Reply #137: GM is not resting either.

[TommyO]

The new Opel Insignia, future Saturn Aura was announced today, and it looks like a huge winner.

Here's a bit from MotorTrend:

Up to now, GM still hasn't quite gotten the "world car" thing cracked, despite the much-touted links between Saturn and the European Opel brand. The Saturn Astra is a fine little car but was designed without a second thought to U.S. consumers, and funnily enough they've not taken it to their hearts. On the other hand, the Vue, designed with the U.S. in mind, has hardly caught fire over there as an Opel.

But the New Opel Insignia, which will be the next Aura (although those plans may be changing according to recent reports), must be the best chance yet. After all, the current Aura proves this size and package of car are right for the times, and the new one -- sampled here as the Opel Insignia variant -- is a far better car to drive and more of a looker, too.

In Saturn guise, it'll start life with a 2.4L four and a V-6, but shortly after it will receive the excellent 2.0L turbo we tested. It kicks out a willing 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and can be had with either manual or auto transmission, both six-speed. We sampled it as front-drive, but AWD is optional.

The turbo rolls up its sleeves and gets to work around 2000 rpm, and if the noise is just a mite tingly at that point, it does rev smoothly out to 6500. Keeping the tach dial in the boost zone gives you ready access to more than adequate performance, while driving off-boost stretches every gallon. The six-speed manual's shifter has a short if notchy throw.

That's four paragraphs, for the rest, see the full article at http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0807_2009_opel_insignia_first_drive/index.html

OK, here's a picture to get you even more interested:

http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadtests/sedans/10014683/112_0807_08z+2009_opel_insignia+front_three_quarters_view.jpg