Driving North on Interstate 15 in central Utah today I spotted three Saturn Astras in what's likely the final phase of durability testing before the car is released here this fall. There were three cars with all the usual gauges and gizmos that go with durability testing bolted to their dashboards. And three unmistakably geeky engineers behind the wheel. Here are the only shots I was able to get... Go here for the full story.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor
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Nice catch, Josh!
Not a bad looking car but it seems Saturn is getting a lot of attention/credt for someone elses work.
More importantly, how are they going to make money with a European-built car, given the exchanges rates?
How can such a sporty looking car come with such non-sporty underpinnings (torsion beam rear)?
The chrome on the front grill and rear hatch give this Astra a GM touch of less expensive, less tasteful. The Opel versions have the chrome too, are there trailer parks in Germany?
VW got away with a torsion beam with the Golf III and IV.
great job Josh! btw, me likey! i really like the Astra... i just hope the US market starts to turn towards smaller cars and hatches. :)
Call it an Opel, folks! Because that's what it really is! :o)
"VW got away with a torsion beam with the Golf III and IV."
That's true. I just remember the pics in MT with the rear wheel coming off the ground in the turns...
I guess if it worked for VW it could work here.
I live in Western Maryland and GM tests vehicles in our area. My house is on the test route and earlier this summer they were testing the Opel Astra and what looked to be a test mule for a pick-up truck.
I'm not sure Saturn is the brand for a pickup. Was it a fullsize or a Colorado-sized pickup?
The truck looked like a heavy-duty full size Chevrolet. I am guessing that it was a mule for a drive train. It is common for them to test several GM makes. Generally Cadillac or Chevrolet.