Bimmer325

YES! We're long overdue for good news like this out of GM.

The one on the right looks kinda like Jessica Biel (minus the awkward expression, of course). No?

I'm no fan of big, wallowy, awkwardly proportioned front-drivers, so, no...I won't be missing anything that Fly posted. Good riddance. The STS is in an entirely different league than the car it replaced (Seville) in regards to design (both inside and out) and performance. If that's the result of "bending to the will of foreigners," I'll gladly do so. :wink: Things like overwrought cladding and poor packaging may be a novelty, but in today's automotive market, they're good for nothing more than a laugh.

I've heard the interior quality puts everything from the Altima to the Maxima to shame.

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And Pontiac drifts even further toward irrelevancy. What a joke. :rotflmao:

I HATE those blah, flat neutral grayish tannish kinda sorta sandy beige colors. Give me deep, bold, vibrant, prismatic colors that make a statement. Thanks.

I'm a huge fan of the G6 'vert (it looks better than the coupe IMO). I just hope it's botched release hasn't turned too many potential buyers away.

Yet you're apparently of the opinion that the Malibu's exterior isn't in need of a complete overhaul.

They're already all over around here.

Interior aside, it really doesn't look like much of a departure from the current model.

I'm sorry, but this REALLY excites me. The Brera's styling puts the GTI to shame.

Pampering my baby is half the fun.

Have a good one Mach5!

Mmm, RWD proportions.

Doesn't the Aura have hydraulic steering in place of the G6's electric system across the line?

Wow, the Q45 is basically off the map.

Are you being serious?

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Jill Lajdziak Reacts In the Fastlane Blog's most-recent update, Saturn's General Manager reacts to comments regarding the brand's revamped lineup. Lajdziak offers insight concerning the Aura's translation from concept to production, the lack of a manual transmission as optional equipment, and the phasing-out of polymer body-panels. Lajdziak's mention of the AutoExtremist's praise is an interesting tidbit, as is her statement regarding the Aura's 14-spoke wheel design. Enjoy the read. Bimmer325 Editor/Reporter -------------------- More on Our Saturn Family By Jill Lajdziak General Manager, Saturn It was great to read all your comments on our new Saturn lineup. I was thrilled to see so many positive responses to the Outlook, Aura, Sky Red Line, Vue Green Line and PreVue concept. Now that the New York International Auto Show has ended, I have a chance to catch up with some of the comments and questions on my last post. If these are import fighters, why won't there be a manual transmission in the Aura? For those wanting a manual transmission experience, the all-new 6-speed transmission with the 3.6L V6 does feature clutchless tap-shifting. That allows the driver to get performance and fuel economy similar to what he or she would achieve with a manual. However, we do not plan to offer a manual transmission at this time. Why isn't the Aura production vehicle exactly the same as the concept shown in Detroit last year? When you compare the two vehicles, you'll notice that they are, in fact, very similar. I would say that the production vehicle has a bit more refined look on the exterior, with the premium-look 14-spoke wheels on the XR model and a bit cleaner front end. The interior is almost exactly like the concept. For those who want different wheels, there are several designs available. And, if wood trim isn't your cup of tea, you can skip checking that box. It is optional and can be replaced with a brushed metallic look. Finally, listen to what Autoextremist, often one of our harsher critics, said about the Aura: "If you're looking for a sedan that has more character in one wheel than most other sedans have in total, the new Saturn Aura has mainstream ‘hit’ written all over it.” Will the Outlook and Aura use polymer panels? Let me start by saying that polymer is a product feature, not an indelible part of the Saturn brand. Saturn has always been about providing a great retail and ownership experience, and we will not lose sight of that commitment to the customer. Future Saturn models like the Sky, Aura and Outlook do not feature polymer panels. We continue to offer them on Ion and Vue for the current bodystyles. The reasons for the switch are twofold: First, to get these important new vehicles for our portfolio, we are tapping into the strength of the GM engineering and manufacturing community. These will share some development, and will be built on the same line as other GM models. Simply put, vehicles coming off of the same line must be the same body composition (metal with metal, polymer with polymer). Though it has been a sucessful product feature for Saturn for our 15+ years in the marketplace, we feel that it is important to expand the portfolio with new vehicles. This leads me to point #2: These new Saturns will showcase high levels of refinement and quality. Using sheet metal for the vehicle exteriors allows us to tighten the gaps that, on polymer vehicles, were required for expansion in warm weather. Shrinking gaps will increase our performance with perceived quality, and should attract more individuals into the stores to enjoy the Saturn purchase experience. Can a tall person fit into a car with the Kappa architecture? Several of the people who worked on the development of the Sky and Solstice are taller than 6', and have been able to drive the car with little to no trouble. However, as is the case with all small roadsters, you should always drive a car to determine you comfort behind the wheel. What's the difference between Saturn and Chevrolet these days? Saturn and Chevrolet remain very different brands. Chevrolet is GM's hallmark volume brand. They have, and will continue to have, a comprehensive vehicle portfolio targeting competitors with similar lineups like Toyota, Ford and Dodge. Although we are expanding our offerings, our lineup will not come close to matching the number of segments that Chevy plays in. Also, Saturn does attract very different buyers than Chevy, and the demographics of the brand bear that out. Saturn continues to draw in people whose second choice is not a GM-branded vehicle. So, even though Chevy continues to make progress with non-GM intenders, both brands still play a very important role for the Corporation. Again, thanks for your responses. Look for these cars at a Saturn retailer later this year. Link: http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2006/...t.html#comments

Toyota's 2JZ is a bulletproof engine. I'm sure bobo can attest to that.

I'm actually really impressed. The greenhouse is sporty and looks upscale for this class (worlds better than what we've seen of the new CR-V), and the entire package looks fresh and well-proportioned. The Antara/PREVUE concept was a bit too brash for me, so this more-civilized version looks great IMO. As long as it gets here before it goes stale I think it'll be a hit.

Yes, the car that has consistently been Lexus' sales leader has had lackluster sales. toyoguy was being sarcastic, in case you're wondering.

Once again, we're waiting just a few short years. Right. If the Aura's life-span is set to be between just 2.5 and 3 years, why would Lutz advise us to wait for it's "mid-cycle" update for better wheels/interior appointments?