CarBrandLogos archive · Saturn · 2007

SaturnAura

European underpinnings, a Car of the Year trophy, and no time left to use them.

Photo: IFCAR · Public domain

The story

A defining chapter in Saturn history.

Explore the ideas, engineering and context that shaped the Saturn Aura, then continue into its specifications and place in the marque's lineage.

Origins

The Aura arrived in 2007 as the mid-size sedan Saturn should have had years earlier. Built at Fairfax, Kansas on GM's Epsilon platform and closely related to the Opel Vectra, it was styled under Bryan Nesbitt with the taut surfacing and short overhangs of a European saloon rather than the softness of the Malibu it shared showroom space with in spirit.

Saturn-Aura-interior · IFCAR · Public domain

Design and engineering

It was well received. The Aura took the North American Car of the Year award for 2007, offered four-cylinder, V6 and Green Line mild-hybrid versions, and gave Saturn dealers a car that reviewers rated against Accords and Camrys without embarrassment.

2007 Saturn Aura XE · IFCAR · Public domain

In production

The timing was fatal. The Aura landed barely a year before the financial crisis, GM's bankruptcy and the decision to shut Saturn down, so a car that took the division a decade to get right had two full model years to sell. Production ended in October 2009, and the platform continued under Buick.

Aura Green Line · Analogue Kid at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5

At a glance

The facts that define it.

Engine

Petrol engine

Designer

Bryan Nesbitt

Body

4-door sedan

Technical specification

The Aura, in detail.

Production: 2006–October 2009
Class: Mid-size car
Body style: 4-door sedan
Layout: Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine: Petrol engine; Gasoline: ; 2.4 L GM Ecotec engine#LE5; LE5 Straight-four engine; I4 ; 3.5 L GM High Value engine#LZ4; LZ4 V6 engine; V6 ; 3.6 L GM High Feature engine#LY7; LY7 V6 ; Gasoline/E85: ; 2.4 L GM Ecotec en
Transmission: 4-speed GM 4T45-E transmission; 4T45-E automatic; 6-speed GM 6T70 transmission; 6T70 automatic; 6-speed GM 6T40 transmission; 6T40 automatic
Designer: Bryan Nesbitt
Assembly: United States: Kansas City, Kansas (Fairfax Assembly)
Manufacturer: Saturn (General Motors)