Saturn Astra too expensive, not profitable

Car buyers here in the States are clamoring for fuel efficient transportation, but so far the Saturn Astra hasn't been on the top of buyers lists. The Astra is a smash hit in Europe , but it may just be too expensive compared to the competition with a starting price of $16,495. General Motors isn't keeping the price high to make a profit on the small volume import, either. GM vice chairman and quote master Bob Lutz told Automotive News that the Belgian-made Astra isn't profitable in the U.S. at all anymore due to the weak value of the Dollar vs. the Euro. The Astra has gone up in price by $500 since its introduction to reflect the broadening gap between the two currencies, and the price hike was implemented only to lessen the hit from the currency exchange. The Astra is not just a financial burden for the General – it isn't exactly a sales success, either. GM has sold only 7,914 so far this year, which is far below the projected pace of 25,000 annual units. Part of the problem is that few people actually know the Astra exists, and those who do may not want to pay the relatively high price of entry.

2009 Saturn Astra

Since 2004, General Motors has sold this version of the Astra around the world through different companies like Opel, Vauxhall and Holden. Last year Saturn got its own version of the world car. For 2009 the Astra gets updated to keep it in line with its foreign cousins.

The Saturn Astra is offered in three-door and five-door models, each featuring a taut, European derived suspension that delivers a sharp, responsive driving experience. Power comes from a 1.8L, 138 hp four-cylinder engine, and highway fuel economy for the manual transmission-equipped Astra is rated at 32 mpg; 30 for Astras with the available automatic.

The Saturn Astra comes in two trim levels (XE and XR) for five-door models, and a single trim (XR) in the three-door configuration.

2010 Saturn Aura put on hold?

After seeing plenty of shots of Opel's new Insignia mid-sizer, we're anxiously awaiting General Motor's official announcement of its statewide debut as the next-gen Saturn Aura. Unfortunately, current rumors indicate that we'll be waiting a bit longer than initially planned, as the project has reportedly been put on hold for an undetermined amount of time. We're fuzzy on what prompted the hold-up, though some conjecture has been heard regarding the fuel economy of the impending vehicle. In Europe, there are four gasoline engines and three diesels available, though we have serious doubts that many if any of those powerplants will make it Stateside. It's certainly possible that today's high fuel prices are causing GM to rethink getting one of its smaller gas engines certified for sale in the U.S. We can be sure, though, that this expected new vehicle launch will be an important one for the future of the Saturn brand, so perhaps GM is wise to get everything sorted out before its official debut