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Those of us who are RWD fans are pretty dogmatic about it though. I see the CTS pulling in more people who cross shop 3 and 5 Series and C Series MBs.
I assume Aura is aimed at the latter?
Wrt Opel Manta Rally; had one, drove for 6 years. It was RWD and terrible in the snow. It also fell apart.
Wrt Malibu; article in C&D stated B.Lutz told Chevy __not__ to dumb down the Euro Epsilon for USA market. Main change was longer travel, more compliant suspension to handle our bad roads (not what C&D or any sporting driver wants! ).
Will there be no 4 cyl option?
The 3.5 is a nice engine though and it's quite efficient.
The 2.4L Ecotec is base engine in G6
From the Chevy site
"The 211–hp 3.5L V6 engine in LS, 1LT, and 2LT models features advanced Variable Valve Timing (VVT) that uses an electronically controlled camshaft phaser to maximize horsepower and torque outputs. In fact, the 3.5L V6 has more standard V6 horsepower than Camry XLE V6 and achieves an estimated MPG 31 highway"
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=107035
I should have said saturn won't go to rwd except for the new Sky.
You would see lots of VWs with diesels here in Cali right now, if they were allowed to be sold here. There was a time.
Any stats on how good the reliability is on the Opel? The Catera/Opel/Cadillac did not win many over to Cadillac from BMW any other car for that matter. Most people did not like it at all. I think the final year or two was better for quality control, but people did not like the interior set up. And what's up with not having rack and pinion? Hope the latest Opel is a winner abroad so it has a chance over here. How close will it be to the Aura?
So how would you compare the Aura to the Fusion looks wise?
Loren
So you will have the diesel option even in Cali.
Opel is not a BMW level company. It is a VW level company. Saturn is looking to compete with the VW levels. BMW is for Cadillac.
The Opel Vectra gets good reviews abroad.
The Aura looks a lot better than the Fusion.
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I doubt that, I don't think they want any diesel here.
For one, it's going to have more power from a 3.6L 240 hp engine. Styling is subjective so I wont get into that. Handling remains to be seen, probably something similar to the G6. The show car has a nice interior, hopefully the production will too. GM can make a nice interior when it wants to. Just look at the new Tahoe/Impala/Lacrosse/DTS/STS.
In the past, GM saved the Saturn announcements for Chicago and Toronto.
DOes anyone know, will the aura have 250hp or more?
Bravo GM if you build it. God job on the enclave aswel. Looks like the cost savings from the union concessions are finnally starting to show up as features and quality in your new vehicles!
GM says the 3.6 high output V6 will be an option with the Aura.
The Cadillac 3.6 is rated at 255 hps. I am not aware of any GM plans to detune the 3.6 for Saturn. If I recall correctly, the 3.6 currently can use 87 octane.
Saturn is really keeping this car under wraps for some reason. GM usually shows new models months before they go on sale. The Aura is supposed to launchin JUly or August of this year. I saw the concept in person at the autoshow and it was very nice.
My biggest challenge with American cars was finding something that was good looking, fast, 6 speed, reliable and with all the latest technology. Saturn looks like the closest thing to that other than the Cadillac STS (after hypothetical on-line build I was over $60K). I'm hoping I can really get an Aura decked out for around $35K.
My thoughts were when Saturn started that they could be the next BMW. But they never lived up to the hype and my buying kept going European. I think that the US car builders are getting the idea and that they have the quality issues right, I hope.
I'd love to see an Aura Red Line with Supercharger or small V8 and all the goodies. Then they would have something to talk about.
Depending on how soon you want to buy I would consider waiting for the 2008 CTS which is supposed to be a very sharp car. finding a reliable car that is American is no longer a challenge, dont be fooled by the media hype.
I came on here to see what folks thought about the Aura. But with stuff like this, I might as well have not. I mean come on, the press, reviews on this site, reviews on other sites have all canned the G6 for it's far subpar interior. The Fusion's interior is far better, though not on par with the imports.
There is one major downplay, the display on the radio is dirt cheap and the material in the center is hard plastic, but the interrior as a whole looks and feels a few thousand more than it costs.
