Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Crossovers/CUVs, GM
Opel prices new Antara crossover at $34,000
General Motors' Opel division disclosed Wednesday that its new Antara crossover will start at nearly $34,000 when it launches in the German market later this year after a debut at the Paris auto show in September.
Unlike the three-door GTC concept shown above, the production version (first glimpse at right) will debut in a five-door/five-seat configuration.The starting price buys you the basic 2.4-liter model, but most buyers will probably opt for the 2-liter turbodiesel. The 3.2-liter V6 version would probably be the top seller in the U.S. market if GM's Saturn division decides to add the crossover to its lineup. All engines are transversely mounted, and electronically-controlled AWD is standard. Manual and automatic transmissions are offered for the four-cylinder models - the V6 is available only with the automatic.
The Antara concept received its second unveiling in January at the New York International Auto Show, where Saturn displayed a rebadged version as its PreVue concept. We're betting that a Saturn version of the Antara will reach the U.S. in the 2007-2008 timeframe.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Erik 2:23PM (5/10/2006)
The 2 door configuration is what made the concept unique, cool, and attractive. The production version looks like just another Santa Fe/CRV/Rav-4. I remember when 2-door SUVs were the norm... I miss my Bronco II
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Jason 2:30PM (5/10/2006)
I guess Saturn will eventually be 100% cars from Opel, good on them. Best Saturns ever.
Now all GM needs to do is find someone to make all the Pontiacs and get them away from being craptastic Chevy clones with fake-sporty styling.
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FireSermon 2:35PM (5/10/2006)
Looks like just another Equinox rebadge job to me.
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Alex Nunez 2:43PM (5/10/2006)
If I'm Bob Lutz, I'm screaming, " I TOLD YOU SO!" at the top of my lungs right about now.
the 2008 saturn lineup will be this attractive new Vue, Outlook, Aura, Astra/Ion, and Sky. There are no weak points there. I think I love Saturn.
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Ric Kaysen 2:49PM (5/10/2006)
Way to go! Take an utterly cool looking concept vehicle and transform it into another boring family hauler. When I first saw the Antara concept, I wanted one in the worst way. You couldn't pay me to take the finalized version even if I did have kids to drive to soccer practice.
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Axel 3:49PM (5/10/2006)
34k bucks might sound pretty high to american ears, but please keep in mind the dollar is weak these days and cars in europe tend to be a bit pricier.
Actually the german price of ?26000 is on the same level as the new Hyundai Santa Fe here (although that's a bigger SUV).
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mike 4:22PM (5/10/2006)
The concept is very nice looking. Why did GM bother making the concept a two-door ( Because it looks better. That's why.) -when they knew they would be producing a four-door? Is this part of GM's passive agressive treatment of end users.
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DJ 4:36PM (5/10/2006)
If we're gonna sell Opel's as Saturns, then build the Insignia concept as a Saturn flagship now!
By the way, did anyone notice the photo over Rick Waggoner's shoulder during his interview yesterday? It was none other than the Insginia.....good sign?
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Micah 4:37PM (5/10/2006)
The concept is HOT!
The product is blah.
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Howard Kerr 5:01PM (5/10/2006)
I'm not a fan of this market segment, and to me this looks like just another CR-V, RAV 4, Escape fighter. In other words, nothing special, except that Saturn sells it. By the way, the comment about the picture over/behind R.W.'s shoulder...what are expecting? a picture of the wife and kids? You usually find two types of pix and models in the office or background when the head of a car company is photographed. Either it's the newest product or a (former) greatest hits. Head stylists offices are the same thing. I understand Robert Lutz has models of aircraft in his office (among other things).
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Clarence 5:01PM (5/10/2006)
SUV's don't do much for me. The 2-door version almost got me excited except, of course, GM is too dumb to build it.
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ricers suck 7:01PM (5/10/2006)
pontiacs should be all rear wheel drive or awd performance vehicles just build them off of holden platforms with retro styling, they should have v8's and straight sixes, maybe turbo sixes
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ku 1:46AM (5/11/2006)
does anyone remember the chevy S3X concept?
http://www.autoblog.com/2005/03/02/chevy-s3x/
that became the captiva production suv that wasnt supposed to be marketed in the US...
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/03/geneva-auto-show-chevrolet-releases-captiva-crossover/
...which is now being rebadged as the Antara, or as we know it, you guessed it, the vue. i guess the s3x is coming here after all.
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ART 5:31AM (5/11/2006)
OK... guess it will be the Infini after all then. I was kind of waiting for the 2dr Antara (I'm in Europe), but it won't happen in the near future - I think there will be a 2dr version though. Very reliable sources tell me that GM are looking into it.
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Road Tester 6:40AM (5/11/2006)
The concept really looked nice, but the production version looks boring. Why is it that car manufacturers never have the guts to build a production version that's similar to the concept.
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Puff Chippy 9:17AM (5/11/2006)
Looks like a nice little ute to me, even if it's nowhere near as cool as the concept. That thing better max out at a fully loaded $24k, not $34k though or they'll have a real tough time selling them.
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bri 5:27PM (5/11/2006)
"The 3.2-liter V6 version would probably be the top seller in the U.S. market if GM's Saturn division decides to add the crossover to its lineup. "
sounds like a whole lotta hype to me. I agree if it was the concept version and $24-25K that would hold true. but this market is growing fast - including the competition (new entries: Mazda and Ford, which are both very good packages and should sell strongly)
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Auto usate 6:51PM (5/19/2006)
It's a really aggressive and good price for a SUV in the european market. Suv market is in faster expansion, more than all others car segments.
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Jeff Bequette 10:06AM (5/22/2006)
I was ready to buy my first SUV, a 2 door 4-5 passenger Turbo diesel that looked good.. Added benny- it was a Saturn! The Antara mentioned here is another ungainly, large, ugly SUV. Now dissapointd twice in one year, first by Jeep/Daimler/Chrysler who do not produce the hot Gladiator concept, but build another 7 passenger SUV, now this monstrosity!?! For once, I wish GM would do something right!
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opel 3:50AM (9/20/2006)
Looks really nice. Is this price with VAT taxes, because it's not a big price for a car like this?
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