New York Auto Show: Saturn Aura in the metal
In addition to the Outlook, Saturn also unveiled its new bread-and-butter mainstream sedan, the Aura. The L-Series replacement has successfully kept most of the cues from the concept vehicle that turned heads last season. That said, in-the-metal, we have to say we were collectively a little underwhelmed (both within the Autoblog ranks and out into the wider press corps). The problem? Along the bodysides, Saturn has reigned-in a lot of the visual aggressiveness along the bottom edge of the doors. What's more, up front the bumper cap is simply more timid, with plain horizontal elements replacing a honeycomb pattern, made markedly less pugnacious around the end vents (in the fog lamp area). Out back, the situation is much the same, with the concept's characterful center-exit exhausts ashcanned in favor of undistinguished outlets on each end.
(More impressions and photos inside-and-out after the jump)
As an aside, we found the selection of Korean rubber (Hankook Optimo) on the low-end maroon model to be a surprising selection, though we've heard plenty of good things about countrymen Kumho's discount-priced tires. The upmarket gray vehicle seen here ws fitted with Goodyear Eagles.
The interior, we are happy to report, is good stuff, with compelling switchgear feel, GM's ergonomically first-rate new corporate stereo (which we sampled in the Saab 9-5), and a chunky, smallish-diameter steering wheel. In upper trim specs (as with the gray XR seen in the photographs), the available burnt orange leather livens up the interior's...umm... aura, which can otherwise strike as a bit unimaginative. Steering wheel audio controls and rear seat audio controls in the center console further distinguish the uplevel XR.
In lower rung spec, as with the maroon vehicle, the interior's transformation is significantly less exciting, but materials seem to be of reasonable quality, save the somewhat coarse seat fabric. We also hope that there will be another choice of trim other than the graining obviously culled from a forest of fake plastic trees. On the whole, the interior is a sizeable step forward for a General Motors vehicle in this pricepoint.
How will it drive? Watered-down exterior aside, we can't wait to find out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Tom Design 9:14AM (4/13/2006)
Nice looking mid-size, and good review, except...are we seeing the car you're writing about? "with plain vertical elements" in the grille? I see strong HORIZONTAL elements, with a 4 inch wide chrome horizontal strip, and black grill ribbing repeated underneath in the lower grills. Maybe the car was turned on its side when you looked at the front?
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jack pully 9:14AM (4/13/2006)
it seems everyone is trying to promote foreign cars ti destroy american auto industry.of everyone buys foreign cars who can afford to buy cars anymore.all the profits go to japan
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jason 9:16AM (4/13/2006)
"That said, in-the-metal, we have to say we were collectively a little overwhelmed (both within the Autoblog ranks and out into the wider press corps)."
don't you mean, "underwhelmed"?
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DT 9:35AM (4/13/2006)
It is a Saturn badged Pontiac G6! they had to cheapen the plastic and it looks horrible. Just horrible. the gauge cluster looks bad. That indent over the center vents is old school saturn and there's no point to it. And why would you have fake wood triM!?
That is a "lutz" requirement in all cars I hear. It is stupid. Especially in low budget cars. sigh.
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RossL 9:36AM (4/13/2006)
Most definitely underwhelmed. As for the visuals, I guess it's difficult to shoot with all those people around, but sure wish you could post some wider shots so we can get a better idea of the overall impression this car makes. All those interior and exterior closeups are great but ....
Anyway, we're back to the same old problem, aren't we? GM has taken a good design and managed to make it so bland that you'll have a hard time picking it out in the rent-a-car lot. For this sin, they deserve what's coming to them. They're still stuck in the mindset that says people buying cars at the lower end of the price spectrum should be treated like tasteless fools.
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doug 9:41AM (4/13/2006)
Isn't it amazing how the slightest change in the curves makes all the difference. Putting the concept and production photos side by side, it is hard to point out the specific differences, but you can just feel it. The concept was HOT, the production model just looks weak and uneasy. Those wheels don't help.
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Tom Design 9:42AM (4/13/2006)
The interior looks beautiful on the two tone brown leather. The wood applique is gorgeous, as nice as any on the Acura and A4 models that I've seen pictures of very classy for a mid range priced vehicle, nice job!
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Optimus Prime 9:46AM (4/13/2006)
That dual tone interior with tan leather / grey plastic is not doing it for me. I hope they have other colour combos. The dash is better than the VUE at least. After all the hype about the Aura and the pictures that were released, this seems like another ho-hum release.
