[frindz]

Saturn teased fans with a riddle late last month on it's ImSaturn.com social networking site about how in 2009, 4x6 would equal 33. If you're still trying to figure out what all that means, you can stop guessing. In a message posted earlier this week, the brand explained its "unconventional" math, and it congratulated those of you who correctly decoded their cryptic message.

The 2009 Saturn Aura will feature a four-cylinder engine, combined with a new six-speed automatic transmission, giving the vehicle a highway fuel economy rating of 33 miles per gallon (4 cylinders x 6 speeds = 33 mpg). That's an increase of three miles per gallon from 2008 and the best highway fuel economy rating of any non-hybrid midsize sedan. The Aura's city fuel economy is also impressive at 22 mpg. This efficient four-cylinder/six-speed combo will now be standard on both the Aura XE and XR models. That means you can get the segment-leading fuel economy along with the high content of the XR model. (We're dropping the 3.5 V6 XE, but we still offer 3.6 V6 on the XR model.) We are also proud to announce that the 2009 Saturn Aura hybrid also gets a significant boost in fuel economy. The new EPA ratings are 26 mpg on the city and 34 mpg on the highway, up from 24/32 in 2008. The Aura hybrid retains its 2.4 liter engine and modified four-speed transmission.

Source: imsaturn.com
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[mgescuro]

heh... that means it will also be on malibu and g6 too... yeah... not all that special...
but that is certainly a solid step in the right direction.

 

[CamaroCrazy]

forget making the Aura "special' right now, when you have consumers flipping out about fuel economy, this is a great claim for GM to have across all their Ep I cars. 4cyl and 6 speeds standard? Its about time.

 

[killerrd2]

forget making the Aura "special' right now, when you have consumers flipping out about fuel economy, this is a great claim for GM to have across all their Ep I cars. 4cyl and 6 speeds standard? Its about time.

Concur! :yup:

 

[Uzzy]

forget making the Aura "special' right now, when you have consumers flipping out about fuel economy, this is a great claim for GM to have across all their Ep I cars. 4cyl and 6 speeds standard? Its about time.

Do you think that the IMSaturn.com site is going to tout the Malibu and G6? No, they'll get their time in the spotlight too, I'm sure. Just not on there.

 

[ChevyRules]

forget making the Aura "special' right now, when you have consumers flipping out about fuel economy, this is a great claim for GM to have across all their Ep I cars. 4cyl and 6 speeds standard? Its about time.

What is going to get people to buy a Saturn when they can get a Malibu with the same fuel economy and can haggle to a lower price? GM has to do a better job differentiating the Aura besides the looks.

 

[MCGARRETT]

Yes, they all might get it, even the G6, but with rising gas prices, each division should advertise the crap out of it in their own way, that way the message will get to the consumer, no matter if the brand "noise" distracts the customer. i.e ignores Pontiac ads but "sees" Saturn ads.

 

[logansowner]

I'm confused. the current Malibu in Canada with the 6 speed and the 4 cyl engine is listed at 46 mpg highway. If you take 33 mpg US and....33/3.78= 8.73x4.54 (Canadian gallon) and you only get 39 mpg. So why is that? Where did the other 7 MPG come from when you cross the border?

 

[MrJamesMc]

I'm confused. the current Malibu in Canada with the 6 speed and the 4 cyl engine is listed at 46 mpg highway. If you take 33 mpg US and....33/3.78= 8.73x4.54 (Canadian gallon) and you only get 39 mpg. So why is that? Where did the other 7 MPG come from when you cross the border?

Canadian air makes the engine go a longer distance per gallon of fuel?

XD

 

[WishIhadatruck]

What is going to get people to buy a Saturn when they can get a Malibu with the same fuel economy and can haggle to a lower price? GM has to do a better job differentiating the Aura besides the looks.

Those are some great fuel economy numbers. Very impressive.

I've heard from a couple of reviews that the Saturn is a firmer riding car (especially the XR) compared to the Malibu and tuned more towards handling at the expense of the ride.

 

[crooner214]

I'm confused. the current Malibu in Canada with the 6 speed and the 4 cyl engine is listed at 46 mpg highway. If you take 33 mpg US and....33/3.78= 8.73x4.54 (Canadian gallon) and you only get 39 mpg. So why is that? Where did the other 7 MPG come from when you cross the border?

wouldn't the formula be 33/3.78 ay = 8.73*4.54 ay?

(Sorry, couldn't help myself!)

 

[SAngelo]

This is all very good news but I was hoping to hear the Hybrid would get the 6 speed and have a dual mode hybrid offered. I was also hoping the Aura as well as the Malibu would get the 3.6 DI engine as an option. So the non-hybrid engine line-up would be 2.4, 3.6 and 3.6 DI. Come on GM ?

 

[Ambalanche]

forget making the Aura "special' right now, when you have consumers flipping out about fuel economy, this is a great claim for GM to have across all their Ep I cars. 4cyl and 6 speeds standard? Its about time.

The Aura will be "special" when it morphs into the Insignia body!

 

[[email protected]]

heh... that means it will also be on malibu and g6 too... yeah... not all that special...
but that is certainly a solid step in the right direction.

how about the cobalt--same combo maybe 2city-4mph hw
how about aveo---ditto combo 4city--6? mph hw
even better bas + for all malibu 38-40, cobalt 40-42, aveo 42-44 why not????
you can do better gm give us the best---you already got the tools
once again in the future gm will realize it had the tools but will be opologizing for not getting it right

 

[jbernie]

any increase in fuel economy on any model looks good right now... it doesn't need to be an extra 10mpg or the like but if the consumers see the numbers going up and GM promotes the numbers are going up it will help with their apparent non green image.

 

[Bvonscott]

If you guys want to know what 09 cars get for engines and transmission go here:

http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/2009a/09car.htm

 

[gmhashope]

This makes the Astra look kinda bad but it's good to see the new technology going into the midsize cars and making them as fuel efficient as compact cars.

 

[2648562]

33 mpg isn't a reason to go out and by one. But it's solid for its class and sure isn't a reason to look elsewhere. I think it's just going to take some time getting used to the new EPA system before the new numbers impress us. With that said, GM sure better have a whole bunch of cars ready to impress the public or it will, AND SHOULD, be curtains for them.

 

[MechEng]

I'm confused. the current Malibu in Canada with the 6 speed and the 4 cyl engine is listed at 46 mpg highway. If you take 33 mpg US and....33/3.78= 8.73x4.54 (Canadian gallon) and you only get 39 mpg. So why is that? Where did the other 7 MPG come from when you cross the border?

The tests for fuel economy in Canada and the US are not the same. So you will see different numbers.

 

[jasaero]

heh... that means it will also be on malibu and g6 too... yeah... not all that special...
but that is certainly a solid step in the right direction.

Pretty sure that will make them Segment leading though and in the Saturns case the base model will actually lead the segment. The Camry is the only 2009 competitor listed on the government fuel economy site though. It will be the class best seller for sure!