Baby Buick Sedan Based on New Opel Astra Scooped Inside and Out in Germany

We still don't know the name of Buick's all-new small sedan that will take its place right under the 2011 Regal in the carmaker's line up, but these latest spy shots from Germany give us our best look to date of the upcoming compact-sized model's exterior and interior design.

And if the styling looks familiar that's because Buick's baby sedan is in essence the North American version of the upcoming Opel Astra sedan.

From what we gather by looking at these revealing spy shots, the only differences worth mentioning aside from the badges concern Buick's signature waterfall grille and possibly, the styling of the tail lights.

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GM Slashes Prices of Remaining Pontiacs and Saturns by up to 46%

If you ever wanted to buy a Pontiac or a Saturn and you don't mind that both brands will soon pass into the books of history, now's the time as General Motors is offering dealers huge incentives to move a few thousand leftover vehicles from the two discontinued marques, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

According to the paper, the Detroit automaker sent a letter to dealers on December 23 stating that it would pay them around $7,000 for every new Pontiac or Saturn on their lot that is moved to their rental-vehicle or service-vehicle fleets.

With this move, the leftover vehicles will be classified as used (even though they're new, the dealers will technically be the vehicles' first owner) thus allowing dealers to sell them at a huge discount which is said to be as much as 46% off the sticker price.

The daily newspaper said that the offer will expire on January 4 which is the last day of the December car-sales month with GM booking the sales to dealers as fleet deliveries.

Saturn's leftover portfolio includes the Vue compact crossover, Sky Roadster, Aura Sedan, Astra compact hatch and Outlook crossover, while Pontiac's range comprises of the Solstice Roadster and Coupe, G6 Sedan, Coupe and Convertible, and the G8 sports sedan.

However, you'll have to check with your local dealer to see which models are available. And if you do, don't hesitate to leave us a comment here telling us what kind of an offer they made you.

Via: WSJ (Sub. Required)

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Saturn’s Kiss my As…tra Photo Contest

The things people are capable of doing just to obtain the feeling that they may actually win something is truly amazing. Like, can you imagine yourself bending over and kissing a car just to take part in a competition that you have less chances of winning than being stuck by lightning? Sadly, as Saturn’s Kiss My Astra competition proves, there are plenty of folks out there who don’t seem to have any problems of the sort. -Continued

In any case, Saturn’s competition has now entered its last phase where online viewers can view the twenty finalists and vote for their favorite Astra-kissing picture at 'saturnkissmyastra.com'. Only one of them will actually win the Grand Prize – a new Astra of course, with the next five runner-ups winning $300 gift cards and the remaining finalists receiving $100 worth of gift cards and the glory of having their face on the internet.

More 2010 Opel Astra Photos Hit the Web

The all new fourth generation Opel (and Vauxhall, Saturn, Holden - forgive us if we forgot to mention any other GM brand...) Astra will make its world debut as a five-door hatchback at next year’s Frankfurt Show but the German automaker has already begun teasing us initially with a pair of sketches and now, with a set of real life photos showing the 2010 Astra covered in a white veil.

Based on GM’s latest Delta platform, the new compact hatch will be insired from the recently launched Insignia as Opel wants to take the 2010 Astra more upmarket setting new standards in its class. “The Opel Insignia has newly interpreted the mid-size segment. Now, with its dynamic design and innovative technology – much of which has been the preserve of higher-class vehicles before now – the new Astra generation will continue the pioneering role of its large model brother,” said Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer at GM Europe “To put it in a nutshell, the next Astra will carry the spirit of the Insignia into the compact class.” -Continued

Opel says that the Astra’s all-new chassis will be mated with equally new engines designed following the right-sizing concept that combines high low-end torque with moderate fuel consumption. Technical gizmos such as the ‘Opel Eye’ camera system that recognizes traffic signs warning the driver and the adaptive headlamp system will come straight from the Insignia.

