| General Motors has done much to revitalize its Saturn | | | | have failed to give the brand an upscale feel. But with |
| brand in the past eighteen months. The brand known in | | | | the partnership with Opel, Saturn vehicles have |
| the past as the home of the haggle-free customer | | | | become a serious competitor in its segment. |
| service is now the fastest growing brand in the United | | | | The General Motors Theta platform was revised to |
| States auto market. General Motors has revitalized the | | | | give the new Vue its sharper handling and better ride |
| brand by infusing the Saturn lineup with German | | | | comfort. Vibrations and noise from the engine bay are |
| engineering. | | | | also reduced, thanks to the specially designed Saturn |
| With the help of Opel, General Motors has turned | | | | engine mount which absorbs most of the engine’s |
| Saturn vehicles into the most European-ized American | | | | vibrations. |
| cars in the market. The recently named the 2007 | | | | The revisions to the automobile platform with the use |
| North American Car of the Year, the Saturn Aura has | | | | of German engineering have resulted to an increase in |
| close ties with the Opel Vectra. The Saturn Astra that | | | | weight. More than 400 pounds were added to the |
| will be released in the North American market later this | | | | new Vue compared to its predecessor. This increase |
| year is a rebadged Opel Astra. Another result of the | | | | in weight is a surprise considering that the new Vue |
| collaboration between Opel and Saturn is the | | | | has virtually the same dimensions as the old Vue. |
| convertible Saturn Sky which is based on the Opel GT. | | | | The 2008 Saturn Vue will be equipped with a standard |
| Another Saturn vehicle with European lineage is the | | | | 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with the variable valve timing. |
| midsize crossover SUV Saturn Vue. The vehicle was | | | | This engine can produce as much as 169 horsepower. |
| designed based on the Opel Antara which is based on | | | | An optional engine for the new Vue includes a 3.5-liter |
| the General Motors Theta platform. The Antara and | | | | V6 with an output of 222 horsepower. Another engine |
| the Vue are designed to be indistinguishable from each | | | | choice available for the Vue is a 3.6-liter direct |
| other. Both are designed and developed in Germany | | | | overhead camshaft V6 engine with an output of 257 |
| using the country’s engineering. | | | | horsepower. |
| The similarity between the European Antara and the | | | | The new Saturn Vue will be competing in the North |
| American Vue is apparent in its handling. The | | | | American auto market directly with the Ford Escape, |
| suspension setting of the Antara mirrors that of the | | | | the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. In order to |
| Vue. Both crossover SUVs are equipped with | | | | compete with these already established nameplates, |
| strut-front and multilink-rear suspension settings. | | | | the Saturn Vue has been given European styling which |
| According to the manufacturer of the Vue, it will have | | | | is aimed to attract young vehicle buyers. The changes |
| the same handling and stability as its European sibling. | | | | made in the exterior of the Saturn Vue gives it a |
| With German engineering behind the new Vue, handling | | | | sportier look unlike its predecessor. With the help of |
| is improved compared to its predecessor. With more | | | | Opel, it seems that the Saturn Vue will become a |
| responsive handling, the Vue is considered as a near | | | | major competition for the Asian brands in its segment. |
| luxury vehicle. In the past, several Saturn auto models | | | | |