the Corsa or Insignia.

[davidlane]

Hopefully GM does a better job of bringing "desirable" Astras to Buick than they did for Saturn. Otherwise, why bother. This may be our first opportunity to see if GM has actually changed.

[ARCANGEL]

Look up Delta II and take a look at the position of things in the Astra interior. I think you're confusing the Astra with either the Corsa or Insignia.

Ok so its the next gen Astra not the current gen. Are not the cars developed by different brands ie Astra by opel and Cruze by Daewoo ?

[benroethig]

Ok so its the next gen Astra not the current gen. Are not the cars developed by different brands ie Astra by opel and Cruze by Daewoo ?

Global design initiative. One division is project lead, but all participate.

[prowlerjc]

GM really needs to get rid of the timing belt on the Astra and replace it with a proper chain.

[ARCANGEL]

Global design initiative. One division is project lead, but all participate.

Im sorry about the confusion I forgot that the new astra was moved to delta2 as well maybe its because the car does nothing for me so i do not pay attention

[oklapike]

Hopefully they get rid of that Atari-esque info display and add a decent radio and sunroof. The 2.0 turbo would be great too.

Yep. Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing the 2.8 turbo as a range-topper.