Lutz: Insignia will be the next Saturn Aura with different skin

Posted: Jul 23, 2008
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Speaking at the launch of the Opel Insignia at the British International Motor Show, Maximum Bob Lutz said that the new model will be the basis of the next-generation Saturn Aura. According to AutoWeek , the two cars will share the same suspension, powertrain and chassis, but the Aura will have a completely differnet skin and interior. Does that mean that it’ll look completely different from the Opel Insignia? We certianly hope it’s not a drastic change.

“We”ve researched the Insignia around the world, including the U.S., as an internationally spectacular new design, but the Saturn version will be its own car,” said Lutz.

Lutz also said that there will be no coupe version of the Insignia. GM sees no reason to offer a coupe version of the sedan with the same sheetmetal.

It was previously reported that 2010 Saturn Aura has been put on hold . Lutz said nothing about the next-generation Aura’s time schedule.

Opel Insigna :

Source: AutoWeek


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  • Neil

    So they will dumb down the beautiful Insgnia for America – another stunning decision by the boys at GM

  • Ivan Gutierrez

    GM what have you done?

  • justmatt

    Oh, well now it makes sense. The Saturn is being delayed so that it will appeal to my tastes. That must mean I like upright chrome grills, hubcaps on 16in wheels, and a column shifter.

  • DadzBoyz

    Definitly wouldn't want the U.S. to get the same great looking 4 door sedan that Europe gets. We'd rather waste more money on an alternative design and the tooling that goes with that.
    Brilliance!

  • beeoh

    the designs that gm has done for saturn so far are very appealing. i think this car will look good.

  • damikco

    No stop bashing GM. If they produced the same exact car you would be saying its the same car as the opel. So now that GM is giving it the same
    great looking styling cues that saturn is doing very well with you want to say negative things about GM before you even the finished product out.

  • Bobmarley

    it just doesnt make sense to not go with the existing good design of the opel. They could save the money from the redesign to keep some people from getting fired, or dump it into R&D etc etc

  • ricky_b

    GM – Dumb Ass! The current Saturn line up is almost entire rebadged Opels. Since they don't sell Opel here and since the designs are visually attractive, so once the rebadge is OK. I've seen renderings of the Insignia Wagon, too. Save yourselves the moola and just give us Insignia. Heck, just keep the Opel symbol while you're at it. It's the best looking symbol in your portfolio and it looks kind of wicked.

  • justmatt

    Sorry, but this is the first time it would be okay to badge engineer. No need to Americanize. VW does alright with the same cars.

  • Jacob

    Yall don't remember Opel's bad history when they were here in the U.S. My grandfather, as a mechanic, remembers that those cars were terrible and hard to sell WHILE they were here…

    This thing looks like a copy of something Acura or MB's C-class.. blah..

  • Bobmarley

    egmcartech,

    you guys should sell these comments to GM as focus group material…or something? This is good consumer info

  • Bobmarley

    egmcartech,

    you guys should sell these comments to GM as focus group material…or something? This is good consumer info