GM (so far) Scraps Plans for Ion Replacement, May Turn to Opel for New Model

[YSSMAN]

General Motors has scrapped the vehicle that was supposed to replace the Saturn Ion for 2007, company officials said today. Saturn had planned to replace the Ion with a new model called the “Evoke.” According to a report today by Automotive News, the Ion replacement was well received by those who saw it during a press preview last summer. GM is said to be scrambling to find a new replacement, with a collaboration of some kind looking likely. GM has openly said it plans to align its Opel and Saturn brands, leading Auto News to speculate that GM could re-badge the Opel Astra (shown right) to replace the Ion. In March, GM’s Bob Lutz openly praised the Astra, and even talked about it as a possible Ion replacement. “The Opel product is good. Does Saturn wish they had an Opel Astra (compact car) instead of a Saturn Ion?” The answer is yes, he said.

ION:

Astra:

(I think I like the Astra better, lol)

 

[Wolfe]

The ION is already basically an Astra chassis with a crappy car attached to it. This would simply fix everything that's wrong.

The ION was too cheap -- too many corners were cut. The Cobalt is what the ION should have been like.

 

[Joey D]

The Ion isn't a bad car for what it's meant to be...a point a to b car. Although the Redline is pretty nice. But Saturn will pretty much be all Opel soon enough.

 

[skip0110]

GM will run out of trademarkable car names pretty soon if they keep running through them at the rate they have been lately.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I do like the name Evoke for a rebadged Astra. I just want the VXR, thats all I care about...

 

[Keef]

I don't think the Ion is too awful crappy. All except that damn center guage cluster. All the Astra will do is exacerbate the annoying GM scrape-the-front-bumper-on-every-driveway-you-enter-or-exit problem.

 

[GT4_Rule]

The Astra does look good, but I dont have a problem with the Ion - except for the center gauges, as keef said. Center gauges = 👎

 

[Joey D]

The center gauages aren't bad, I don't mind them when I drive my buddies Redline. Granted it's not the optimal place, but it's not all that bad in my opinion.

 

[BMWteamPTG]

i dont know. ive never liked saturns. the ion never turned me on either. glad to see an opel come to the us

 

[GT4_Rule]

glad to see an opel come to the us

As a Saturn, yeah.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, it isnt offical, put I'd say that is probably the best bet for the Ion's replacement. Too bad the same wont happen for the Cobalt/G5... Not to say they are bad cars, they just arent anywhere near as good as the Astra (I presume).

 

[Joey D]

Well, it isnt offical, put I'd say that is probably the best bet for the Ion's replacement. Too bad the same wont happen for the Cobalt/G5... Not to say they are bad cars, they just arent anywhere near as good as the Astra (I presume).

They will more then likey get the engine, drivetrain, and suspension though.

 

[GT4_Rule]

They will more then likey get the engine, drivetrain, and suspension though.

And little bits and pieces.

 

[Joey D]

And little bits and pieces.

Yup, GM won't let their American Astra go to waste.

 

[HACKr]

The Ion is ok. I like the sportier version, but it is still basically an appliance. The Astra would be good too, but it would make too much of a jump in Saturn's style evolution over the years.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Since i'm in love (and yes, i'd marry it if i could) the Astra DTM car so much, i'm going to have to say good. The Ion was a joke, and the Redline was an even bigger one. GM has been sitting on Opel for so long, you think it would have thought of these ideas long ago.

 

[a6m5]

(I think I like the Astra better, lol)

No crap, Sherlock.

I don't think ION looks too bad, but Opel's looks are pretty exceptional. I'd love to see them driving around. Heck, I might even want one!

 

[Wolfe]

GM has been sitting on Opel for so long, you think it would have thought of these ideas long ago.

Well, they've tried Opel badge-engineering before, but in odd situations...such as the brief revival of the Pontiac Le Mans nameplate in the early 90's, and the Cadillac Catera.

 

[Joey D]

Well, they've tried Opel badge-engineering before, but in odd situations...such as the brief revival of the Pontiac Le Mans nameplate in the early 90's, and the Cadillac Catera.

The Catera would have been fine if it wasn't a a Cadillac. But this isn't the first time Opels have come to the states under Saturn. What about the L-Series? My buddy has one and it's got an Opel 6 cylidner in it.

One of these

 

[Wolfe]

The Catera would have been fine if it wasn't a a Cadillac. But this isn't the first time Opels have come to the states under Saturn. What about the L-Series? My buddy has one and it's got an Opel 6 cylidner in it.

