Opels Migrate to the U.S., Becoming Saturns

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

February 14, 2007

The Opel Astra

The Opel Astra will soon be available in the U.S. It will be badged as a Saturn when the car goes on sale later this year, replacing the Saturn Ion. They follow their larger sibling, the much-admired but slow-selling Saturn Aura.

A redesigned version of the Saturn Vue SUV will go on sale in the spring and is virtually identical to the Opel Antara that will be sold in Europe.

The new Astra will come as a two-door or four-door vehicle and will have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment.

GM is also showing off the Vue Red Line as a performance crossover. The Red Line will carry a six-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually and a 250-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine.

The Green Line Vue is part of GM's "mild hybrid" system and will have a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The engine will be assisted by an electric motor and generator that will allow the gasoline engine to shut off whenever the vehicle comes to a full stop. The hybrid system also provides some assistance to the gasoline engine when needed.

The Vue Green Line consumes 20 percent less fuel than the non-hybrid 4-cylinder Vue according to GM. Both the Vue Red Line and Vue Green Line are scheduled to go on sale later in 2007.

GM is also planning a plug-in hybrid version of the Saturn Vue but has not said when the vehicle will be available. GM recently awarded contracts to two battery manufacturers to research batteries for a plug-in hybrid vehicle.