Drive, an Australian online motoring magazine, has a sneak peak at what they think the next-generation Astra will look like. Due in 2009 and sold by Holden in the land down under, Saturn's version is expected to go on sale in North America a year later. According to the article, the new car will feature "sexier looks, sportier handling, and fuel-efficient engines."

FOX News recently reviewed the Saturn Astra XR and said: "In true Euro-compact fashion, the ride is stable and sure, with a high comfort level over bumps, but excellent composure through turns. On the freeway, the Astra rolls along as straight and sure as a high-speed train, and does a nice job of keeping the wind noise at bay while it does."

You can tell that Ralph Gray had a great time test driving the 2008 Saturn XR 3-door. "The seat and steering wheel configuration dictates that the driver extend his arms straight out to handle the wheel," he wrote. "That's the way it's done on the Autobahn."

Dan Neil of the LA Times is a self-described European car fan who liked driving Saturn's Astra hatchback. "It's well equipped, a great value, surprisingly comfortable – even in the back, under that umbrella of a roof – and on a tight twisty, it's just phenomenal," he said in his review.

The Vue Green Line found itself in fourth place in Motor Trend's "Frugal Fives" compact SUV comparison, finishing ahead of Toyota's RAV4. "The Saturn VUE pops the RAV for fourth on two counts," said the magazine. "One, its ride could stir Tempur-Pedic's patent lawyers. Two, in this era of gas-price muggings, the Green Line's combined mileage is 4.7 mpg higher than the average of the rest" of the vehicles tested.

Autoblog just finished testing the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid. Overall, they liked it – inside and out – praising its styling, efficiency for the price, and interior. "The styling of the dash is far more car-like and attractive than the [Ford] Escape and appears to be of higher quality materials," wrote the site.

CR road tested the Volkswagen Rabbit S, Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix S, Saturn Astra XE, Mini Cooper Clubman, and Scion xD in the June 2008 issue of its magazine. According to their testers, the vehicles were ranked in the order above with the 5-door Astra coming in fourth place. Nonetheless, the compact Saturn hatchback was rated "very good" for how well it performed.

General Motors recently demonstrated its progress on developing a future advanced engine technology for consumers that squeezes more miles per gallon of gas and reduces emissions. GM engineers have brought the advanced combustion technology from the laboratory to the test track and, now, to the highway in a driveable concept vehicle - a Saturn Aura equipped with homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI).

Workers at General Motors' Fairfax plant where the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu went on strike this morning because of a breakdown in discussions about local plant issues. "We are obviously disappointed that UAW Local 31 took strike action at Fairfax Assembly," says Dan Flores, a spokesman for GM told USA Today.

Advertising Age reports that Saturn plans to advertise at movie theaters this summer, promoting its Vue sport-utility and Aura midsize sedan. "What's the big draw of the big screen?" asks AdAge. "A captive younger audience."