2008 September

Will Opel’s Minivan Be Made Available For Saturn?

Opel and Saturn: An Unlikely Pair

Automotive enthusiasts familiar with the Saturn brand of vehicles can get a strong hint where the nameplate is going by keeping their eyes on German automaker Opel. Opel is General Motors’ storied European brand and GM has plainly stated that by 2014 the brands will be fully integrated. Most future Saturn models will originate overseas with the possibility one or two models will be copies of GM’s stateside line up (e.g., namely crossovers).

The Opel Insignia and the Saturn AURA

Opel recently released pictures of the Insignia, a model that will likely be the next generation Saturn AURA. They also have been showing pictures of the Opel Meriva concept, a car that will probably find its way across the Atlantic.

What the Meriva Has to Offer

The Meriva represents the brand’s monocab design - a short hood, high roof and steeply sloping tailgate. Also known as “mini minivans” vehicles like the Meriva are popular in Europe, but are currently unknown in the US and Canada. With gas prices zooming ever higher, the Meriva could fill an important void in Saturn’s line up.

A distinguishing feature of the Meriva is its innovative FlexDoors system, which consists of rear-hinged rear doors that swing open toward the back of the car, for easier passenger access. The Meriva is designed to hold five occupants and is expected to offer a variety of engine choices including four and six cylinder gas engines as well as a diesel powerplant.

Dateline 2011?

With GM scrambling to overhaul its bulky product line, the Meriva could arrive stateside as early as 2011. GM recently cancelled a small MPV that the company had been planning to build on the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze platform, possibly making way for the Meriva. Regardless of where GM goes with the Meriva the minivan/crossover looks like a hit. US and Canadian consumers may want one, but we’ll have to wait to see how this fits in to GM’s long term strategy for the domestic market.

Copyright 2008-2012 — Matthew C. Keegan is the owner of a successful writing and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several websites and is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport, a retailer of quality racing seats and tonneau covers.

Ford Rolls Out Fiat Based New Ka

On the surface, it is a Ford and it will be built at a Ford factory in Poland, but underneath the second generation subcompact Ka will share its platform and some of its mechanicals with the Fiat 500. Rolled out in 1996, the first generation Ka is finally being replaced by an all-new model, a car that will be made available in select European markets beginning in early 2009.

Powered by a 1.2L I4 engine, the Ka is a three-door hatchback weighing about one ton. Holding four passengers, the car’s main appeals are its price (about $14,000 for a base model) and high gas mileage (about 50 mpg). Optionally, buyers can choose a 1.3L diesel engine for optimum fuel economy, reportedly in the neighborhood of 60 mpg.

Both the Ka and its Fiat sibling are being built at the automaker’s Tychy, Poland facility where the automaker expects to produce as many as 120,000 units annually. This is the first time the Ka is being built at Tychy, a move that has helped to create more than one thousand new jobs for area residents.

“It was three years ago that we reached agreement with Fiat to produce the new Ka here in Tychy,” explained Ian Slater, vice-president communications and public affairs, Ford of Europe. “One of the strengths of this co-operation has been that both parties wanted to produce vehicles which would be very different in looks and character. I’m satisfied that in doing so, we’ve set up a ‘win-win’ opportunity for both companies.”

To date, more than 1.4 million Ka models have been sold, a vehicle that has an almost cult-like following. Indeed, Ford offers what they call “ka-ligraphy” which are customized paint schemes slapped on select models in the vicinity of the vehicle’s C-pillar and on the hatchback liftgate. Buyers enjoy selecting pictures of birds, flowers, and other colorful objects to personalize their Ka experience.

With the introduction of the next generation Ka, Ford has finished overhauling its European product line, a move that brought twenty new or improved vehicles to the market in 2008 alone.

Although Ford has promised to build as many as six European models in North America, the company hasn’t indicated whether the Ka will be included in that set.

(Source: Ford Motor Company)

Auto Trends

Will Opel’s Minivan Be Made Available For Saturn?

Ford Rolls Out Fiat Based New Ka