2008 Saturn Astra US Premiere in Chicago

- 2008 Saturn Astra Market Launch in North America in Fall 2007
- Production of Three and Five-Door Models at GM Plant in Antwerp, Belgium

2008 Saturn Astra XR 3-door

Premiere of the new 2008 Saturn Astra in the USA: the General Motors (NYSE: GM) brand presents the compact sedan for the first time to the North American public at the Chicago Auto Show (February 9 - 18, 2007). Available on the US and Canadian markets from the fourth quarter of 2007 as a three or five-door model with a 1.8-liter, 140 hp ECOTEC engine, the 2008 Saturn Astra is produced alongside its Opel counterparts at the GM plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

"In Europe, the Saturn Astra's combination of style, performance, safety technology and fuel efficiency have made it a hit with owners and auto critics alike," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager. "Now, Saturn is bringing the newly restyled Astra to North America and marrying it with our celebrated customer experience. The 2008 Saturn Astra rounds out our portfolio with a smart-driving, well-equipped compact car that shares the European designs evident in all our new vehicles." Since the European debut of the third-generation Astra in March 2004, over 1.3 million units have been sold. The new edition of the bestselling Astra model line was launched this month and boasts fresh new design styles and new engines.

The Saturn portfolio in model year 2008 will only include cars that are less than 20 months old. Saturn currently offers the Saturn Aura, which is related to the mid-size Opel Vectra sedan; the Saturn Outlook SUV; the Saturn Vue Red Line and Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid crossovers, as well as the Saturn Roadster Sky, which represents a further example of transatlantic cooperation as the sister model of the Opel GT.

The brand focuses on innovative products with high technological quality, solid value and excellent customer service. Just a few weeks ago, the Saturn Aura, which shares its vehicle architecture and design language with the Opel Vectra, was named the North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show, ahead of the Toyota Camry and Honda Fit (Jazz in Europe), and is proof that the ongoing product revitalization plan is paying off.