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Mike 9:50AM (4/13/2006)
I can't tell a much from the pic's like the earlier posters did but... what I see I like. I know its hard to take pic's at the show but some of what the bloger was knocking it for on the side lower doors would have been nice say maybe one or two side shots?
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Tommy 9:53AM (4/13/2006)
Finally a nice GM interior... Been waiting about 15 years for that to show up.
Yes, definitely up to Honda/VW standards, interior-wise.
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David 9:54AM (4/13/2006)
It raises the bar for Saturn, generally (faux wood trim excluded). It's a good start, and definitely a thousand times better than the boxy/plasticy Saturns of yore.
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Axel 10:01AM (4/13/2006)
It's just an Opel Vectra.
http://www.opel.de/shop/cars/vectra/gallery/photo/content.act
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MJ 10:02AM (4/13/2006)
Lexis has fake wood trim I haven't seen anyone complaining about their interiors?
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Tommy 10:02AM (4/13/2006)
#11 - that's a bad thing? I'm glad it's not designed by American GM nitwits.
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Puff Chippy 10:05AM (4/13/2006)
Looks to be another big hit for Saturn. I don't know who's pulling the strings but Saturn is going from boring to kickass almost overnight. Who knew GM could turn things around so fast. Very impressive!
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Doug 10:20AM (4/13/2006)
The front end looks like the cross between an Impala and an Accord; in other words, boring. The back end isn't too inspiring either. Its design doesn't project the upscale image that GM is supposedly aiming for, especially the dashboard. Why would a Passat or TSX buyer cross-shop this car? How is this car a step up from a Cobalt, Malibu or G6? Is this really the new and improved GM?
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Todd 10:44AM (4/13/2006)
"The wood applique is gorgeous, as nice as any on the Acura and A4 models that I've seen" - #6
Not to contradict you, but my 2000 A4 has real wood....
Maybe a little less fake wood would have looked ok in the Aura, but they've got it everywhere!
Why not some aluminum trim or something different GM? I've been looking at the fake wood in GM cars all my life, and it still looks awful! Either use real wood or don't even bother! Especially in your new "Euro" brand!
Will they even sell this with a manual transmission? And if they do, will I actually be able to find one? I can see it now, I walk into a Saturn dealership:
ME: I'd like to look at an Aura with a manual transmission
DEALER: We don't have any. Nobody ever wants a manual transmission, why would you want that? But (click click click) our computer shows that there is actually one on the east coast, in Florida. We can have it transfered here if you agree RIGHT NOW to buy it for MSRP. Sign here please!
ME: Ummm, yeah, I'd like to test drive it before i buy it.
DEALERR: No, you must agree to buy it!
ME: No thanks... (Leaves and drives to a BMW or Audi or Acura or Honda dealer)
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Brian 11:01AM (4/13/2006)
A few comments / questions from looking at the dash picture:
1. What's the button with the picture of the guy speaking do? It's right next to the volume controls. Could this be a sign of a built-in speakerphone?
2. It looks like the horn is going to be just as difficult to actually hit on this as it is on my L300. I'm always honking about five or ten seconds *after* I meant to.
3. Why are the paddle shifters marked + on both sides? That seems like a mistake to me.
Overall I'd have to give GM a tenative thumbs up on this one. The center stack finally looks modern, and I dig the ignition on the dash; it's different than you see on most cars.
I think GM really needs to stop bleeding customers before it can begin to win established import customers over. The Aura XR looks like it could do that for me. Finally GM has a transmission which is up to the amount of power in their engines, and the paddle shifters on the wheel are a really nice touch.
I'll wait to see what the pricing looks like. That'd be the one thing which could kill this vehicle. If it costs more than $24k to get an XR with that nice tan leather, I won't buy.
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Eric L. 11:03AM (4/13/2006)
When I first saw the guage cluster, it reminded me of something. No its not the beautifully legible Honda guages or the stylish BMW guages. It reminded me of....*bum bum bum...* the guages from a 1980's Buick Skylark. Ugggggggggly!
Seriously, Nissan had amber guages in their Altima 5 model years ago, and those actually looked good. What is GM thinking, rebadging a G6 like that (its so blatantly G6.....ugh).
The only saving grace might be the 3.6L multivalve engine and 6-spd auto.
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Sal 11:18AM (4/13/2006)
I like most of what Saturn is doing, in spite of its recent lack of support from GM. This car is going to have a real struggle when people shop it against the mainstays of this class - especially the new Altima unveiled yesterday.
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