The Saturn Aura was the largest sedan Saturn ever sold and the car meant to make the brand profitable again. It used the GM Epsilon platform shared with the Saab 9-3 and the Chevrolet Malibu, and it was named North American Car of the Year for 2007. It was built for a single generation, from 2006 to 2009.
Saturn Aura at a glance
| Production | 2006–2009, sold as 2007–2009 models |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Fairfax Assembly, Kansas City, Kansas |
| Platform | GM Epsilon |
| Body style | four-door sedan only |
| XE engine | 3.5 L V6, 219 hp |
| XR engine | 3.6 L V6, 252 hp |
| Green Line | 2.4 L four-cylinder mild hybrid, 164 hp |
| Transmissions | four-speed automatic, six-speed 6T70 automatic |
| Award | 2007 North American Car of the Year |
| Replaced | Saturn L-Series |
| Final year | 36,602 built, 3,707 of them in 2009 |
Written from the English Wikipedia article on the Aura.
History of the Saturn Aura
2005–2006: from concept to production
The Aura began as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005, with a 252 hp 3.6-litre V6 and a new six-speed automatic. Saturn had not planned to use the name for the production car, but the concept proved popular and the name stayed. The production version appeared at the New York Auto Show in 2006 and went on sale in North America that summer as a 2007 model, replacing the L-Series, which had ended after 2005.
2007–2008: the interior that changed Saturn
The Aura was part of a product renewal meant to make Saturn competitive with European imports, and reviews and sales responded well. Inside it marked a new direction for the brand, with a more European layout than the criticised Ion; the top XR could be ordered with saddle leather, paddle shifters and rear-seat radio controls. Build quality and design were praised, although the materials themselves were criticised as cheap. All cars had folding mirrors, side marker lights, six airbags and OnStar; the XR added automatic climate control, remote start, StabiliTrak, heated seats, steering-wheel audio controls and a Driver Information Center, and rode on 18-inch alloy wheels.
2009: the end with the brand
An entry-level XR arrived for 2009 with the 2.4-litre Ecotec four and a new six-speed 6T40 automatic, with the 3.6-litre V6 optional. A second-generation Aura based on the Opel Insignia was planned, but the Insignia became the fifth-generation Buick Regal instead, and the Aura went out of production during the 2009 model year along with the Saturn division. Of the 36,602 Auras built for the final model year, only 3,707 were made in the 2009 calendar year.
Design and features
- European approach: the Aura was Saturn’s attempt to build a mid-size sedan to European standards.
- 6T70 automatic: the XR was the first front-wheel-drive GM car with the six-speed Hydra-Matic and its TAPshift paddles.
- Hydraulic steering: V6 cars kept hydraulic assistance for more feel than electric systems.
- Equipment: six airbags, OnStar and StabiliTrak were standard across the range.
- Green Line: a mild hybrid version with the 2.4-litre four.
Saturn Aura versions
- Aura XE: the base car with the 3.5 L V6, 17-inch wheels and a four-speed automatic.
- Aura XR: the top model with the 3.6 L V6, six-speed automatic and 18-inch wheels.
- XE Special Edition: upgraded trim with XR leather and its own 18-inch wheels.
- Aura Green Line: the mild hybrid with the 2.4 L four.
- 2009 entry XR: the 2.4 L four with the six-speed 6T40 automatic.
The Aura replaced the Saturn L-Series and sat above the Ion in the range. More cars are in the Saturn collection.
Sources
- Saturn Aura, English Wikipedia: history, engines, trims, equipment, production totals
