Saturn Renault-Nissan Merger ?

[BobbyP]

Automotive news believes this is possible...

http://wardsauto.com/commentary/best...saturn_090420/

[onefunkar]

many large auto manufactures want to build saturns and many investors want to buy saturn. bids must be in by 6/1 and a winner will be announced by 7/1. it will happen in august with a huge new saturn set of commercials. 2011 vue will also have many changes.

[marx404]

Originally Posted by onefunkar

many large auto manufactures want to build saturns and many investors want to buy saturn. bids must be in by 6/1 and a winner will be announced by 7/1. it will happen in august with a huge new saturn set of commercials. 2011 vue will also have many changes.

Hmm, that sounds like Great News, ....but where did this come from?

[spartsguy29]

Originally Posted by marx404

Hmm, that sounds like Great News, ....but where did this come from?

I already asked. He posted this elsewhere and won't say where the information came from. He must be sworn to secrecy.

[RoadIon]

The time draws near .......... will we know today?

Did the deal go down for GM to sell control of Opel, will Saturn go with it?
How about Peugeot or Renault, Nissan, or the many others.


Could be.

[RoadIon]

Ok ......... nothing today is the word.

In fact the word is august 1st

[BobbyP]

Originally Posted by onefunkar

many large auto manufactures want to build saturns and many investors want to buy saturn. bids must be in by 6/1 and a winner will be announced by 7/1. it will happen in august with a huge new saturn set of commercials. 2011 vue will also have many changes.

I hope they find the money to rid the VUE of it's Asian styling and excessive weight. Going back to polymer side panels would be a winner in most peoples eyes.. Using the new polymer materials can give the same results as steel panels.

[GR898SL2]

Though the AN article reads more like an opinion piece, I wouldn't rule it out. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn has expressed interest in an alliance with a NA automaker - here's his chance to do so at bargain basement rates, even though it wouldn't be like teaming up with GM or Ford.

June 1 is a very important date as well. We will know what becomes of GM (whether they will file for Ch. 11 BK or not).

[onefunkar]

quote...there will be many upgrades to the 2011 vue as far as the engines and powertrain options. after the sale we will still be able to do warranty work on the gm cars as long as they are still in warranty. i think this is all good news for the new saturn corportion. mitsubishi still has something to do with this but im not sure exactly what.

[BobbyP]

We could get cars like the:

Renault Kangoo


Renault Scenic


Renault Megaine II


Renault Symbol


Renault Espace


Renault Traffic


Renault Laguna


Renault Logan


Renault Vel Satis


Renault Master


Renault Koleos


Renault Modus


Renault Twingo

[onefunkar]

mitsubishi still has something to do with this but im not sure how or what. keep in mind they just came out with an electric car this year and plan to build alot of them next year. that may be one of the cars along with other mitsus

[unkle bik]

Of all the scenarios, this one make the most sense.

There's no way a group of retailers (Black Oak) can buy a auto company and make a profit out of it. Only way they can do it is to rebadge some low-budget chinese made junk and slap a Saturn badge on it. Manufacturing costs for their small scale operation to produce here would go through the roof. The existing manufacturers have the capability to turn out high volume parts @ a lower costs than anybody smaller. And they already have the necessary machinery, infrastructure, & possibly the tooling to do it.

While Nissan has lost a lot sales recently, but they would be the one manufacturer capable of pulling this off.

[onefunkar]

but the investment company isnt building the cars. a level 1 manufacturer will build the saturns along with what they are already doing. saturn buys the cars from whoever and sells them. that way there is no reason that they cant have a good product

[marx404]

Originally Posted by spartsguy29

I already asked. He posted this elsewhere and won't say where the information came from. He must be sworn to secrecy.

pssst - it's not a secret if you go around telling people. :-P

I also asked in that post where this came from. If there is any basis of truth in this, it is in violation of any confidentiality agreement by a Saturn FOT member which I doubt he is or he would not be making such statements. While it is promising to hear such things, I do not rely on any speculations positive or negative and will not give any consideration to any hearsay until I hear the news straight from Saturn themselves.

In layman's terms, I will believe this only when I hear it from a reliable source.

[s-seriesguy]

If any of those ugly poor excuses of cars pictured are what Saturns future is going to be, I see no reason to be excited like apparently Jill thinks people should

[bigbird]

Not only are all those Renault vehicles butt ugly, but they have the most ridiculous names (Espace, Twingo) I have ever heard of.

[youknowme]

Originally Posted by BobbyP

I hope they find the money to rid the VUE of it's Asian styling and excessive weight. Going back to polymer side panels would be a winner in most peoples eyes.. Using the new polymer materials can give the same results as steel panels.

+1

And they weigh less. Dumping polymer was a HUGE mistake. And I agree about the crap proportions on the VUE, it looks like a KID car from anything other than the front.

[youknowme]

Originally Posted by onefunkar

mitsubishi still has something to do with this but im not sure how or what. keep in mind they just came out with an electric car this year and plan to build alot of them next year. that may be one of the cars along with other mitsus

That's a mistake. Mitsu makes crap, always has. Ask them how that jailed management team is doing these days.

[youknowme]

Originally Posted by s-seriesguy

If any of those ugly poor excuses of cars pictured are what Saturns future is going to be, I see no reason to be excited like apparently Jill thinks people should

Don't like the Frenchies? Keep in mind that Nissan's lineup is heavily based on Renault technology and platforms. They manage to make them look nice.

Better than Mitsu, but PSA would be a better fit. OPEL would be the best fit. Opel Engineered, Saturn spec'd and styled. Built in the US would be even better. OPEL still apparently has lotsa cash it hasn't told GM about. There's a company that I expect to soar once cut free from GM.

[s-seriesguy]

Originally Posted by youknowme

Don't like the Frenchies? Keep in mind that Nissan's lineup is heavily based on Renault technology and platforms. They manage to make them look nice.

No not really. I don't really care for nissans either. If there are renault rebadge Saturns I don't see them being higher end and higher quality, more than likely the cheapo crap like those pictured

Originally Posted by youknowme

Better than Mitsu, but PSA would be a better fit. OPEL would be the best fit. Opel Engineered, Saturn spec'd and styled. Built in the US would be even better. OPEL still apparently has lotsa cash it hasn't told GM about. There's a company that I expect to soar once cut free from GM.

I'd like to see them and Opel get together. Opel has some nice cars coming out and I really like the Insignia OPC. Oh well there's always Buick they will be getting them.