May13
General Motors has announced that it will be moving its Opel brand upscale. The move is intended to set the Opel brand apart from the competition and also further differentiate the marque from GM’s entry-level Chevrolet brand. Although the Opel brand is not sold in the U.S., several Saturn models sold here are based on Opels, leading us to wonder if GM will be making a similar move with Saturn.
“Opel and Chevrolet will be bookends with a clear position for both,” GM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster told Automotive News. “Over time, we will emphasize Opel’s German heritage, engineering and design.”
The shift to a premium marque will most heavily focus on improved designs and engineering, but will also include a 1 to 3 percent price hike to really get the point across.
The shift will begin with the 2009 Opel Insignia, which will eventually be brought to the U.S. as the Saturn Aura. Since so many Opel and Saturn models are linked, it seems like an upscale move for Saturn might be inevitable — which would really put the crunch on Buick.
Opel sales have been lagging in Europe — sales were down 8.2 percent through the first quarter of 2008 — but it remains unclear if that had any influence in the decision.
I don’t know what “bringing upscale means”. The idea of adding 2-3% to the price of already not selling car line up does not sound right.
There’s really not alot of new’s going on today I think.
Arn’t all cars over time going more upscale where else whould you go down scale?
You can hit rock bottom. Just ask Chrysler.
Still more upscale than the Neon’s of yesterday.But yes as a company yes Rock bottom. But they were trying to make there car’s more upscale.
Wow, so they are taking the “green”, cheap car of the 1990’s and making it upscale?? Muhahahahaha! Boy how times have changed…
They will just charge more for their unproven crap Sounds like a plan
Their sales have also been lagging GM is so smart
Well, at the auto show(local) in March, we saw the Astra…Nice car..
The 3 door, Astra XR(iirc)..nice, but the price(with automatic), was 19,800+ MSRP- and no haggling(with shipping, etc).
138HP/1.8 L(or is it 2.0) 4 cylinder. I got a tC 4 years ago this Fall, for 17,100(with shipping, less than 17,800, iirc).
160HP..2.4 L, both get 31 MPG Hwy..but one cost 2K less than the other, and the one(tC) also has a sunroof, and a few other items more than the Astra.
I noticed in the paper, the Saturn dealership had 1000 dollars off of the Astra for a week.
Still, 18,800 dollars..vs 17,800(or 18,100 , now, for a 3 door tC)…I don’t think so. 0-60 for the tC is 8.2-8.4 for automatic, and 7.4 for manual shift,iirc.
Astra? Around 10 seconds+ to 60.
I liked the Astra… and would possibly consider one, if it were 17,500-18,000, sunroof, same stuff as tC has(if no sunroof, etc.. make it 16,500-17,000).
At nearly 20,000 dollars… only if it were a diesel like the upcoming Jetta clean diesel…50 MPG, torque around 236(like a small V6)..etc…maybe.
This is silly. Are they trying to kill Saturn with these prices raises?
Saturn used to be the entry level place.
That would be like Kia going upscale, and Hyundai(the parent company) staying at the lower end…it should be the other way around.
The Malibu jumped 2000 dollars from 07 to 08 models….
I don’t know.
Just buy a tC, or if you need a 5 door… a Matrix or new Vibe, if you must.
The rest?
Go buy a Malibu, and save your money.
Don’t understand these companies.. times are hard, sales are down, Let’s Raise Prices, and upscale our once entry-level “get the import buyers in here to buy Saturn” brand.
The new Malilbu is a nice car, but the interior is basic. That’s fine, it’s a Chevy. When consumers sit in the Aura, it is pretty much the same story. So why not offer the Aura with some better materials, more sound insulation, and more standard items at a slightly higher price. It worked for VW for awhile, but they took it too far. Look at what Buick is doing to set themselves apart (Enclave is Acadia with more upscale trimmings).
Except for someone’s skewed and constantly changing definition of what “unproven,” Saturn has been building reliable cars for several years now…. From 2004-present, there have been 169K Saturns affected by recalls (that’s including the 40K recalled for wrong labels..and none of which were for the Aura either)… Compare that to 722K Toyotas affected by recalls from 2005-present… or for a more accurate comparison between Saturn and another brand of more similar volume (less actually) to the 632K Acuras affected by recalls from 2004-2008 (and that’s not counting any of the ‘04 3.2TLs affected by the 1.1million unit recall throughout Honda or any of the 1million+ units affected by the owner’s manual recall). So since we always love to use recalls as a measure of reliability… Saturns have shown to be much more so than either Toyota or Acura… although I’m sure there will be some new excuse as to why recalls are now not a good measure - which will then debunk all previous arguments by which recalls were used.
Either way…. as far as this article goes - it seems as if GM wants to move Saturn into the slot once occupied by Oldsmobile, kind of between Pontiac and Buick. It actually makes sense when you think about it… I just wonder how such a move will affect Saab, which is supposed to already be GM’s upscale Euro brand?
I have to be like the rest of the LLN crowd… STUPID IDEA!!! DUMB IDEA!!! CEO CRAZY!!! I LIKE FISH STICKS!!!