The Aura should improve on this especially b/c it is probably the first beneficiary of the UAW wage/healthcare concessions. I could not see any other was GM could put such an advanced engine into a 25-30K product. Everything on this car should be a maket improvement.
One question. Were is GM taking Saturn? It used to be the Cheap brand in GM's lineup. Now, if they are making it a performance brand, they already haveone, pontiac. How is Saturn gonna fit?
But Saturn is on the verge of a comeback with the Sky, Aura, and Outlook, plus a suave new Vue.
DrFill
The Aura is going to be shown at the NY auto show. It goes into production in July of this year. I dont think there is going to be a huge difference between the show car and the real car. Just smaller wheels and no center mounted exhaust. We should have all the answers in about a month. If they improve upon the G6 interior then this car should be a winner.
DrFill
GTP being better than Altima is still is not as good as Ford. Good steering feedback but it is not precise. Suspension does not feel refined enough.
3.9L engine feel pretty refined but is it enough for high rpm? Other OHV engines suck regardless of fuel economy. There is a reason why almost all I4s and V6 are DOHC or SOHC. It helps engine rev more what is useful at high speed.
BTW Opel Vectra does not win compares either (with likes Mondeo and Passat).
The suspension layouts of the Epsilon based cars and the Fusion is very similar so I Dont know where you get off saying the suspension isnt refined. The G6/Aura share the same suspension as the 9-3/Vectra/CAddy BLS so I'm pretty sure the ride and handling are refined. I dont know about the steering, but based on what I've read the GTP's hydraulic steering system is much improved over the base G6's steering.
The Fusion is lacking quite a few features and the fact that it has a 6 speed auto (which the aura will match) does not cover that up. How could Ford introduce a car in this segment with satellite radio? What about stability or MP3 connectivity? How about remote start or 18" wheels? Where is the name brand sound system? All of those things will be on the Aura. The Fusion is nice but needs some additional features to really be a class leader.
If the car has a good size trunk and quality interior with a fair price, I could be in for a 3.6L version. I just hope GM doesn't over price the 3.6 version of the LaCrosse.
Careful now what you go assuming. My friend works at a Pontiac dealership and I have been in a total of five G6s and driven a red GT coupe. I did speak about the mags but I have a whole lot of personal experience. I actually took pictures of the G6 next to my Mazda6.
I have also spent some time in a Fusion as I was considering buying one. I have sat in several to see how the different colors look. THe biege is nice but the dull wood doesn't appeal to me. The piano black on black also doesn't appeal to me. Anyhow. The Ford unterior is nicer. Me and my friend also sat in one of those and the Pontiac dealer agrees. The interior of the Ford is nicer but the exterior we disagree on which is better.
I have seen an Aura at several car shows. It looks good. I just hope the interior is FAR better than both the Pontiac's or Fords and in line with say a TSX or a Zephyr in material quality and the use of real wood. This car has potential if not priced out of the market. I don't think it can compete with an IS or G35 or 3 Series. If it stays in the high 20s region with top models poking above 30K it will do well. Remember from 30 - 35K there are some serious heavy hitters like the seemingly untouchable 3-Series, the deathly fast IS350 and Infiniti G35, the feature laden TL, and the buy-at-a-premium-only... need I even say the name...300C. Going up against those heavt hitters is facing off against the pitbulls. If they are going to do it, they better come ready. Plus the CTS is right there and will be new soon so you don't want cannibalism.
Aura is not the same as G6. It is based on new Opel Vectra while G6 is an older platform. I guess steering will be better on Aura also because Germans wouldn't accept steering on Malibu/G6.
Opel Vectra lost in midsize sedan comparo to both Passat and Mondeo. Fusion is not based on Mondeo but Ford probably let Mazda access Ford's expertise on FWD cars. Mazda never was famous in designing good FWD cars.
The 3.6 V6 in the Aura has nothing to do with the northstar. There was a V6 based on the Nstar some time ago in the Olds Intrigue but that engine was discontinued years ago.
To each his own in terms of interior styling, but I dont see how anyone could fnd the Fusion superior to the G6 on the inside. the dull gauges and 10 year old head unit kill it for me. In addition the G6's seats are far more aggressively bolstered. On the exterior, the G6 rides much lower than the Fusion which gives it a sporty stance.