It seems that Saturn’s days are numbered — Recent reports have let us know that Penske Automotive group has backed out of a deal with GM that would have effectively purchased the entire Saturn brand.

The reason for the backing out is because Penske fears they will not be able to provide the Saturn dealerships with inventory after GM stops supplying them with vehicles at the end of 2010. The deal said that they would have to find their own manufacturers to produce vehicles for the dealerships, something Penske doesn’t think they will be able to do.

So, in lieu of this deal falling through, GM has said they will be phasing out Saturn, closing all dealerships and directing current Saturn owners to other GM dealers for service. Goodbye Saturn, you shall be missed.

via autoblog

Tags: brand, buyout, GM, penske, Saturn

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We all know that General Motors will be downsizing their brand lineup. The only question is nothing is definite on which will stay and which will go. But if the people were to be asked, they are clamoring for two brands to stay. These are the Hummers and the Pontiacs.

This was based on a survey conducted by CarGurus. Almost half of them preferred that the Pontiac to remain while a quarter wanted the Hummers. Only a few cared about the others like the Saab and the Saturn.

• Pontiac – 44%
• Hummer – 27%
• Saab – 20%
• Saturn – 9%

So while the people have spoken, will these figures be useful in the downsizing efforts of General Motors? Well if they are concerned about the consumer purchasing power, these should something worth taking into account. Besides, they are concerned about their future and cars which will perform better after the downsizing right? Then again, this is just one survey. Perhaps 2 to 3 more will help them decide.

(Source) Press

Tags: Cars, General Motors, HUMMER, hummers, Pontiac, pontiacs, Saab, Saturn

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If everything goes well, we may soon see Samsung Vehicles being sold at Saturn stores. That is if Roger Penske gets anything concrete from his initial ice-breaking meeting with Renault executives. For the record, Samsung builds four passenger vehicles, all on Nissan underpinnings.

It’s not known which vehicles would be sold by Saturn or whether they would be current Samsung offerings or new ones based on Renault engineering. Also unclear: the corporate relationship between Penske and Renault-Nissan.

Curiously, it seems that Penske wants to place something new in the market. And with the turn of most motorists towards alternative cars outside that of the usual reliable car brands, you have to think what type of market study Penske saw that opened this all up.

It costs a lot to build cars in Europe, and the Astra, which, while finished more like a premium model inside than most in its class, was also priced a little bit higher and therefore didn’t sell as well as it could have, especially in this down market where price is everything. The new Saturn owner certainly won’t want to make that mistake.

(Source) CNet

Tags: alternative cars, Astra, car brands, corporate relationship, Europe, little bit, motorists, offerings, passenger vehicles, Renault, renault nissan, roger penske, samsung, Saturn, saturn owner, saturn stores

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Immediately following the announcement that Pontiac would cease to exist, GM released to the public that their Saturn and Hummer brands are to follow suit.

GM has said that after the 2009 model year, they will not be producing anymore Saturn vehicles meaning. As for Hummer, 2009 will be the last year for the dying brand. However, Saturn and Hummer might not be gone forever as GM has detailed their intentions to sell the dying brands to anyone who wants them.

Sure this is a perfect example of how badly the economy is shafting everyone, but this announcement is no where near as sad as the one about Pontiac. I mean Hummers are just gas guzzlers, right?

Read (KickingTires)

Tags: economy, HUMMER, Pontiac, recession, Saturn

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On Thursday, April 16, 2009, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California granted final approval of a settlement in a class action lawsuit against General Motors (Cause No. 07-CV-02142). The lawsuit declared that Saturn VTi transmissions were defective. “This settlement offers more relief to class members, in terms of dollars per person, than any other class action settlement that this firm knows of,” said Rob Schmieder , head of the complex-litigation department at LakinChapman, LLC.

