Comments on: Spied: Opel Insignia (Saturn Aura) Hatchback

By: legr8est

legr8est — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:10:59 +0000

It looks a lot like something Toyota/Lexus would put out. And I’ve always hated Toyota’s designs.

By: xyunya

xyunya — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:17:18 +0000

global_lightning, it would be good theory if we could actually see and drive at least 50% of Opels in US and had at least 30% of their engines and transmission choices. Alas, that is not the case. It is true that we can drive 2 variations of Vectra (either Malibu or Aura) but only with 2 engines and transmissions, one version of Vue and one version of Astra with one engine and 2 transmissions. I think in Europe Astra comes with either 4 or 5 engine variations, ditto Vectra and Vue has a few. Out of US car line up GM has 1 domestically produced car – Impala. I don’t count Corvette – specialty vehicle and I doubt it is produced to make money – brings crowd into showroom.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:08:18 +0000

It goes both ways. Almost all new platforms underpin designs for the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Then they are adapted for local market preferences, safety, and emmission laws. The whole ‘domestic vs import’ concept has been obsolete for at least 20 years.

By: AMGoff

AMGoff — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:31:59 +0000

You’re right moto-racer… a huge, multi-national corporation should waste billions of dollars developing unique platforms for each of its markets… it would be absurd for them to consolidate their lineups into various global platforms – plain absurd.

By: Carwatcher

Carwatcher — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Another CLS look alike!

By: xyunya

xyunya — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:38:49 +0000

moto-racer13 you described the state of US auto industry. At least you can comprehend it, large number of hick/rednecks can’t. Honda Accord for US market is designed, build in US (Ohio) by all US staff. Then it is exported to Asia and Europe as upscale product. Ditto Camry for US market.

By: moto-racer13

moto-racer13 — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:27:58 +0000

Is GM no longer able to develop cars on its own in the US anymore? Seems like more and more GM cars are becoming heavily dependant on foreign design, engineering and development. Australia is giving us the hottest pontaic ever. America’s sports car, the Camaro, was developed and designed in Australia, tuned in Germany, and built in Canada, the new ZR1’s development is headed by a European guy and is loaded with European made components to make it fast, including brakes developed by Ferrari with Brembo, French made tires and carbon fibre and a swedish supercharger. Now all Saturns are Opels, and the Saturn Vue uses Honda engines. I guess even GM no longer trusts anything American made. Still its much better than Ford. Anything is better than Ford.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:23:32 +0000

Funny how everyone thinks the US doesn’t like hatchbacks and wagons…what the hell are SUVs and Minivans? I’d think every post-soccerminivan-SUV-driving-mom would acknowledge the merits of hatchbacks by now. Hopefully they’ll come to their senses soon and dump those SUV’s so I can buy one really cheap to tow the boat (with 502 crate motor) I am gonna buy, and leave me enough gas to run them all weekend!

By: Rotman

Rotman — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:18:45 +0000

It’s an Opel. With FWD. Neeeeeext!

By: amac

amac — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:16:25 +0000

Not bad, but not as inspiring as the concept model. The hatch seam leading from the rear window to the tail light looks awkward. Overall a pretty decent looking car, too bad it won’t catch on in the USA as Americans are hatchback-phobic.

By: xyunya

xyunya — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:13:38 +0000

Let Saab do their own cars: re-badging did not yield swarms of new customers. I agree, Saab is harchback by God’s intent, but Opel was making hatchbacks as well, they just totally differnt cars and should be left alone that way.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:02:29 +0000

Give it a turbo engine, change the sheetmetal, and badge it as the next Saab 9-3. Saabs and hatchbacks go back a long way; dropping the hatchback from the current 9-3 was very unpopular among Saab enthusiasts

By: xyunya

xyunya — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:44:22 +0000

This is almost elegant compare to that Daewoo/Chevy disaster shown here few days ago. Hopefully will make it to Saturn. There is no plagiarism here: Opel original. Actually, Opel does not need to copy anyone – they have very decent design studio and very consistent.

By: Z06ified

Z06ified — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:03:50 +0000

Looking more and more like a Toyota everyday. Ugh.

By: doctrsnoop

doctrsnoop — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:34:03 +0000

DialM, I’ll echo what 6ix said about hatchbacks. Because there generally is no cross support brace at the base of the “C” pillar, the contiguous cargo space can be larger, and certainly easier to load larger, bulkier objects. Sort of a compromise between Wagons and sedans

By: 6ix

6ix — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:44:43 +0000

The only car on the US market that is similar to this is the Mazda6 5-door (a hatch but with the same roofline as the sedan.) They’re incredibly versatile because when the hatch is opened and seats folded down you’re left with a HUGE opening.

