Americans interested in being the first to purchase – or just ogle over – the all-new 2008 Saturn Astra at a retail facility will need to head north of the border. While the official U.S. launch date for the Astra is still set for January 2nd 2008, SaturnFans.com has learned that the first Astras bound for North America will be available later this month in Canada.

Marc Comeau, GM of Canada's vice-president of sales, service, and marketing hinted at the advanced availability of the vehicle last week in a GM Canada news release covering the company's October 2007 sales. "For the next month GM will introduce new vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu and the Saturn Astra," Comeau teased. A Saturn official confirmed the plans to SaturnFans.com.

If you want to buy an Astra in Canada this month though, you better get in line because supply will be limited. Additional Astras will begin trickling into U.S. retail facilities in early December. Supplies at both countries' stores will grow steadily as the new year approaches and the "official" Saturn Astra launch date arrives.

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