2009 Astra  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
MSRP: $15,875-18,375
Invoice: $14,920-17,270
2008 Saturn Astra news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
ALL-NEW 2008 SATURN ASTRA BRINGS AWARD-WINNING EUROPEAN SMALL CAR TO NORTH AMERICA
Saturn announced the addition of the all-new 2008 Astra to its lineup, bringing a decidedly European flavor to the North American compact car market. It is packed wîth a wide range of standard equipment and safety features, and delivers sporty performance wîth very good fuel economy. The Saturn Astra will be offered in three-door and five-door models, each underpinned by a taught, European-bred suspension that delivers a sharp, responsive driving experience. Power comes from a 1.8L Ecotec four-cylinder engine that is both energetic and economical, delivering 140 horsepower (104 kW) and good fuel economy.
'In Europe, the Astra's combination of style, performance, safety technology and fuel efficiency have made it a hit wîth owners and auto critics alike,' said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. 'Now, Saturn is bringing the newly restyled Astra to North America and marrying it wîth our celebrated customer experience.'
The Astra will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year. It is the fifth product in a complete revamp of Saturn's product lineup. In fact, when the Astra hits showrooms, the 'oldest' vehicle in Saturn's portfolio will be the Sky roadster, which debuted in March 2006. Other new models include the all-new Aura sedan, the redesigned Vue compact crossover – including the Vue Green Line hybrid – and the Outlook crossover.
'It's not a stretch to say Saturn is all-new,' said Lajdziak. 'The Astra rounds out our portfolio wîth a smart-driving, well-equipped small car that shares the European designs evident in all our new vehicles.'
Product highlights Saturn offers two trim levels (XE and XR) for five-door models, and a single trim (XR) in the three-door configuration, which was created wîth more enthusiastic drivers in mind.
The standard powertrain combination in all models is the 1.8L Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine, which is paired wîth a five-speed manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The Ecotec engine is enhanced wîth variable valve timing to optimize power output and fuel efficiency. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional on all models.
The Astra offers technologies to provide an agile, yet comfortable, driving experience. StabiliTrak electronic stability control system wîth traction control is standard on all three-door Astras, and available on five-door models. This system works in concert wîth the standard four-wheel, antilock disc brakes to help the driver maintain control during adverse road conditions or during sudden emergency driving situations.
An electro-hydraulic, rack-and-pinion §teering system is standard on all models. It provides the solid, linear feel of a hydraulic power §teering system, but improves fuel efficiency by operating the power §teering pump only when necessary. The system has two available configurations: the standard 15:1 ratio on five-door models and a 14:1 Sport ratio (standard on the three-door; optional on five-doors).
Five-door Astras come wîth standard 16-inch wheels, but can be upgraded to 17-inch aluminum wheels. Three-door models come standard wîth 17-inch aluminum wheels, which can be upgraded to 18-inch aluminum wheels and performance tires.
Design details
The Astra has a clean, contemporary design that is infused wîth Saturn's signature styling cues, including a bold, bright grille bar wîth prominent Saturn logo. Both the three-door and five-door models are distinguished from their European relatives wîth unique front and rear fascias that conform to North American bumper standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com) Rear-end styling also features a bright trim bar, wîth large, wraparound taillamps and clear lenses. The center high-mounted stop lamp uses LED technology for fast and crisp illumination.
Proportions on both body styles suggest an enthusiastic driving experience, wîth the wheels pushed to the corners and subtle fender flares wrapped tightly around the tires for a tailored stance.
Interior design and features
Bold design, refinement and precise execution are the hallmarks of the Saturn Astra's interior, which envelops passengers in a contemporary environment that maximizes space and comfort. Details include a continuation of the exterior's center hood crease on to the center of the instrument panel, as well as a V-shaped center stack motif that also complements the design language of the exterior. All models convey the Astra's sporting character through firm, well-supported seats and a thick, three-spoke §teering wheel wîth rake and telescopic adjustments. Ahead of the §teering wheel is a rounded cockpit binnacle that houses a large, three-dimensional gauge cluster – including large speedometer and tachometer dials. The sporty Astra three-door receives specific seats wîth more aggressive bolsters and lumbar support.
Additional interior highlights include:
- Illuminated glove box wîth damped door actuation
- A large, two-panel sunroof: the largest in its class (available on five-door only)
- Available heated seats in cloth or leather surfaces
- Auxiliary 12-volt power outlet
- Easy-to-remove rear cargo cover
- Power door locks (with central locking feature) and power windows wîth express down feature
- Standard six-speaker AM/FM/CD radio and available seven-speaker sound system; multi-disc and MP3-capable radios available
- Steering-wheel mounted audio controls (on XR models)
Astra's bold proportions, including a long, 103-inch (2,614 mm) wheelbase and 80-inch (2,033 mm) width, provide exceptional roominess and generous storage capacity. The 60/40-split folding rear seat also folds flat wîth the touch of a single, high-mounted lever. When the rear seat is folded, the five-door Astra offers 44.8 cubic feet (1,270 L) of storage space.
Occupant protection features
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 1.8 L., 4-cylinder Power: 140 hp Torque: 126 ft-lbs | |
5-speed Manual, 4-speed Automatic | |
- Rigid body structure wîth safety cage
- Six standard air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags; roof rail head curtain air bags and thorax/pelvic air bags (front-seat passengers)
- Active head restraints
- Collapsible pedals
- Front safety belt pretensioners and load limiters
- OnStar wîth one year of Safe & Sound service
Body structure: The unitized body structure is designed wîth a safety cage around the passenger compartment, and features optimized front and rear crush zones that absorb energy and help maintain the structural integrity of the passenger compartment. High-strength steel is used strategically throughout the body structure.
