Autoblog

When talking about the (hopefully coming in 2010) Chevy Volt, Bob Lutz repeatedly said he was waiting on battery makers to provide GM with battery packs that were up to the challenge, seeing as the show car relies on technology that doesn't exist. GM isn't the only maker with battery issues -- Toyota has pushed back the introduction of lithium ion batteries in the next generation Prius, saying that they're not just not ready to be put in cars because of safety issues. There are independent companies that are installing li-ion battery packs into cars and getting stunning results. Toyota, though, in light of corporate liabilities and its recall record of late, simply can't afford to risk what would be a huge black eye if the next Prius suffered from a hasty misstep.

[Source: Winding Road]

Click above image to view a high-resolution gallery of the new Saturn Astra

Saturn just rolled out the new Astra to the crowd at the Chicago Auto Show, with the automaker claiming that the compact will help fulfill the brand's promise to bring "appropriate and affordable technology", "great design", and "quality without compromise" to customers.

The Astra survives its overseas excursion largely unchanged, with the most major differences being a set of cupholders and tires that allow it to meet GM's standards for foul weather performance (a result of Americans' lack of awareness or complete apathy when it comes to the use of proper snow tires). Yet another variation on the Ecotec architecture, displacing 1.8L and producing 140 hp, drives the front wheels. The sporty intentions of the three-door model are made evident by the quicker ratio rack in its electrohydraulic steering system, larger wheels with more aggressive performance rubber, and standard stability control.

The long wheelbase and wide stance lend a roomy feel to both the three- and five-door model, and rear storage appears to be rather generous. Need we say the rest of the interior is far better than the vehicle it replaces? We are getting a bit tired of silver paint and oversized trip computer displays, but otherwise, there is little to offend inside the Astra (and kudos to GM for installing a decent set of bolstered seats in the three-door).

We've included plenty of live shots and official press pics of the 2008 Saturn Astra here. You can find the complete press release from Saturn after the jump, and we've also produced a nice video of the introduction with live-action views of the new Astra.

click on the image above to view AutoblogGreen's high-resolution gallery

GM's much-rumored electric vehicle introduction for the North American International Auto Show has indeed been revealed to be the Chevrolet Volt. Built on a new platform referred to as E-flex, the cute coupe spins the front wheels via a 161 HP electric motor and a lithium-ion storage pack with 16 kWh of capacity (a piece of technology that, by GM's own admission, is not yet ready for prime time). An Ecotec-branded turbocharged 71 HP three-banger sits under the hood to spin a 53 kW generator, which provides one method by which to charge the pack; the other consists of a pair of plugs (one on either side) that facilitate charging via a standard 110V connection. Six hours or so of charge time at home is good for 40 miles of range, after which the IE kicks in at a steady 1800 RPM to feed the packs. GM calls it an EV with "range extending capability", but to our eyes, it sure looks like a series hybrid. It also has us asking why a small diesel wasn't employed, as such an engine can provide wonderful efficiency when used at a steady speed and load (as former GM division Electromotive has proven with its locomotives over the past several decades).

AutoblogGreen has additional technical detail and analysis. Click here for a full gallery of pictures!

Check out all the debuts and galleries from the Detroit Auto Show here.

News of the Saturn Ion's ignominious demise have been met with cheers in the street, as it was truly the brand's last embarassing model. Though most of us eagerly await the arrival of the Saturn Astra from Opel, there is one person in the galaxy who still holds the dear departed Ion close to his heart... Tek Jansen of Alpha Squad 7! If you're not familiar with Tek Jansen, then you don't watch the Colbert Report on Comedy Central and should therefore be chastised. A few days ago Stephen Colbert introduced Episode 5 of Stephen Colbert Presents: Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7 – Operation: Homecoming's Doorstep: Cat on a Luniharp, a Tek Jansen Adventure. Despite having deinduced the cardioid thrusters on the Bizlarnian Battle Wedge, Tek's only response to being fired upon by the enemy ship is, "Saturn Ion!" Seriously, I've laughed at this clip all day, which means either that I'm working too hard and have gone crazy or Stephen Colbert is a comedy genius.

[Source: ColbertNation]

In an obvious effort to keep its readership alive (and in turn circulation numbers up) Forbes magazine has made a list of the least safe cars of 2007. Before the flame wars start, note that cars on the list are not necessarily unsafe, but instead are not as safe as other cars available. Therefore, they are the least safe 2007 model year cars.

Most of the vehicles on the list are there because they don't have standard side air bags. But three -- Saturn's Ion, as well as Suzuki's Aerio and Forenza -- made the cut even with side air bags. To understand why these particular vehicles were named in the article, Forbes outlines its methodology, which includes crash tests, injury claims and the opinions of Consumer Reports' researchers.

The seven models named by Forbes are after the jump.

[Source: Forbes Magazine]

Saturn's new small car, a version of the well-regarded Opel Astra, should be hitting the shores of North American sometime a bit beyond the middle of 2007. This will replace the not-so-well-regarded Ion, which is now scheduled to be produced through March of 2007 - three months longer than originally announced.

The name for Saturn's new compact has not yet been decided, but it may carry over the Ion name, or it may simply use the Astra nameplate. Either way, customers can expect to get the full-on European experience, as the vehicle is expected to arrive from Europe largely unmolested by the same sort of American twiddling that has doomed similar efforts in the past.

In 2008, production is expected to move to a stateside facility - most likely GM's Lordstown plant, where the Cobalt and G5 are produced. This may provide an opportunity for some of the Astra's DNA to improve the existing Delta platform compacts, and we'd be quite pleased if a few of those supercharged Ecotecs were to find their way under the Astra's hood as part of Saturn's Red Line high-performance lineup.

[Source: Detroit Free Press; Nashville Business Journal]

Although the New York Auto Show provided plenty of flash for General Motors' Saturn brand, ranging from the PreVue concept to the Sky Red Line, the missing link in Saturn's future lineup remains a replacement for its soon-to-depart Ion entry-level model.

Back in February, rumors had GM renaming the model the "Evoke" and moving production from Saturn's Spring Hill, Tennessee facility to Lordstown, Ohio-- trading in the Ion's plastic bodywork for steel in the process. The Evoke was said to be based on the Chevrolet Cobalt platform, perhaps with European styling based on Opel models, but that plan has been scuttled.

Given the new-found level of integration between Saturn and Opel championed by GM's product czar Bob Lutz, the latest speculation is that the Ion replacement will be a rebadged Opel Astra (pictured). The Astra, like the Cobalt/Ion, is powered by GM's Ecotec engine family. (Read all about the Astra here.)

Given the delay in making a decision on an entry-level model for Saturn, dealers are already looking at a gap between the end of Ion production and the availability of its replacement. With time running out to make a decision, we're guessing that a rebadged Astra is the odds-on favorite to be the next entry-level Saturn.

[Source: AutoWeek]

GM Performance Parts announced yesterday the availability of two performance upgrade kits for the supercharged 2.0L Ecotec engine found in the Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged and Saturn Ion Redline. The Stage 1 kit retails for $500 and adds 31 hp to the engine’s base 205-hp through higher-flow injectors and a new ECU calibration. The Stage 2 kit goes for $750 and includes both components of the Stage 1 kit and adds a smaller supercharger pulley and drive belt to fatten up the powerband’s midsection and increase power to 241 hp and 218 ft-lbs. of torque. Both kits require premium fuel and are available now at all GM dealerships.

[Source: GM]