After the European launch of the 5-door Astra in late 2009 – early 2010, Opel will take the wraps off the sportier 3door GTC at the Geneva Show in March 2010 which will be followed shortly after by the sedan, station-wagon and coupe-cabriolet variants. Expect to see the Saturn badged and this time, U.S. built Astra replacing the current hatchback on this side of the Atlantic in mid 2010.

2010 Opel / Saturn Astra: First Official Sketches and Details

Opel’s British arm Vauxhall, has released the first teaser images of the all-new 2010 Astra ahead of its official launch at next year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Although Vauxhal/Opel’s pictures of both the five-door (black) and the three-door GTC (white) Astras are kinda… sketchy, expect to see an evolutionary styling seasoned with design cues from the firm’s latest model, the Insignia. Inside, GM’s European subsidiary said that the next generation Astra will feature a ‘wrap-around interior with a wing-line sweep that links the instrument panel to the door’. -Continued

Mark Adams, GM Europe’s Vice President of Design said: "The present Astra already combines a high level of technical substance and emotional styling, but with the new car we are taking a big step forward in both respects, while emphasising its sporting credentials."

The new Astra will be based on GM’s latest Delta platform and according to Opel/Vauxhall, it will be offered with a new range of engines designed to maximize fuel economy. On the technology field, the Astra will benefit from a series of systems that were launched in the Insignia, including the Front Camera System, which combines traffic sign recognition with a lane departure system, and the next generation Adaptive Front Lighting (AFL) that provides nine unique light beams to improve visibility.

In Europe, the 5-door version of the Astra will go on sale by the end of 2009/early 2010. The sportier three-door GTC with its coupe-like roofline will be available by spring 2010 followed by the sedan, station-wagon and coupe-cabriolet models. As for the North American market, the Saturn will arrive in late 2010. Unlike the current Astra that is imported from Europe, the new model will be built locally to take advantage of lower U.S. production costs, thanks to the weaker dollar.

2009 Opel Astra Scooped: Insignia-Inspired Styling and New 1.4 Turbo

A prototype version of the forthcoming 2009 Opel Astra has been snapped at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands by a reader of our Dutch friends at Autojunk. Aimed directly towards the new VW Golf VI (see details here), the new Astra will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 with sales following shortly after. The Astra will also make it to the States as a Saturn and in Australia as a Holden.

The 2009 Astra is based on General Motor’s new global Delta platform, which also underpins the electric-hybrid Chevrolet Volt. Seen here in five-door trim, the Astra will be adorned with styling cues from the new Insignia both inside and outside. The range will also include a sleeker, more sporty three-door version, plus a station wagon, a sedan and a cabriolet with an electric-folding hardtop. -Continued

Powerplants will stretch from GM’s all-new 1.4-liter turbo to a 2.0-liter turbcharged engine developing at least 250HP in the top-spec OPC / VXR model. The 1.4-liter turbocharged engine will be offered in 2010 with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. It is estimated that this unit will deliver an approximate 8% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-liter engine that it will replace.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Source: Autojunk.nl

2008 Saturn Astra a go-go in Chicago’s February Auto Show

GM’s heavyweight contender in the European mid-sized compact category, the Opel Astra will snuggle its way into the US market as a Saturn Astra in mid 2007. Of course we already knew that since May only now its official plus we also get a first picture of the 3door version –dubbed “GTC” in Europe.

According to GM, the Saturn Astra, which will make its premiere at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2007, will be nearly identical to the 2007 Opel Astra, unveiled this week at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. It will be sold in the United States and Canada in three-door and five-door configurations.

"The Astra is a great fit for Saturn, with its European style and driving dynamics," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "The Astra enables Saturn to occupy a unique position in the marketplace and to strategically broaden its appeal with consumers who usually have import brands on their shopping lists"

Let’s just hope that they throw in a few cup-holders and create more space for bit’s & things in the Astra’s interior cause European style and driving dynamics mean nothing to your average American car-buyer if he can’t find a damn place to put his Starbuck's frappuccino…

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