Bob Lutz has confirmed that the all-new Opel Insignia is definitely coming to the US as the next Saturn Aura, but the Aura will have not share the Insignia's body.
The Opel Insignia and next-gen Aura will share the same engines, suspensions, etc., but will have different exterior and interior styling.
“We’ve researched the Insignia around the world, including the U.S., as an internationally spectacular new design, but the Saturn version will be its own car,” Lutz said.
Lutz also confirmed that a coupe version is not in the works, “Why introduce a two-door version of the four-door with the same sheetmetal?”
Full Story: Autoweek
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Comments (22)
I'm sure Bob has something uglier in mind for the North American market.
Posted by First | July 23, 2008 5:30 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 17:30
I like the looks of the insignia. But when the article states they will make changes to the exterior and interior, it kind of makes me afraid to see what they are gonna do. Personally, I like the interior of the Insignia. By altering it they mean more cheap plastic and look really cheap.
I hope they don't alter the exterior very much also.
Posted by Legacy owner | July 23, 2008 5:47 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 17:47
To bad the U.S. will get the inferior, albeit less costly, version. I'm sure it sounds good on paper to the accountants but seems like a cheap excuse to me.
Message >
Sigh.......
I LOVE WHINING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Posted by CKV | July 23, 2008 6:14 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 18:14
Sigh.... nice to see my whining post was chopped up.
Here's the missing text....
Message - The entire world will receive the original version except the U.S. which will see an inferior/cheapened version. Multiple cup-holders will feature prominently in the American design I'm sure.
Also, the top of the text is meant to read ,"Too" and not, "To."
Sigh.
Gotta love the whining...........
Posted by CKV | July 23, 2008 6:19 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 18:19
Whats wrong with them???
Why can't they listen???
We tell them to bring over the best from Ford of Europe and they wont do it until they have one foot in the grave.
GM is cutting back left and right and they still take something desirable and have to "Americanize" it. Other than slight tweaking to pass a smog test leave it alone, it will sell.
Posted by Tim | July 23, 2008 7:06 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 19:06
Why does different automatically mean worse? I think the hips and butt of this car aren't perfect. Hopefully they fix those. The interior is nearly identical to the new Buick model. Unless they are changing it specifically to be less like the Buick I doubt it will be much different than the pics...
Posted by Unpopular | July 23, 2008 8:02 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:02
@legacy owner:
Judging by Saturn's recent designs I doubt they'll do a bad job with it. Out of all the American manufacuters I think Saturn has done the best job with designs lately.
Posted by Gary | July 23, 2008 8:29 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:29
We’ve researched the Insignia around the world, including the U.S., as an internationally spectacular new design, but the Saturn version will be its own car,” Lutz said.
"For the american market we had to dumb-it-down. The grill now features a silly smirk with which the consumers here can identify. "We also had to make it easy to produce", Lutz said, "which means that the body now can be stapled and glued together with a hammer. The dashboard is made out-off one piece and is made of biodegradeble carton (an industry first)".
Bob L
Posted by waldorf and statler | July 23, 2008 8:42 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:42
@ Gary,
Yes, but if you look at the Astra, the EU version looks sharper.
This is exactly the reason they can't compete with the new Big 3 (Toy/Hon/Niss).
Posted by Noya | July 23, 2008 8:44 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:44
I agree with Gary, most of Saturn's designs aren't bad at all - i prefer the Saturn Sky over the Pontiac Solstice;
even though the "Saturn Insignia" will have different styling than the European one, I think the Saturn will be just as good looking, if not better looking than the European one. Look at the current Aura - its essentially a modified Vauxhall/Opel Vectra only with a different rear end. If you compare the Vectra's rear with the Aura's, I think you'll agree with me that the Aura's looks better
Posted by Eddie | July 23, 2008 8:50 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 20:50
Manufacuters! = Manufacturers (if that is what you wanted to say :)
Posted by Coballsman | July 24, 2008 12:57 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 00:57
I'd bet money that the Americanized version will be ugly with a cheap interior and I'm not a betting man. However, this is not betting, but a sure thing.
After watching several season of the UK's Top Gear, one really begins to grasp the different inherent design philosophies between European and American vehicles.
Posted by Icester | July 24, 2008 4:55 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 04:55
thank to the UAW peope ... they are the reason why the Euro versions of the american car builders don't come to their homeland in their original form and shape.
Posted by papabear | July 24, 2008 5:28 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 05:28
Damn straight about the UAW screwing up the auto industry in this country. Here is a real winner that they need to screw up the sheet metal on so some dumb union guy can get paid to do a crappy job slapping it together. I bet it would be cheaper to pay someone in Euro's to build and export this car but the UAW won't have it.
My guess for the design - Plastic fenders. A robot can't weld those on.
Posted by Jake | July 24, 2008 7:23 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 07:23
old news, Canada has had this car for 6 months already and it looks great.
Posted by macer1 | July 24, 2008 9:43 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 09:43
Why mess with such a good car? I dont get Lutz's reasoning, "lets spend extra money to change an already winning formula for absolutely no reason."
Why is this guy in charge of an automaker?
Posted by Allen | July 24, 2008 9:50 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 09:50
So if I read this correctly, MACER1 wrote, " old news, Canada has had this car for 6 months already and it looks great."
So Canada (aka Khanadastan) has the European model but the U.S. will have a redesigned version ?
WTF ?
That's dumb if true.
I LOVE WHINING !
Posted by CKV | July 24, 2008 10:48 AM
Posted on July 24, 2008 10:48
@Noya:
What the heck are you talking about.... "Yes, but if you look at the Astra, the EU version looks sharper."
The damn car looks exactly the same.... If you want a damn Opel logo the car, order it from them.....
Posted by Andrew | July 24, 2008 12:21 PM
Posted on July 24, 2008 12:21
CKV take your back water white nationalist slang words out of these forums. The word Khanadastan doesn't belong here you white pride POS
Posted by macer1 | July 24, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on July 24, 2008 13:46
Ford and GM have to walk a fine line when it come to "global" models. They have to let the buyers in Europe believe that they are getting a better car for the significant premium that they pay.
Compare the US and Euro Astras as an example. The US models are significantly less money than identically equipped Opels rolling off the same assembly line. Euros should be crying foul.
If Ford and GM sell the same cars here (and the Euros catch on), then they will buy the car in the US for less and ship it back. (Trans-Atlantic shipment actually cost less than trans-US shipment.) Ford & GM would lose their marks.
They could probably program the ECM to operate only in North America, but the EC probably wouldn't like that.
Posted by bubba551 | July 24, 2008 2:48 PM
Posted on July 24, 2008 14:48
The North American version will be redesigned by highly skilled union labor because it's written into our contract. We like to call it job creation and you will learn to accept our new design.
Posted by UAW worker | July 24, 2008 2:55 PM
Posted on July 24, 2008 14:55
I was asked to come on this website by bob lutz he is paying me to mess with your heads he has instructed me to go and spit into the cabins of all new camaros rolling off the assembily floor when hes out on business i will be payed holiday pay while im on spit duity.
Posted by UAW worker | July 24, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on July 24, 2008 15:17