SaturnFans.com Links

There's the Teutonic Aura, a mid-size sedan that drew raves at the Detroit auto show, a Euro-style roadster named Sky, a crossover dubbed "Outlook" and a successor to the compact Ion sedan. Any resemblance to today's plasticky Saturns is, thankfully, coincidental.

In barely six months, the former Marine fighter pilot already has left an indelible stamp on the long-troubled GM. Lutz has already cancelled a number of product programs, including the Buick Regal; ordered others delayed and fixed, such as the Cadillac STS, while some others have been moved forward, including a three-row version of the new Saturn VUE crossover vehicle.

Details are emerging on the Opel Insignia, which is essentially the next-generation 2010 Saturn Aura for North America. The Insignia replaces the Vectra in the Opel lineup and will be the first model from GM's new Global Midsize Vehicle Architecture (formerly known as Epsilon), giving us a clear look at GM's future mid-size car lineup. Opel is emphatically trying to set itself apart from Japanese and Korean carmakers pushing into the market, while working to gain premium credibility. Details lik...

The new premium midsize crossovers will be built on what is described by GM suppliers as a long-wheelbase variant of the Theta platform that underpins the Chevrolet Equinox, the Pontiac Torrent and the Saturn Vue. They are expected to seat seven passengers and will be lavishly equipped. The vehicles reportedly will be offered in both front- and all-wheel-drive versions and are expected to be powered by a 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

GM is expected to pare back its minivan lineup -- which now includes the Buick Terraza, Pontiac SV6, Chevrolet Uplander and Saturn Relay -- to two models, with Chevy and Saturn the only brands likely to keep minivans in their lineups.

Last week General Motors confirmed rumors that Chevrolet will replace its aging Tracker SUV with a version of the Saturn VUE in 2004, as a 2005 model. The new SUV will be called the Equinox.

The Car Connection reports GM has approved the Curve sports coupe concept for production.

GM has issued a statement contradicting earlier reports that the Curve was approved for production.

The Saturn Aura sedan and Sky roadster set the tone for all the new cars and trucks coming from GM's youngest brand. The chiseled bodies and rich interiors are a departure from Saturn's bland image and vital to its plan to tackle classy brands like Volkswagen.

At GM they talk particularly about next year’s Chevy Malibu with its special stretched Maxx model, and the Pontiac Grand Am with a hardtop convertible, too. These cars built off a new global platform. And there’s talk about the Pontiac Grand Prix, the future Saturn large car and maybe a Saturn convertible. A V-8 engine for some cars, too. Lots of stuff.

Looking for crossovers and more utes? Look ahead.

Saturn says it expects about a 10% increase in U.S. sales next year from the total expected for 2002, thanks to an updated and expanded lineup.

Preliminary production changeover schedule for all 2005 GM vehicles.

So this is what the Lutz Era will look like. General Motors, eager to prove its recovery plan is about new product at least as much as job cuts and health-care reform, has been giving media, dealers and others a peek at the future, showing off 20 new models that will roll out over the next 30 months.

Automotive News recently sat down with Rick Wagoner to talk about the current state of GM.