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2008 Saturn Astra
Press Release: Chicago Auto Show
Date: Feb 4, 2007
Source:
CheersAndGears.com
Author: Northstar
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Gallery:
XR 3-door:
XR 5-door:
Interior:
ALL-NEW 2008 SATURN ASTRA BRINGS AWARD-WINNING EUROPEAN SMALL CAR
TO NORTH AMERICA
CHICAGO – Saturn announced the addition of the all-new 2008 Astra
to its lineup, bringing a decidedly European flavor to the North
American compact car market. It is packed with a wide range of standard
equipment and safety features, and delivers sporty performance with very
good fuel economy.
The Saturn Astra will be offered in three-door and five-door models,
each underpinned by a taught, European-bred suspension that delivers a
sharp, responsive driving experience. Power comes from a 1.8L Ecotec
four-cylinder engine that is both energetic and economical, delivering
140 horsepower (104 kW) and up to 34 mpg** on the highway.
“In Europe , the 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 Astra will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year. It is the
fifth product in a complete revamp of Saturn’s product lineup. In fact,
when the Astra hits showrooms, the “oldest” vehicle in Saturn’s
portfolio will be the Sky roadster, which debuted in March 2006. Other
new models include the all-new Aura sedan, the redesigned Vue compact
crossover – including the Vue Green Line hybrid – and the Outlook
crossover.
“It’s not a stretch to say Saturn is all-new,” said Lajdziak. “The Astra
rounds out our portfolio with a smart-driving, well-equipped small car
that shares the European designs evident in all our new vehicles.”
Product highlights
Saturn offers two trim levels (XE and XR) for five-door models, and a
single trim (XR) in the three-door configuration, which was created with
more enthusiastic drivers in mind.
The standard powertrain combination in all models is the 1.8L Ecotec
DOHC four-cylinder engine, which is paired with a five-speed manual
transmission. The Ecotec engine is enhanced with variable valve timing
to optimize power output and fuel efficiency. A four-speed automatic
transmission is optional on all models.
The Astra offers technologies to provide an agile, yet comfortable,
driving experience. StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with
traction control is standard on all three-door Astras, and available on
five-door models. This system works in concert with the standard
four-wheel, antilock disc brakes to help the driver maintain control
during adverse road conditions or during sudden emergency driving
situations.
An electro-hydraulic, rack-and-pinion steering system is standard on all
models. It provides the solid, linear feel of a hydraulic power steering
system, but improves fuel efficiency by operating the power steering
pump only when necessary. The system has two available configurations:
the standard 15:1 ratio on five-door models and a 14:1 Sport ratio
(standard on the three-door; optional on five-doors).
Five-door Astras come with standard 16-inch wheels, but can be upgraded
to 17-inch aluminum wheels. Three-door models come standard with 17-inch
aluminum wheels, which can be upgraded to 18-inch aluminum wheels and
performance tires.
Design details
The Astra has a clean, contemporary design that is infused with Saturn’s
signature styling cues, including a bold, bright grille bar with
prominent Saturn logo. Both the three-door and five-door models are
distinguished from their European relatives with unique front and rear
fascias that conform to North American bumper standards.
Rear-end styling also features a bright trim bar, with large, wraparound
taillamps and clear lenses. The center high-mounted stop lamp uses LED
technology for fast and crisp illumination.
Proportions on both body styles suggest an enthusiastic driving
experience, with the wheels pushed to the corners and subtle fender
flares wrapped tightly around the tires for a tailored stance.
Interior design and features
Bold design, refinement and precise execution are the hallmarks of the
Saturn Astra’s interior, which envelops passengers in a contemporary
environment that maximizes space and comfort. Details include a
continuation of the exterior’s center hood crease on to the center of
the instrument panel, as well as a V-shaped center stack motif that also
complements the design language of the exterior.
All models convey the Astra’s sporting character through firm,
well-supported seats and a thick, three-spoke steering wheel with rake
and telescopic adjustments. Ahead of the steering wheel is a rounded
cockpit binnacle that houses a large, three-dimensional gauge cluster –
including large speedometer and tachometer dials. The sporty Astra
three-door receives specific seats with more aggressive bolsters and
lumbar support.
Additional interior highlights include:
- Illuminated glove box with damped door actuation
- A large, two-panel sunroof: the largest in its class (available
on five-door only)
- Available heated seats in cloth or leather surfaces
- Auxiliary 12-volt power outlet
- Easy-to-remove rear cargo cover
- Power door locks (with central locking feature) and power
windows with express down feature
- Standard six-speaker AM/FM/CD radio and available seven-speaker
sound system; multi-disc and MP3-capable radios available
- Steering-wheel mounted audio controls (on XR models)
Astra’s bold proportions, including a long, 103-inch (2,614 mm)
wheelbase and 80-inch (2,033 mm) width, provide exceptional roominess
and generous storage capacity. The 60/40-split folding rear seat also
folds flat with the touch of a single, high-mounted lever. When the rear
seat is folded, the five-door Astra offers 44.8 cubic feet (1,270 L) of
storage space.
Occupant protection features
The 2008 Saturn Astra features a comprehensive list of safety systems to
help protect occupants in the event of a crash. Highlights include:
- Rigid body structure with safety cage
- Six standard air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags;
roof rail head curtain air bags and thorax/pelvic air bags
(front-seat passengers)
- Active head restraints
- Collapsible pedals
- Front safety belt pretensioners and load limiters
- OnStar with one year of Safe & Sound service
Body structure: The unitized body structure is designed with a
safety cage around the passenger compartment, and features optimized
front and rear crush zones that absorb energy and help maintain the
structural integrity of the passenger compartment. High-strength steel
is used strategically throughout the body structure.
Air bags: All Astra models feature dual-stage frontal air bags,
seat-mounted thorax/pelvic air bags to help protect front occupants and
head curtain air bags for front- and rear-seat occupants. Also standard
is an automatic passenger sensing system for the front passenger seat;
it suppresses the activation of the passenger-side frontal air bag if it
detects a child or smaller-stature person in that seating position.
Active head restraints and collapsible pedals: Standard active
head restraints instantly move forward if a rear-end crash is detected,
reducing the risk of neck injuries. Similarly, the collapsible foot
pedals move during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries.
Safety belt pretensioners and load limiters: When a crash is
detected, the safety belt pretensioners immediately reduce the slack in
the front safety belts, helping limit the movement of passengers. The
load limiters permit a small amount of movement in the front safety
belts, thereby reducing peak chest loads in a more severe crash.
OnStar: Astra comes with the latest-generation OnStar system,
including available Turn-by-Turn Navigation. The system also includes
advanced automatic crash notification (AACN). With AACN, an OnStar
advisor is immediately contacted by the vehicle when a crash occurs; the
advisor can determine the appropriate emergency help required and assist
in sending it to the scene of the crash. Astra buyers will receive one
year of
Safe & Sound Service provided by Saturn.
** Fuel economy estimates based on 2007MY EPA test cycle. Final numbers
will be announced closer to availability.
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