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2005 Saturn Aura Concept

Rüsselsheims Finest are Closer than We Think

Plastic polycarbonate panels, practical four-door coupes and very friendly sales associates. Sound familiar? Its Saturn, General Motors answer to the imports. A product of the late 1980s, Saturns cars were the kind of vehicles that GM hoped people shopping for a Honda or Toyota would buy, but the import buyer never really caught on.

What started out with a bang, sputtered and stalled quite quickly. Saturns once-fresh products became stale against the more advanced competition. Even with the introduction of the midsize L model (for customers

In recent years, Saturns once-fresh products have become stale against the more advanced competition, but theyre about to catch up in a big way. (Photo: General Motors)

who had grown out of their smaller SLs) that came along in the late 90s and the affordable VUE SUV, now only a few years old, the company never regained the ground it lost.

To save Saturn and keep it in the minds of the choosy North American

Saturn will pull the wraps off the Aura Concept, a European-inspired vehicle which GM claims is a sneak peek of things to come. (Photo: General Motors)

automobile consumer, General Motors figured that a brand revolution was necessary. It was recently initiated in the form of Saturns first minivan, the RELAY.

Unlike any Saturn previously made the RELAY uses a conventional steel body, and is a direct "clone" of all the other GM midsize vans. It wasnt the promising sign dealers hoped for, going

The new Aura Concept is based on the European Epsilon architecture which currently underpins the Chevrolet Malibu, Opel Vectra, Saab 9-3 and Pontiac G6. (Photo: General Motors)

against the brands image, but it was a sign from the top that things were indeed changing.

Soon, the next phase will be ushered in. Behind the shadowy curtains at General Motors, to be unveiled at this years North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is an entirely new kind of Saturn. Alongside the two-seat Sky roadster, Saturn will pull the wraps off the Aura Concept, a European-inspired vehicle which GM

The Aura sports a face unlike anything ever seen on a Saturn previously. (Photo: General Motors)

claims is a sneak peek of things to come.

The Aura Concept is a four-door, midsize sedan based on the European Epsilon architecture which currently underpins the Chevrolet Malibu, Opel Vectra, Saab 9-3 and Pontiac G6. With two domestic-branded variants on that list, it would be logical to think that a truly Americanized version would be on its way for Saturn, but the opposite is true - the Auras link to Europe is strong.

In its design, the Aura is quite similar to Pontiacs bold G6. The cars share a long wheelbase which is an integral

Undoubtedly, the Aura is one of the most beautiful Saturns ever. (Photo: General Motors)

part of the cab-forward design, to maximize interior space. The similarities continue with short overhangs and an identical roofline integrating a four-panel sliding glass panoramic sunroof that melds into a high trunk.

Bold, almond-shaped projector-beam headlamps with jewel-like polycarbonate lenses, plus a ridged hood create a face unlike anything ever seen on a Saturn previously. An angular front valance with three deep intakes and fog lamps enhances the cars nose by adding sporty undertones. The high belt line of the Auras body traces back to the trunk lid, an ensemble completed by red and white LED tail lamps, lip spoiler and chrome-accented

Heavily influenced by European designs, the concepts interior oozes sophistication and class. (Photo: General Motors)

lid.

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