The class consisted of all persons who are residents of the United States and who purchased a new or used 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 model year Saturn VUE or 2003 or 2004 model year Saturn ION furnished with a continuously variable VTi transmission. Certain people and automobile dealers who sued GM seeking damages for alleged personal injury or property damage due to a VTi transmission were excluded from the class. Reimbursement for past and future expenses were some the benefits available to Class Members.

Tags: class action lawsuit, GM, Saturn, settlement, VTi transmission

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The first photos and sketches of the next generation Opel/Vauxhall Astra have been obtained by Auto Motor und Sport. This new model will be introduced in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The larger Estate and sporty GTC will follow in 2010. New Astra’s overall design is sportier and more dynamic compared to the current models. The Astra will be built on the new GM’s Delta platform with front-wheel-drive.

Gas engines will start with a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter unit that produces 90 horsepower and comes with stop/start technology for more effective fuel economy. A turbocharged version of that engine will be available as well with around 180 horsepower. Fans of diesel can choose from a 1.7-liter turbocharged unit with 110 horsepower. There is no word yet whether Astra makes it to the States under the Saturn brand but the five-door hatchback should go on sale end of this year.

Tags: Astra, Opel/Vauxhall, Saturn

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General Motors announced at Tuesdays press conference the closure of Saturn. Unfortunately in its 20-year history, the Saturn brand has never been profitable for GM. All Saturn dealerships will close by 2011 and no new models will be introduced.

Meanwhile, Pontiac will be phased out as a distinct division but certain “niche” models will still carry the Pontiac name and will be sold at Chevrolet dealerships. This announcement  came as part of GM’s viability plan being submitted to the U.S. Congress and President Obama today. Additionally there is the planned sale of Hummer and a potential spin-off of Saab.

Tags: Closure, GM, HUMMER, Saab, Saturn

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GM has confirmed it will not release the 2009 Saturn Astra in the United States due to a current glut of 2008 models clogging American dealerships. Saturn, which is widely believed to be one of the first brands that GM will cut as part of its retooling plan, has not turned a profit for 19 of the past 20 years. The Saturn Astra was first released in the United States in January of 2008, and has seen slow sales since its inception. 

Most of Saturn’s limited marketing dollars target the Vue, its small crossover vehicle, and the Astra, its economy sedan. Saturn estimates that currently a 139 day supply of the sporty Astra is wasting away on Saturn lots, but incentives will not be offered due to the already low price of the car. A spokesman from Saturn said that when incentives are factored in on the Astra, the vehicle has to actually be sold at a loss. MSRP on a 2008 Saturn Astra starts at only $16,000.

Tags: Astra, GM, Saturn

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How long will Saturn be around? According to General Motors, Saturn will be around at least until 2012. “We are still working through many options,” but Saturn is “not going away in 30 days,” said Todd Ingersoll, a Saturn dealer on the Franchise Operations Team. Good to know, but long range plans may or may not include the troubled brand, which many predict will be one of the first on the GM chopping block.  Out of the past 20 years, Saturn has been profitable for one of them—one year out of 20, and losing money in every other year. GM did not commit to building any more Saturn or products or any new Saturn products.

GM was careful only to say it would not completely eliminate the Saturn brand before 2012: cold comfort at best, but in this market better news than some at Saturn had expected.  The biggest take ahead of Saturn if it is to survive is to come up with a plan for profitability in the short and long term, something almost all American brands are struggling with right now.

Tags: Brands, GM, Saturn

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For the people looking for roomy SUVs in the market, laying out your options may be a good way to go about it. Including the Suzuki XL7 alongside that of GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook and Ford Edge provides you with an array of choices for the best seven-passenger crossover segment available today.

The XL7 provides adequate power and handling, and the optional all-wheel drive puts the power of the V-6 engine where it belongs. A comfortable ride is compromised by uncomfortable seating.

(Source) Next Autos

Tags: autos suzuki, Crossover, ford edge, GMC, gmc acadia, Saturn, segment, suzuki xl7

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