Saturn Unveils New Astra; Arrives in 2007

Early this morning, Saturn announced it will add the Astra to its lineup. The compact hatchback will come in two and four-door body styles and is identical to the 2007 Opel Astra, currently on sale in Europe. The picture above is the Saturn vehicle, but below we have photos of the Opel versions because, besides a different emblem on the hood, they should look exactly the same. That level of platform-sharing allows the Astra to come to market fairly quickly, with Saturn saying it will hit dealers late next year.

The Saturn Astra will make its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February. There is no word yet on where the Astra will be built or what engine choices will be available. We’d guess the vehicle will share the same four-cylinder engine found in the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn Sky, with a high-performance turbocharged version almost a certainty.

This Astra is a marked step-up from the aging Saturn Ion and will probably cost significantly more. We’d guess that prices will compete with the Mazda3 and Honda Civic in the $15,000-$25,000 range.

GM seems to be listening to automotive pundits and enthusiasts who have been suggesting for years that the company make moves like bringing in the higher-quality products from GM’s global brands to the U.S. Now, we’ll just have to see how well they’ll sell.

Opel Astra Two-Door Hatchback