Autoblog

click above image for more views of this Opel Vectra mule testing in the U.S.

Though they look similar, the current Saturn Aura and its European cousin, the Opel Vectra, do not share the exact same platform as many mistakenly believe. General Motors will correct this when the next-generation of each car arrives, and we've already seen a number of spy shots showing a new Opel Vectra being tested in disguise.

These spy shots we bring you today are no different, except instead of being taken in some far off land, they were taken in Death Valley, U.S.A. This is the first time we've seen the new Vectra being tested in the U.S., and for that matter, with so little covering. It's easy to see through the camo to the Vectra's new styling, which is heavily derivative of the Opel GTC Concept that debuted in Geneva last March. That's fine with us, as the GTC is a stunning coupe concept and adding two more doors has hardly lessened the design's appeal. We particularly like the swoop that starts where the A-pillar meets the base of the windshield and then carves a nice line into the front door. It reminds us of a similar swoop on the rear doors of the Toyota Camry, though with a more subtle and tasteful execution. The size of the front and rear overhand is a little alarming, as we think the design would be served better by pushing the wheels out to the corners, but overall the proportions are right on. The car looks neither heavy nor insubstantial, and it appears wider than the current models, as well.

The next-generation Opel Vectra will debut first, and then around 2010 we'll get our version in the form of a new Saturn Aura. It shouldn't be difficult at all to extrapolate what the next Aura will look like from these pics, as we expect a different grille to be the biggest difference.

[Photos: KGP Photography]

The next generation Opel Vectra has been captured in the wilds of northern Sweden where the reindeer outnumber the human inhabitants (at least the permanent ones, not the throngs of engineers who invade every winter) by at least an order of magnitude. Based on the slope of the back-light and the short rear deck, the model in the photos looks like it's probably the five-door hatchback model that's available in Europe.

The new Vectra is built on the Epsilon II platform and will be turning up in US showrooms in a couple years, probably with minimal changes other than the Saturn Aura badges, and additional variants will form the underpinnings of the next Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6. The Opel variant at least may get a smaller version of the new 2.9L turbo-diesel V-6 that debuted at Geneva this week, in addition to the four cylinder oil-burners that are already available. How's this for an idea: an all-wheel-drive Saturn Aura with the killer V-6 diesel? Four hundred plus lb-ft in a stylish mid-size sedan and great fuel economy to boot? Sign us up.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

General Motors says it will eliminate $1 billion from its spending on mid-size cars by sharing more parts, designs and factories to get 'er done. If this involves a little process called "badge engineering," we urge GM to beware of the inevitable onslaught of negative comments following this post.

Ahem. The platform used for the Chevrolet Malibu, for example, will be shared with Saab convertibles among the plants in North America, Europe and elsewhere. The idea is part of a larger plan to get the General, which lost buku bucks last year (try $10.6 billion), back to profitability as competitors such as Toyota Motor Company suck market share away from them. GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner plans to reduce annualized spending by a total of $9 billion by the end of this year.

[Source: Bloomberg]

The next-generation Opel Vectra Wagon will be imported and rebadged as a Saturn, according to a published report. It'll join the Astra (the next Saturn Ion) as the second Opel to be sold in North America as a Saturn. Sources from GM Europe have stated that the annual sales goal for the new wagon will be 50,000 units, and that it should appear in Saturn showrooms in '08 or '09.

The car will be built on the next-generation global Epsilon platform and is expected to feature V6 power and all-wheel-drive. Everyone's mum on naming, but it's not outlandish to guess that it'll be called the Aura Wagon or something similar. According to AutoWeek, Saturn marketers are still deciding how to present the car to its new audience. It'll be positioned as either an upscale wagon or a soft-roader a la the Audi Allroad.

If we had things our way, we'd position it as a premium wagon and bolster that image with a hot Red Line variant later on. Let the next Vue (likely another Opel import, the Antara) assume the mantle as Saturn's off-roader.

No matter how GM decides to market it, the new Saturn wagon will give them a stylish, practical hauler that should have some appeal in a marketplace that has seen fuel-cost-fatigued drivers move away from SUVs.

Note: Current Vectra Wagon pictued

[Source: AutoWeek]