Since 2004 458 k Saturn’s have been recalled and from 2002 add another 140 K
His numbers along with his mind are skewed
Also I’m surprised that Saturn even sold that many cars to begin with. Saturns aren’t a volume seller like Honda or Toyota
The Opel cars have not been in the States long enough to prove their worth. The car as a Saturn is a brand new vehicle and if not then they need to informa Americans that they are lying about the car being a brand new vehicle and are just fooling Americans with used Euro crap
Also please check the resale of a Saturn vs. Honda and see which car is the better built car. It’s coming up Honda or Toyota every time and that is FACT that is based on FACT therefore it cant be denied
Anything from GM has to stand the test of time with no or little problems and please stop lying and exaggerating numbers and downplaying others
There is no need to make a car upscale just bc they feel like it. A price hike on a Saturn would kill the already dying brand. There truly is no reason to buy a Saturn or any GM for that matter
The Acura brand has the MDX and the TL as top sellers and the TL is only bested by the Bavarian 3 series in the entry level lux dept Yes it outsells the G and the ES. The MDX is a top seller as well in the SUV catagory so Acura is here to stay
No one has ever denied the whole resale argument… only that there is no direct correlation between resale and reliability… and you’ve yet to produce anything which proves that direct correlation beyond pure conjecture (ie -opinion).
Unfortunately, my numbers aren’t skewed whatsoever… would you care to explain how you came up with that 458K number? Because unlike you, I actually take the time to do just that extra bit of research because I realized that those numbers listed in the recalls affect many different makes and many different models… I actually took the time to match up the year and model of the specific Saturns mentioned in the recall against the actual number of Saturns sold… just like I deducted any number of Hondas affected from those numbers for Acura, or any duplicates listed for Toyota. Take for instance, the “275K” ‘07 Saturn Skys said to be affected… if you were able to differentiate your ass from a hole in the ground, you would realize that there weren’t 275K Skys produced… that recall covers 2005-2007 Cadillac CTSs, CTS-Vs, STSs, and STS-Vs, 2005-2007 Cadillac SRX crossovers, 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstices and the 2007 Saturn Sky… ONLY 11263 of that 275K were Saturns.
Again… unlike you, when I make an argument, I like to put that extra bit of effort into any research before I just blurt numbers and arguments out of my ass… why is that? Because I never want to put myself out there as a blatant, hypocritical lying little douchebag like someone else has constantly shown himself to be.
Still mad bc Japanese car are worth more and better huh ?
My point has been proven time and time again and you havent done anything but whine. The extra bit of effort made you post incorrect numbers bc you were trying to hide the number of recalls that Saturn had
You sir are a LIAR and you are unstable at that
To stay on the subject Saturn just cant move upscale in the States. It doesnt work that way
Even hyundai will have an issue selling the Genesis and making an upscale division
What novel concept… staying on subject - I like it… it’s just a shame that could never be done in any of the countless posts prior to this one. We’ll see how long this notion lasts.. I’m guessing it will ’til the next time there’s an article about Toyota/Honda recall…
I still hear whining
And I still hear a hypocritical little faggot who’d stick needles in his eyes than ever face reality.
Someone get AMG a pacifier or a muzzle better yet
It’s worth noting that Saturn has pretty much taken over the niche that was held by Oldsmobile for 100 years, except they sell a fraction of the cars Olds did. Nice move. So Pontiac is going to be re-badged Australian GM and cars and Saturn will be the re-badged European GM cars. In 10 years, since Buick is Gm’s China brand and they’re beginning to engineer their own vehicles over there, Buicks will basically be designed and built there and Chevy and Caddy will be the only real “American” GM brands. Hmmm, this all might make sense actually.
Going upscale when the economy may be going into an extended downturn or sideways is not a good idea. GM needs volume and they already are in the process of upscaling Cadillac and Buick.
I wonder:
Who on here would pay 19,800+ dollars(msrp/handling, etc..) for a 3 door Astra?
It’s a nice little car….but….
I’d rather buy a clean diesel Jetta sedan in August for that cash, and get 50+ MPG hwy(vs 31 for Astra). I know, one is a small sporty car..etc…but when I buy stuff.. I compare prices..what can I get for this amount of money.
I spoke to Saturn and told the guy, if you have 1000 off(cash back, right now) and give me another 1000 on my trade-in, and make this car about 300 less than the tC, I might consider it.
Never heard back.
I actually emailed Saturn told them if it was a diesel and came in an exciting color with an interior that wasn’t so dark and depressing, I would buy it on the spot. Maybe if enough people would email them about bringing the diesel here, they would do it.
They don’t want to spend money on the emissions I guess.
I’m not buying a new car just to get high 20’s mpg in a small car. With the price of gas… I want at least 35 MPG AVERAGE and only a diesel or hybrid (or way underpowered in can) can do that.
I want at least 35 MPG AVERAGE and only a diesel or hybrid (or way underpowered in can) can do that.
Comment by tastyorange, posted on May13 ————————————————————–
Jetta 09 clean diesel rumored to hit 60 in low 8’s(like the tC), same price(starting) as Astra(supposedly)….and 50+ MPG hwy.
Look up Popular Mechanics article(s) on the 09 Jetta clean diesel.
Rather have a 3 door or Good Looking 5 door(not station-wagon-like).
Fast like a small-sporty car, MPG of a Prius(and then some), etc…
You cannot move Saturn upscale. Sales are slow even with the small price increase Saturn has had since it was Opelized.
GM should just ditch the Saturn name and go with Opel. Americans will spend a little more for a foreign nameplate. Then it would not affect Buick as much because the target will be different.
^^^ True, Buick is aimed at a much older market while Saturn is aimed at younger buyers. However, **** is still smells like **** no matter what you call it.
So the next Opels will be bigger - not exactly news… Or did they mean upmarket?