US Premiere in Chicago for New Saturn Astra

"In Europe, the Astra's combination of style, performance, safety technology and fuel efficiency have made it a hit with owners and auto critics alike," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager. "Now, Saturn is bringing the newly restyled Astra to North America and marrying it with our celebrated customer experience. The Astra rounds out our portfolio with a smart-driving, well-equipped compact car that shares the European designs evident in all our new vehicles." Since the European debut of the third-generation Astra in March 2004, over 1.3 million units have been sold. The new edition of the bestselling Astra model line was launched this month and boasts fresh new design styles and new engines.

The Saturn portfolio in model year 2008 will only include cars that are less than 20 months old. Saturn currently offers the Aura, which is related to the mid-size Opel Vectra sedan; the Outlook SUV; the Vue Red Line and Vue Green Line hybrid crossovers, as well as the Roadster Sky, which represents a further example of transatlantic cooperation as the sister model of the Opel GT.

The brand focuses on innovative products with high technological quality, solid value and excellent customer service. Just a few weeks ago, the Saturn Aura, which shares its vehicle architecture and design language with the Opel Vectra, was named the North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show, ahead of the Toyota Camry and Honda Fit (Jazz in Europe), and is proof that the ongoing product revitalization plan is paying off.

Source: GM