We've learned a multitude of things working the automotive beat on the 'Net. Among them: the German press is great for rumors and GM will badge engineer damn near anything. A piece from Auto Motor und Sport lives up to both expectations, with a story saying that the impending arrival of the Saab 9-1 hatch in Geneva will spawn a Saturn derivative and possibly a Pontiac version. According to AMuS, The Saab is likely to be powered by a hybrid system soon after it's launched and the Saturn version could feature a removable roof between the A- and B-pillar. Other blatant speculation includes the possibility of a (God help us) Buick version. We're going to stop laughing and get back to work.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Razor1973 @ Feb 21st 2008 3:40PM
I personally don't see the Buick happening, but I'm sure you went "God help us" when you first heard the GM's Lambda crossover platform was going to extended to the Buick marque and look now. They're flying off the lots. It's the one Buick you want to be seen in. So you never know here.
Quick @ Feb 21st 2008 3:42PM
Well seeing as the 9-1 will be riding on the same platform as the Astra. And Saturn = Opel from here on out. Its kinda a given that there will be the Saturn Astra and Saab 9-1.
EndlessMike @ Feb 21st 2008 4:21PM
Considering there's already a Saturn Astra, it's a good bet that there will be a Saturn Astra.
geo.stewart @ Feb 21st 2008 3:43PM
since Saab is a hair's breadth away from being Isuzu in the US (scary since the US is Saab's biggest market); its doable that they would sell a Saturn version either to replace Saab or to offset costs and sell extra.
Pontiac, eehhhh. probably the beat the heck out of the g5. Buick? depends on C30 sales demographics.
Calguy @ Feb 21st 2008 3:45PM
Aaw come on... can't they pimp it out Caddy and GMC too? This could be a GREAT idea! GM really needs to do a little more brand engineering. Lazy, lazy, lazy.
(I guess if they're considering chrome-ing it up for Buick, they're REALLY desperate about the new fuel mileage standards)
SPG @ Feb 21st 2008 3:49PM
Awesome, kill and "Mercury-ize" Saab.
Next step, get rid of the 9-5 or better yet, badge that as a Buick.
In fact, it would be cheaper to rebadge the Aura as a Saab so the 9-5 won't even be needed.
MJL @ Feb 21st 2008 3:51PM
Wow...GM really does want us to fail
John Johnson @ Feb 21st 2008 3:54PM
Here's an idea.
Stop taking one effing car and badging it six different times.
Make one effing car and put one effing badge on it.
I'm so tired of clone cars that are the exact same. Just stop it. For real.
Andrew L @ Feb 21st 2008 4:17PM
Finally someone I can agree with on this site instead of the same GM fanatic that things every move they do is awesome
Seriously this re-badging crap from GM is getting annoying
NEXT a Cadillac version of the COBALT WE CAN CALL IT CIMARRON
RealityCheck @ Feb 21st 2008 5:48PM
Are the G8 and Camero clones? Take a look at the Nissian Altima and Maxima, they are much closer and rode on the same plate form last year. Gm has been doing a much better job of reusing base plate forms like the Aura and Malibu, Saab and G6. If this fails then car shoppers will have a lot fewer choices soon.
MK @ Feb 21st 2008 3:56PM
...... I guess it's better than branding Subarus & Chevys as Saabs, but why are they trying so hard to kill this brand?
Matt Keller @ Feb 21st 2008 4:00PM
I don't think that "Re-Badge" is a good word for this sort of thing. A better, non-inflamatory title for this would be: "Pontiac and Saturn to get 9-1 Derivative?" Because you all know that if this does happen, they wont look anything like each other. It's called Platform sharing people, and everyone does it.
John Johnson @ Feb 21st 2008 4:05PM
G5 and Cobalt look nothing alike, I agree.
Alex @ Feb 21st 2008 4:22PM
Agreed, this is more likely going to see platform sharing. Which makes all the sense in the world.
DKB_SATX @ Feb 21st 2008 6:34PM
John Johnson: G5 and Cobalt are definitely more rebadge than platform-share. Since no one really wants either one (cue the Cobalt SS angry response) it doesn't matter that much.
9-3 - Aura - Malibu is a decent platform share, they don't look like the same car with different nose and tail lights. Few people seem to want the Aura, and I'm not sure why... if I needed a FWD Transportation Unit it seems like a nice car, and reportedly drives well in XR kit. Ah, well, I drive a Subaru, I obviously don't have much in common with the average US buyer.
Nick @ Feb 21st 2008 4:06PM
This article is all screwed up. The 9-1 will most likely be based on the Delta II platform which will spawn the next-gen Astra. Seeing as Saturn already has the Astra (and will offer the next generation, but have it built in Ramos Arizpe or in Lordstown) there is no story here.
The fact that there may be a Pontiac version will only mean that there is a strong possibility that the G5 is not just a "placeholder" product anymore and the next generation will be less of a badge engineered product and more of a bespoke looking offering.
However, if the German magazine got some of the details wrong --- and this is more about the "sub 9-1" product that was rumored in Motor Trend (GM to build a Mini Fighter?), then it's certainly possible that Saturn (and MAYBE Pontiac) would get a version.
Two different vehicles classes and just more mixed details.
No real news here.
psarhjinian @ Feb 21st 2008 4:09PM
Depends on how you term "rebadge". I can see a platform-sharing version (say a 9-1 based on the Astra) but it will be very hard to keep the Saab nice enough, or to keep Saturn dealers from whining. The answer: make sure that every Saturn dealer can sell Saabs. It makes sense when seen from a VW/Audi perspective.
Now, giving one to Pontiac is just stupid. Of course, the four crossovers they have now are stupid, too, and they did that.
The answer: just let all GM dealers order all GM products: this way dealers all have something to sell, and GM doesn't need to design six different front-end clips. It does force dealers to actually compete with each other (no more artificial difference between a Pontiac and Chevy dealer) and will probably increase attrition, but that's got to happen anyway.
If you must separate dealer lines:
* Chevy/Pontiac/Buick (+Cadillac, Hummer and the Corvette as premium franchises that a dealer could optionally buy into)
* Saab/Saturn (also with Hummer/Caddy/Vette option)
And kill GMC. There's no point to it, just as there's no point to Mercury. Just take the money saved on making GMCs and put it into making better Chevy trucks.
DKB_SATX @ Feb 21st 2008 7:00PM
While I agree with your statement overall, VW/Audi don't make any more sense than GM, they split off all the dealerships I know of years ago. When I had my first 2 VWs there were lots of VW/Audi dealers, but by 2000 the Audi dealers had all split off into independent dealerships with an "Audi look."
Neil @ Feb 21st 2008 4:13PM
The dollar is weak. If the 9-1 could be built here (US) along side an Astra then it might actually allow SAAB to launch a more competitive (cheaper) entry vehicle.
Just my .02 though.
MJL @ Feb 21st 2008 4:37PM
Wait, where in the article does it say that there's going to be a rebadge or any variants? My German is only OK, but that article clearly says that GM is "working on two variants" and that their artist did a Saturn one, presumably for fun.