New Corsa for Europe, not US

By JULIAN RENDELL

AutoWeek | Published 07/25/06, 1:01 pm et

Link to original article @ Autoweek.com

Saturn desperately needs a good small car, but it won’t be based on the European-built Corsa hatchback from General Motors’ Vauxhall subsidiary.

That was the word from the recent British International Motor Show in London, where the global launch of the all-new Corsa was backed by a high-powered visit from GM headquarters by CEO Rick Wagoner and vice chairman Bob Lutz.

GM product czar Lutz said the new Corsa wasn’t engineered with the United States market in mind, so it won’t pass crash tests: “It would take two years and be too expensive, so we’ll wait until the next generation,” says Lutz.

That’s the car being engineered in Korea by a joint Daewoo/Opel team; it won’t be in the market for five years “at the earliest,” Lutz says.

Lutz also took pains to point out that GM already has a top seller in the U.S. small-car market with the Korean-built Chevrolet Aveo. “Other carmakers, like Toyota, have been forced to follow us, but they get the credit,” he chided.

Wagoner faced the press with questions about the Renault-Nissan alliance, just days after his dinner meeting with Carlos Ghosn: “If it makes value for GM shareholders, we’ll do it.”

GM’s global Corsa launch put the British show on the international calendar for the first time since 1998 when the Jaguar S-Type and Rover 75 debuted. Other global debutantes at this year’s show included the Jaguar XKR, BMW M6 convertible, Land Rover LR2 (Freelander outside of the United States.) and the Seat Leon Cupra R. Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Nitro made their Euro-debuts.

Wagoner faced the press with questions about the Renault-Nissan alliance, just days after his dinner meeting with Carlos Ghosn: “If it makes value for GM shareholders, we’ll do it.”

173833[/snapback]

He said that knowing that it won't. Then I heard him snicker "Did you hear about our new plan? I call it the "Return to Greatness" I stole it from some Buick salesman in Flint. Jim somebody it doesn't really matter who..."

I'm OK with the Corsa not coming here. The imported Astra and NG Astra built here should be small enough.

I'm OK with the Corsa not coming here. The imported Astra and NG Astra built here should be small enough.

173845[/snapback]

Exactly. I didn't think Saturn was going to turn into a truely full-spectrum car company like Chevy.

I want a Corsa-sized Saturn offering. I want it to be safe, though...

That's to bad, because the Corsa is a MUCH nicer car than the Aveo.

It certainly is. Aveo5 for '07 is stale. They need a 3 door hatch bodystyle in addition to the 5. They need a diesel engine option, and they need a sport variant. Also, the Aveo is barely more fuel efficient than a Cobalt... why bother, unless you can stick an efficient, powerful little motor in the thing?

A small car makes sense for certain buyers. The Corsa would be able to snag some buyers who want it, not only those who need it, due to its very attractive design.