AutoExpress has released details of the next generation Vauxhall Astra (that's our Saturn Astra) VXR. The hot version will go on sale in– you guessed it– 2010. To comply with stricter fuel economy regs, GM's European ops will downsize the engine in the GTI-competitor, from its present 237 hp 2.0-liter to a 1.8-liter turbo, with something around 240 horsepower. Vauxhall claimsthe new powerplant will be more economical and efficient– both of which are probably true. But I'd imagine it's also because the torque steer in the 2.0-liter turbo model is supposedly driver-wrist-destroying. Is it coming to America? Considering how meager the American Astra sales have been– around 1000 a month (Cadillac still shifts 1500 Escalades)– the idea that we'll be getting the next gen Astra is sounding increasingly preposterous. It's too bad, because the car itself (both the regular Astra and hot versions) are credible Golf competitors. You know; in Europe.
Find Reviews by Make:
Read all comments
The Astra is actually a pretty good car. However, relative to the Euro, the Dollar is not a very good currency.
So the Pretty Good Astra sits on lots at $18k+, while many other Pretty Good small cars fly off lots at $2k+ less.
Then why not manufacture the Astra in the low cost US and export to Europe?
Duh!
I still have not seen an advertisement for the Astra, anywhere. And I’ve only seen 2 on the road. And I’ve been looking for them. I guarantee the average buyer, and the average Saturn buyer, has no idea these are even available.
SherbornSean,
There are 4 reasons, that I can see, why the Astra can’t (or shouldn’t) be made in the United States and exported to Europe:
1. The cost savings would get cancelled out by increased shipping costs.
2. GM CANNOT afford to annoy ANYONE in Europe. The UK and Germany are GM’s biggest markets in Europe. So to say to one of them, “We’re shutting a site down” is next door to suicide.
3. GM has assured plants in Europe until 2016 (or somewhere near that time).
4. The Astra sells in good numbers (forget about profitability, for a minute) in Europe. This means GM needs a steady flow of cars in Europe to keep customers happy. I’m not sure they could achieve that when the car is being made in the United States. Not a cheap dig at American labour, it’s just the logistics of it.
That 273 hp 2.0-liter actually makes 237 hp though.
It’s an urban legend, that in Europe carmaking is expensive, don’t forget that in the EU there are low cost countries inside.
Hungary,Slovakia, Poland, Roumanie, etc work at much lover cost, than USA, despite weak dollar.
And it’s not a suprise, that AUDI manufactured approx. 1,9 million engine in 2006 at Győr/Hungary.
And in the whole East (low cost) EU region the car industry is very strong from the subcontractors to the final assembly.
Justin: But I’d imagine it’s also because the torque steer in the 2.0-liter turbo model is supposedly driver-wrist-destroying.
I’m assuming you say that in jest, since going to a 1.8 with similar torque/hp isn’t going to change that!
Justin: You know; in Europe.
What’s that supposed to mean?
That the US has better cars than the Astra to compete with the Golf? Er, name one.
Or that US cars are superior to European models? Hardly.
It’s this blinkered attitude that got GM, Ford and Chrysler in such a fix. I don’t expect to see it echoed on TTAC though.
In case you’re wondering, I’m British. Another country that ruined its native automotive industry due to arrogance over its own products.
The Astra is not meant to be a volume car, yet. Saturn will not recieve big numbers of the vehicle, 15,000, that is all that was ever planned. I drive one everyday, 5 dr XR, SR and a hugh amount of standard features. Purchased for $18,500, 33.5 MPG combination driving. It is quite, smooth, could use some more HP but it is ok. Stereo is great. Pure fun to drive. Give one a try. The vehicle will be made in the U.S. at some point, today the Sky is an export to Europe, more will follow. When the vehicle is made in the U.S. then a sedan/wagon will be added to the mix.
roar
@James2250:
I’m not ragging on Europe or the US. I’m dumping on GM for selling the car here without any support – marketing, engine choice, better transmissions, or otherwise.
Last I heard GM is planning to manufacture the next Astra in the US for the North American market. Europe will also keep Astra production for their own market.
Why not make them cheaper in Korea ?
The early 90s Le Mans was an old Astra/Kadett made by Daewoo.
Currently Chevy Europe (the “new” name for Daewoo Europe) currently sell some of the same cars Vauxhall/Opel do.
GM have anounced some European plant restructuring – mainly in the UK. The last car to be made in Luton for example was in 2002.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1885513.stm
I also feel 273hp for the Astra would lead to a lot of wrist surgeries. 237hp is more like it (if we’re talking Astra OPC). In South Africa we also have a 197hp 2.0 Turbo, a very smooth and driveable power plant.
i like the astra, just not as a saturn. i’ll pay a little bit more and stick with my GTI. i’d like to have the company that makes my car still in business five years from now.
Pretty stylish car. If we had more compact cars looking like this, north americans would drive them. Maybe hatchbacks & wagons will come back in style now that SUV’s are in a down swing. Unless we get some great hybrid engines to save them, then most of us will continue to buy them.
KatiePuckrik: The cost savings would get cancelled out by increased shipping costs.
Not quite true. Ocean shipping costs are vanishingly tiny as a percentage of overall cost, even for something as large as a car. That’s why cheap cars can be profitably imported.
I’ll say this much – that little Astra hauled some serious ass at the autocross