| Saturn Aura | |
|---|---|
 Saturn Aura XR | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Saturn (General Motors) |
| Production | 2006–October 2009 |
| Model years | 2007–2010 |
| Assembly | Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
| Designer | Bryan Nesbitt[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Midsize car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | GM Epsilon platform/GMX384 |
| Related | Chevrolet Malibu Fiat Croma Opel Signum Opel Vectra C Pontiac G6 Saab 9-3 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Electric motor | ISG Motor |
| Transmission | |
| Hybrid drivetrain | BAHVs (Aura Green Line) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 112.3 in (2,852 mm) |
| Length | 190.9 in (4,849 mm) |
| Width | 70.3 in (1,786 mm) |
| Height | 57.6 in (1,463 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,781 lb (1,715 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Saturn L-Series |
| Successor | Buick Regal (fifth generation) |
The Saturn Aura is a four-door, five-passenger front engine/front-wheel drive mid-sized sedan manufactured and marketed by GM's Saturn subsidiary over a single generation from 2006 to 2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generation Chevrolet Malibu, its most closely related platform companion.
The Aura debuted as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005, followed by the production model which debuted at the 2006 New York Auto Show. As the largest sedan in the Saturn range, production commencing in North America in the summer of 2006 for the 2007 model year. The Aura superseded the Saturn L-Series, which was discontinued after the 2005 model year.[2]
Although Saturn had not originally intended to use the Aura name for the production vehicle, the concept vehicle proved popular and the name was retained.[3]
The Aura was part of a product rejuvenation for Saturn, intended to make the brand profitable and competitive with European imports.[4][5] Reaction to the Aura was positive, both in terms of reviews and sales.[6] The Saturn Aura was the 2007 North American Car of the Year.
The concept used a 252 hp (186 kW) 3.6 L V6 and a new 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission.[7] That powertrain was offered in the production model known as the XR. Also introduced was the 3.5 L V6 with 219 hp (163 kW), down from 224 in 2007 in the XE, and the hybrid 164 hp (122 kW) 2.4 L inline-four, down from 170 hp (127 kW), in the Green Line. The Aura, developed on the GM Epsilon platform, was available only as a sedan and was built at the Kansas City, Kansas, Fairfax Assembly plant.
The Aura was discontinued after the 2010 model year, along with the Saturn division itself — with a second-generation Aura based on the Insignia due to be released. The Insignia subsequently became the fifth-generation Buick Regal.[8]
- ^ "GM's Bryan Nesbitt named chief Buick stylist in design shuffle". 4 June 2015.
- ^ "Saturn L-Series on Consumerguide.com". Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
- ^ "Saturn Announces New "Outlook" for Future Portfolio: Also Confirms "Aura" Name". Retrieved 2008-04-21. [dead link]
- ^ Saturn is ready to turn a profit Archived 2009-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rick Wagoner explains in this video what he has planned for the Saturn brand". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Danwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Saturn Aura concept auto show unveiling". autoblog.com. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Buick will get rebadged, redesigned Astra, report says". 18 May 2011.