Air bags: All Astra models feature dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted thorax/pelvic air bags to help protect front occupants and head curtain air bags for front- and rear-seat occupants. Also standard is an automatic passenger sensing system for the front passenger seat; it suppresses the activation of the passenger-side frontal air bag if it detects a child or smaller-stature person in that seating position.
Active head restraints and collapsible pedals: Standard active head restraints instantly move forward if a rear-end crash is detected, reducing the risk of neck injuries. Similarly, the collapsible foot pedals move during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries.
Safety belt pretensioners and load limiters: When a crash is detected, the safety belt pretensioners immediately reduce the slack in the front safety belts, helping limit the movement of passengers. The load limiters permit a small amount of movement in the front safety belts, thereby reducing peak chest loads in a more severe crash.
OnStar: Astra comes wîth the latest-generation OnStar system, including available Turn-by-Turn Navigation. The system also includes advanced automatic crash notification (AACN). With AACN, an OnStar advisor is immediately contacted by the vehicle when a crash occurs; the advisor can determine the appropriate emergency help required and assist in sending it to the scene of the crash. Astra buyers will receive one year of Safe & Sound Service provided by Saturn
| Land Rover Celebrates 65 Years Of Technology And Innovation | |
 | SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF LAND ROVER From our earliest days, the desire to create a vehicle that will tackle any terrain has made Land Rover famous around the world. Over the past 65 years, the Land Rover family has grown into the highly respected range of vehicles that are sold in record numbers today. As Land Rover continues to go from strength to strength, we thought it was time to look back at the milestones in our history that have got us here. The last 65 years have been an adventure. ...[Read more...] |
| 2014 MAZDA6 NAMED TO WARD'S ‘10 BEST INTERIORS' LIST | |
| The all-new 2014 Mazda6 today was named to WardsAuto World's 10 Best Interiors list, as chosen by the publication's editors. The redesigned mid-size sports sedan features Mazda's new design language called KODO 'Soul of Motion,' which translates muscular movement and power into agile proportions, detailed sculpting and expressive character. The Mazda6 also was recently named one of the top three vehicle designs in the world for 2013 by the World Car Awards. 'The automotive industry, regardl...[Read more...] | |
| JEEP® AT THE 2013 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW | |
 | •European premiere of the new Jeep® Grand Cherokee 2014: the most awarded Large SUV ever has been renewed in terms of internal and external design, technological contents and performance thanks to the new eight-speed automatic transmission •European debut for the new Jeep Compass 2014: revised interior and exterior design, new PowerTech six-speed automatic transmission and all-new safety features •European preview of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition: the new special-edition...[Read more...] |
| VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS BEST HIGHWAY FUEL EFFICIENCY, WITH SEVEN MODELS THAT ACHIEVE MORE THAN 40 MPG | |
 | • New Jetta Hybrid earns EPA fuel economy rating of up to 48 mpg; the first compact hybrid available with a turbocharged engine Herndon, VA - With EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 48 mpg on the highway, 42 mpg in the city, and a combined rating of 45 mpg, the Jetta Hybrid becomes the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the Volkswagen lineup and the seventh model capable of more than 40 mpg on the highway. With sales of the Jetta Hybrid beginning later this month, Volkswagen wil...[Read more...] |
| OnStar Makes 439 Million Connections… and Counting | |
 | Originally developed as an airbag deployment notification system on three 1997 Cadillac models, OnStar has evolved to offer unmatched safety and security services. Today OnStar also provides everyday services like Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Hands-Free Calling and the RemoteLink Mobile App, leading to more than 439 million interactions – and counting. Over the last 16 years, OnStar has assisted in 191,000 Automatic Crash Response calls. Here are some other numbers contributing to the gaudy stat...[Read more...] |
 2008
Saturn
models |
| Saturn Aura |
| Saturn Outlook |
| Saturn Sky |
| Saturn Vue |
| Saturn Vue Green Line |
| Saturn Vue Red Line | 2008 Saturn Concepts |
| Saturn Astra Tuner Concept |
| Saturn Flextreme Concept |
| Comparable Vehicles | |
| Honda Fit | ($13,950-16,070) |
| Hyundai Tiburon | ($17,025-22,525) |
| MINI Cooper | ($18,050-25,400) |
| Nissan Versa | ($12,880-15,980) |
| Pontiac Vibe | ($16,760-16,760) |
| Scion tC | ($15,300-17,800) |
| Scion xD | ($14,550-15,350) |
| Suzuki Reno | ($13,600-15,100) |
| Toyota Matrix | ($15,510-17,820) |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Cadillac | Chevrolet |
| Chrysler | Dodge |
| Ford | GMC |
| Hummer | Jeep |
| Lincoln | Mercury |
| Pontiac | |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 2008 |
| Acura TSX |
| Audi A3 |
| Audi A4 |
| Audi A4 Special Edition |
| Audi RS 4 |
| BMW 135i |
| BMW ACS1 3.5i |
| BMW Formula Americas |
| Chevrolet Aveo |
| Chevrolet HHR |
| Saturn: 2001-2010 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Saturn |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2007 Chicago |
| Astra | Aura | ION | Outlook | SC | Sky | Vue |
| 2009 Astra |