But note how Mazda calls it a 5-door rather than hatch.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:20:05 +0000

Hatchbacks both small and large are, it seems, more of a UK than US thing…For me, small cars in hatchback form are nicer than saloon (sedan as y’all call em), but bigger cars it all depends on the individual design.

Previous gen Mondeo’s hatchback was always higher rated than the saloon, but they both looked pretty good…

I liked the Sierra 3dr (XR4i, RS500 etc) but without those sports models the “jellymould” name given to the shape was pretty true.

I did always love the Sierra Sapphire (saloon/sedan) models, especially in Rouse or standard Cosworth form.

Sod it all… E30 Touring FTW!

Oh, wait, my E30 is small and it is a sedan… and i LOVE it’s look. Hatch wouldn’t suit it But a Focus sedan doesn’t look right, neither did the 309 compared to the 205…

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:31:26 +0000

This looks great. Given that Mazda has chosen to deprive us of a hatch I hope Saturn offers this. Hatches are cool.

By: Zip

Zip — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:37:00 +0000

it looks nice but the rear wiper point is clearly moot. its obviously a hatch, the previous generation opel vectra had the wiper too, as does the euro-spec toyota avensis, ford mondeo and mazada 6. this isnt a sedan class, they’re all large hatchbacks

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:12:39 +0000

Not bad.

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:23:38 +0000

It looks cool, but I don’t know if it would sell in the U.S. due to the aforementioned “hatchback stigma” referred to in the above posts. Maybe with a bit more of a marketing push from GM (with a cool aspirational Euro tone) and ever increasing gas prices, more Americans might discover how versatile and fun this type of vehicle can be.

As cool as I think this variant is, what I would really love to see is a “TwinTop” coupe version. I think the exterior styling is just begging for two doors with a retractable hardtop. This kind of image car might really serve to cement Saturn with attainable Eurocentric style (If GM would quit marketing Saturn as a mainstream Toyota/Honda competitor. “Rethink American” and sponsoring comparisons between Aura/Camry/Accord should not be Saturn’s mission. That mission belongs to Chevy with their Malibu. All GM did was create a cannibalization scenario between the Aura and Malibu. Saturn should be more aspirational and appeal to those who value its Euro derived style and image. Why give this brand an Opel inspired product portfolio and then market it as a mainstream competitor to bland, appliance-like products from Toyota and Honda? I know I have trailed far off the subject, but it kills me that GM shot themselves in the foot yet again. Hopefully, they focus and fix this division’s marketing before this stunningly beautiful next generation Aura hits the market.)

By: carstuff

carstuff — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:37:21 +0000

i’d say bring it to the US, but no one would buy it because of the negative connotations with hatchbacks over here. why does that stigma exist, anyway?
.
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Because the ones in the past, at least the ones we remember, were noisy because the rear suspension was just outside the passenger interior instead of just outside the trunk with a seatback to quiet out the noise.. They were also only pretyy much on the cheapest of vehicles.

By: MikeFX

MikeFX — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:03:58 +0000

Paint it black, give it some bigger sportier wheels, and I may just wander into the Saturn dealer with my checkbook. Jordan’s right though, nobody understands hatchbacks in the US. Maybe as more SUVs fall out of favor, these will start to catch on.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:38:04 +0000

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/BIZ/805070459/1361…….looks like im FINALLY going back to work.

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:30:02 +0000

Pic 1) A BMW
Pic 2) Lexus GS (A BMW+MBenz ’cause that’s what the GS is)
Pic 3) A MB CLS
Pic 4) Subaru WRX front. Some Passat side lines.
Pics 5-6-7) Toyota Corolla / Yaris

Nice International blend guys!

——-) Weird Hatch (——

By: DialM4Speed

DialM4Speed — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:17:50 +0000

Looks nice but why? What’s so great about a hatch?

By: GIUGIK1

GIUGIK1 — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:16:09 +0000

I like this car. And I would bet that the Buick Invicta, (aka 2010 LaCrosse) which is based on this will look awesome, too.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:15:40 +0000

well, on the back is a hatch, instead of a trunk… so yes, it’s a hatchback.

hatchbacks don’t all need to have identical body shapes. the focus five door and the toyota celica were both hatches, and one had nearly vertical rear glass while the other had nearly horizontal rear glass.

anyway, yeah, this looks great. i’d say bring it to the US, but no one would buy it because of the negative connotations with hatchbacks over here. why does that stigma exist, anyway?

By: edgeguy

edgeguy — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:01:28 +0000

This isn’t really a hatchback……just because it has a tapered off trunk doesnt mean that it is……these people are retarded.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:57:41 +0000

Real BMW-ish, and thaTS A GOOD THING.