Lauren Speed Style

Saturn Astra Adds Features to Satisfy Americans

General Motors Corp. is defending its reign as the largest automaker worldwide. And so along with its struggle, is the support from its divisions. Saturn, for one, will be adding features to boost its appeal to Americans.

Saturn will add cupholders and a warmer interior trim to make the Astra more welcoming than its German rivals. According to surveys, American wanted more cupholders hence Saturn will be giving Astra what they wanted.

Early vehicles did not feature cupholders because bumpy rides necessitate both hands to operate. However, as time passes by and innovations to ensure comfy ride are introduced, more and more customers are lured by them. Nowadays, many people, particularly Americans, consider the location, style, and number of cup holders in a vehicle to be one of the most important features influencing their purchase.

The Saturn Astra will also be designed to be nearly identical to its sporty European. The move is in accordance with the expected boost when sales in the United States begin late in 2007. Saturn’s pool of designers transforms the morbid black and pewter trim on the car's dashboard, center stack and console to warm matte-chrome pieces. The brand will also switch the European summer-only performance tires of the Saturn Astra for all-weather 16- and 17-inch tires. The performance-oriented 18-inch summer tires will be an option on the two-door hatchback model.

Other changes entertained by the automaker include the addition of OnStar, GM's communications and navigation service, daylight running lights, and other auto parts that are as efficient as the Apexi cold air intake. According to Sarah DeVries-Allen, GM vehicle line director responsible for the Saturn Astra, the features of the vehicle are nearly indistinguishable from the European model. The automaker noted that it will not make any changes to Astra’s road-hugging suspension and responsive steering.

"We have regular checks to compare the handling of the Saturn and Opel Astra to make sure there are no differences at GM's proving ground in Milford,” DeVries-Allen said. "We had strong direction from the company's senior leaders to minimize changes," added DeVries-Allen. "We were told to maintain the European influence" on the car's appearance and handling. DeVries-Allen’s team knew it had to add cupholders, however, so the Saturn Astra will have one in the center console and two for rear passengers.

The Saturn Astra is a compact car which is to be built for the 2008 model year. It will be a rebadged Opel Astra to serve as replacement to the ION as the company's smallest car. Saturn Astra will be based on the Delta platform and will be built in Antwerp, Belgium.

The 2008 Astra will be sold in three-door and five-door hatchback body styles. The car features a 1.8-liter straight-4 gasoline engine that produces 140 horsepower and be mated to a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission. The highest performance Astra, which is expected to appear as the Astra Red Line, will be equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo producing 237 horsepower.

GM is anticipating sales between 30,000 and 40,000 annually, less than half the 100,000 accumulated by the ION.

About the Author

Given her background on cars as an auto insurance director, Lauren Woods finds the world of cars to be constantly changing.

Speed Style & beauty the ralph lauren car collection PART5/5

Lauren Ralph Lauren Speed & Style Floral Pillowcases, Standard Pair Floral Jacquard $24.24 ...

Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars From the Ralph Lauren Collection by Fred Furman . Art PRINT Poster 36.00 X 20.00 $25.20 Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars From the Ralph Lauren Collection by Fred Furman . Art PRINT Poster 36.00 X 20.00. Printed on Fine Art Paper, Thicker and Nicer Finish. This item is a higher quality reproduction than a typical poster.Museum quality fine-art print, printed on high quality archival acid free paper. Most prints are on a thick (120 pound or higher) stock of paper. Each print is of the hi...

Lauren Ralph Lauren Metropolitan Place Duvet, King Metropolitan ...

Speed, Style, and Beauty $37.99 Product Description Bugatti and Bentley, Alfa and Aston, Mercedes and McLaren--these are not merely cars, they are some of the most exquisite automobiles ever assembled, selected by Ralph Lauren, one of the most foremost designers of our time. This breathtaking volume, which accompanies a major exhibition at the MFA, Boston, features 29 of these wonders--from such unparalleled masterpieces as the ...

Bay Wolf Restaurant Cookbook $9.74 When Michael Wild and Larry Goldman opened BayWolf in 1975, they created one of the most elegant, inviting, and lasting culinary traditions in the Bay Area. Along with Chez Panisse and Citron, their restaurant has been instrumental in the development of California cuisine, known for its straightforward preparations, fresh seasonal ingredients, and bright flavors. Situated in a cozy, vintage Victor...

SPEED, STYLE, AND BEAUTY: CARS FROM THE RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION (Postcard Book) Oblong book with 20 full-color postcards of cars from The Ralph Lauren Collection....

Speed, Style, And Beauty $41.21 Description not available.