One of these
*z0MG!!1! 1Tz 4n 1MG!!111!11!!!*

The L-series is based on the Opel Vectra B, but it has different bodywork and such. I was referring more specifically to direct badge-engineering knock-offs.

 

[Joey D]

The L-series is based on the Opel Vectra B, but it has different bodywork and such. I was referring more specifically to direct badge-engineering knock-offs.

Ahhh, well like I said people didn't buy into the Catera because...well Cadillac at the time had the image of an old person's car, no one thought of Cadillac as something that was sporty. The Catera was a good idea, but a horriable execution on GM's part...they should have just made it the new Impala or Monte Carlo for the time and they would have been good to go with that thing and everyone who complains about no RWD wouldn't have to any more.

Ahhh the wonderful "what if".

 

[Wolfe]

Ahhh, well like I said people didn't buy into the Catera because...well Cadillac at the time had the image of an old person's car, no one thought of Cadillac as something that was sporty. The Catera was a good idea, but a horriable execution on GM's part...they should have just made it the new Impala or Monte Carlo for the time and they would have been good to go with that thing and everyone who complains about no RWD wouldn't have to any more.

Ahhh the wonderful "what if".

Yup, that's why it ended up in my brief list of "WTF?" Opel badge-engineering decisions by GM.

 

[GT4_Rule]

I like the Catera though - its styling is pretty good, and it has RWD!! Id like to have one of those if its not for the high parts and its relative rareness...

 

[Poverty]

No offense but that Ion is ugly. It looks like it belongs to a 80's movie thats set in 2020.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Everyone knows the Ion is ugly here in the states. However, the coupe is the pretty one, check out the sedan...

Ohh, and this just poped up on the wire:

General Motors has publicly stated it plans to align its Saturn brand in the United States with Opel in Germany. The Saturn Sky and Opel GT are already virtually identical, as are the Saturn PreVue Concept (the next Vue) and the Opel Antara GTC concept, and the Saturn Aura and Opel Vectra. Recent rumors have even indicated that the Saturn Ion replacement will be the Opel Astra. At a press event this week, GM’s Bob Lutz told Automotive News Europe that more Opel products could come stateside. “Once we get the Saturn product completely aligned with the Opel product and they are fundamentally the same,” Lutz said, “then we absolutely have the possibility of doing some models in the US and shipping them to Europe and doing other models in Europe and shipping them to the US.” Will GM bring over the Astra hardtop convertible and other Opels? It’s now looking increasingly possible…

I want the Astra convertable, darnit!

 

[95GTIVR6]

I really hope Saturn doesn't become a make that completely bastardizes Opel's stylng. But there seems to be a good chance.

Using the Astra as a car to replace the Ion could be a good decision. Im too busy right now to look up the dimensions but it would give the Dodge Calibur a run for its money (given they are in the same class), especially if they produced a "Redline" model to offset the "SRT-4"

 

[Robin]

I didnt know america was going to start getting vauxhalls ..... you guys in the US enjoy them!..... there good cars .... Ive got a corsa and I think GM does quite a good job despite what some people say.

 

[Wolfe]

...and I think GM does quite a good job despite what some people say.

If you're talking about anti-GM comments around this forum, and not just Europe-based comments about Vauxhalls and Opels...well, I'll put it this way -- the GM cars and trucks we get over here are very different from Vauxhalls and Opels.

 

[YSSMAN]

I don't even know if very is a strong enough word. Even the baisic models that are shared between the US and Europe are completely different (the Vauxhall Vectra Wagon and Chevy Malibu Maxx come to mind), despite the fact that they share so many bits and pieces.

 

[Tornado]

The Ion isn't a bad car for what it's meant to be...a point a to b car. Although the Redline is pretty nice. But Saturn will pretty much be all Opel soon enough.

You can't deny though, that for the same money you can buy a better-in-every-way Cobalt, and it doesn't carry the same stigmas that Saturns typically have.
Anyways, on this news: I can't understand why GM just won't dump Saturn and replace it with Opel, including by badging. All they are are ugly versions of similar Chevys. Saturn has been from day one a terminable failure at conquering the Japanese imports, and I'm still of the opinion that it should have been axed in 2004 instead of Olds. The VUE had it's time, but it's only advantage over the Equinox was it's styling and Honda engine. Then GM made it ugly. The Ion represented a great leap forward in GM compacts until Chevy started selling a better version.