Despite the Saturn badge, the Aura isn't really a bespoke American car. If in the animal kingdom it were human, then the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra would be a chimpanzee. Within the next few years, GM aims to bring the two species into even closer homogenization in 2008 as the Vectra departs after 20 years on the market, to be replaced with the new Insignia. According to Motor Trend, GM's European divisions will utilize the hot off the presses Epsilon 2 platform for the new car, which will also underpin everything from Saab's 9-3 and 9-5 to the future revisions of the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6. Even Cadillac's Euro-only BLS will ride atop the platform, as will... ahhh, you're such good guessers - the future revision of the Saturn Aura, expected at the earliest in 2010.
So what does this mean? First, the cost sharing across so many brands and models should result in lower consumer prices for those models... in theory at least. The availability of a variety of engines, since those wacky Europeans just love their diesels, and drivetrains other than the ubiquitous mid-sized sedan FWD setup could work their way into the lineups. Improved safety features as a result of tighter EU standards should also be standard fare. We should also expect at least somewhat similar designs, previewed by the Insignia at the British International Motor Show next July.
GM claims the Insignia will be positioned upmarket of the relatively lowly Vectra. Will this shift be reflected in the next revision of its already upwardly-mobile Saturn counterpart? We think that could depend on Saturn's fortunes over the next couple of years. If public perception of the formerly budget-minded brand continues on the upswing thanks to models like the revamped Vue and Sky roadster, then the Aura could make that move up the food chain. But what competition would it find there? The current car already fares more than favorably against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, even if the interior build quality still isn't quite up to that pair's and sales remain only fractional. The next rung in the ladder is ostensibly the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class, and we just can't see that happening in this universe anytime soon. Our take? Reinvest that invigorated "upmarket" cachet into producing an interior that matches the best the Japanese and Germans can muster, offer a variety of drivetrains and package it all in cool European styling, all for an MSRP below the competition's and then market the fire out of it. 2010 Saturn Aura, we already love ya'.