General Motors today confirmed it will add the Astra compact car to its lineup late in 2007. The car is already sold by General Motors in Europe under its Opel brand. Earlier this year, GM executives said they would align the Saturn and Opel brands over the coming years. Early examples of this collaboration include the Saturn Sky and upcoming Opel GT, as well as the Opel Antara and 2008 Saturn Vue.
“The Astra is a great fit for Saturn, with its European style and driving dynamics,” said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. “It also signals our efforts to get new vehicles to market quickly and reinvent the entire Saturn product lineup with unprecedented speed.”
The Saturn Astra will be nearly identical to the 2007.5 Opel Astra, unveiled this week at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. It will be sold in the United States and Canada in three-door and five-door configurations. More information will be available when Saturn unveils the 2008 Astra at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2007.
