Saturn retail sales rose 9% in June, thanks in part to a special zero-percent financing sale that the brand offered during the last week of the month. However, overall sales for the month of June were down 12.8% compared to last year due to the sales gap created by the discontinued Ion sedan and quad coupe.

Saturn and General Motors are extending the zero-percent "72 Hour Sale" on select 2008 models that proved to be a successful way to boost sales in the last week of June.

The Kansas City Business Journal reports that General Motors is planning to start building the 2009 Saturn Aura beginning this Friday. In addition, the plant been given approval to work overtime to increase production. For '09, the 2.4L Aura will offer customers a class-leading 33 mpg EPA fuel economy rating.

Robert Kelley from the Colorado Springs Gazette recently drove a 2008 Saturn Aura. He not only liked its sophisticated, European styling, but also the Aura's interior layout and features. "The front seats are supportive and comfortable with optional heating for those cold morning commutes," he wrote. "Instrumentation, controls and knobs all clearly marked and easy to manipulate."

Earlier this week, Mark LaNeve, General Motors vice president of vehicle sales, service, and marketing told GM dealers, Saturn retailers, and the media about a new 0% promotion, the company's evolving production plans, and a 3.5% price increase.

With the 2008 model year winding down, summertime car deals are beginning to ramp up. "Here are some incentive packages that we think are worth a look," wrote the CNNMoney.com in an article posted this afternoon. Just yesterday, Saturn announced a zero-percent financing offer for the Sky, Vue, and Aura. Today, the website named Saturn's Aura one of this month's "hottest" deals.

Yesterday General Motors announced a series of initiatives designed to jumpstart June sales of its 2008 models, and grow volume in certain key segments of the marketplace. To boost sales, the company plans a "72 Hour Sale" with 0% financing and cash back opportunities on "over 80%" of its vehicles, according to Automotive News.

Earlier this month, Vauxhall – GM's brand name for Opel cars in the UK – released some gorgeous photos showing the interior of its upcoming Insignia midsize sedan. A U.S.-built version of the Insignia is widely believed to be the replacement the Saturn Aura in 2010-11 timeframe.

Last week I posted a Saturn "family photo", and some folks commented that they wished the cars weren't all painted in the same silver hue. Here's another picture of Saturn's 2008 collection of vehicles that was featured in the company's Yahoo front-page takeover ad last week.

Last week, on June 11th to be more specific, Saturn once again "took over" the front page of Yahoo.com with an impressive, interactive advertisement promoting its 2008 lineup. Saturn's digital ads on Yahoo have evolved over the past few months, and this particular one is the best by far.