Incredible. I’m a product manager and I can tell you it is quite a feat to increase sales double digits while increasing transaction price by double digits especially when the overall market is shrinking or stagnant.

Only 2 years ago, I would’ve laughed at the thought of buying a Saturn. Nowadays, I find myself genuinely interested in what they have in the pipeline.

Somewhere in this is a lesson for Ford/Mercury.

Somewhere in GM right now is somebody getting a big fat raise for proposing the novel idea of eliminating the Ion.

All with out plastic body panels.

Yep, wake up Mercury/Ford!

Sharpie don’t get P.O.ed All Saturn is an Oldsmobile reborn. nothing more nothing less. GM has a new factory but the same mentality here so I would’nt worry about Saturn ever getting too big.

That should’nt surprise anyone. If it does grow substantially – it will almost certainly because the GM crowd has left Buick and Ponitac after those two divisions foreclose on overredundant Chevy Chassis and motors?!. How gay -diiferent body style same motor everyone knows this. How Stupid. Dumb and Dumber come to mind. Let face it GM should close all divisions except 2. They constantly confuse and amaze the swine that follow them.

great job, were is everyone who’s saying GM is not turning around?

The new Astra hatchback could have been nice if they’d given it more than 138 hp.

Howsmydriving, just wait. Once it’s confirmed to sell well, which it will, I’m almost certain they will roll out a Redline, perhaps with the same 260hp motor that’s powering the new Cobalt SS.

The Astra was just voted car of the year by TSN Motoring 2008 (this is Canada’s longest running automotive show) and while I don’t agree- I think it should have been the R8- it’s not a bad choice.

138 horse, however, is not enough to persuade me to part with my loonies and twonies. Now if they do as CA36 suggests…

I do think, though, that an Astra Redline should be on some kind of upgraded Delta platform that supports AWD. 260hp is a lot of ponies for the front wheels, and AWD would differentiate the Euro-derived Astra Redline from the SRT4-reminiscent American pocket-rocket Cobalt SS.

What future models do they think will sustain their sales expansion for five years? That is a VERY long time in today’s automotive landscape! After the new Aura/Insignia debuts in 2009 or 2010, what else is coming? A new Astra in 2-3 years? Maybe a Sky refresh? Everything else has already debuted (and the Outlook is already looking dated next to the new Chevy Traverse and Ford Flex).

I’ve never been attracted to a Saturn or an SUV before, but I find myself seriously considering the Vue GreenLine.

All this means that in 2002 – 2005 Saturn had nothing to sell. The Ion should never seen the light of day and Saturn took 7 years to produce such fiasco. The first iteration of re-badged Opel as Saturn L200 – 300 could been better executed in mental institution. So eventually GM overcome its learning disability and instead of screwing up with Opel cars they just slapped Saturn badge on them just like Vauhxaul in UK.Since you could not buy Astra before January of 2008 they probably will sell few of them. But I don’t share their enthusiasm for 2009 & 2010 without new lineup. After getting into Astra I am a bit surprised of press reaction – it has very bland interior. I did not drive the car – there was no manual available, and I hope it will be great on the road since the rest of it is not better then Vibe/Matrix and cost just as much.

I’m surprised you think the interior is bland, I really like it. tTe quality is excellent too with lots of soft feel plastics and finishes. The ergonomics aren’t great though with the infotainment system being tricky to use. It drives excellently too. I think anyone stepping from an Ion to this will think they’re in another world. Should do well for Saturn

Though they are of a similar size, the Saturn L200 & 300 only shared floorpan stampings and basic engine designs with the Opel Vectra C. None of the exterior or interior parts interchange.

Aura: Best commuter coffin ever.
Vue: Best cute-ute ever.
Outlook: A Lambda,best crossover platform ever.
see any pattrns?

patterns

jjt, I see no pattrns. I am thinking really hard, and getting frustrated, perhaps I go and kick the dog, but WTF coffin has in common with platform or ute-cute?
SanFord, the fact that none of the exterior parts interchanged was the problem. Vectra was a good looking car and L wasn’t. That’s why Saturn had noting to sell.
I don’t question the quality of Astra interior, but for my taste it was highly monochromatic (bland) and materials did not feel better then my ride (Vibe GT). The seats (front and back) were less comfortable then mine, yet cars cost the same.

I hope that.

@Heart64,

NIssan spreads the VQ around, and Toyota shares powertrains with lexus. Everyone does it. If Lexus can’t command unique power trains why should Saturn? GM has one corporate version of each engine, the difference is they’ll let their top motors go in less expensive cars. IE, everyone else makes you buy luxury for a V8, GM gives you a Pontiac.

The pattern was that Saturn makes three “best-in-class ever” vehicles and now expects growth.