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While I am skeptical of the long term Saturn viability, I am also excited/hopeful that the new Saturn owners will bring over some cool Euro models as the new Saturn. I am skeptical because it always amazes me how the people running these car companies always manage to sell Americans crap when they have awesome models in Europe and Japan. Hopefully, the new Saturn owners will see the value of bringing some new and refreshing models instead of continuing to sell crap. Ford has come to its senses and is now bringing over some of their nice Euro models. GM had started to (Astra, G8, Aura) but it was too little too late. So here are 3 cars I would like to see as Saturns all are Stylish and Fuel Efficient which are two qualities Saturn says they will be going after..They aren’t my personal favorites but they are cars that I think would appeal to the masses here in the US.

Renault Megane Hatch

Yeah, i know they say American’s hate hatch backs but then again a true hatch back only has 2 doors. This one has 4 which they apparently since the Honda Fit is selling so well. This one has some Mazda 3 styling cues. It is sold in Europe in a variety of engine choices both diesel and gas. A 2 litter 140 hpish one would do well here.

Peugeot 407

Every car brand needs a Sedan, so here is a stylish one. I would prefer to see some Opels/Vauxhalls/Holdens but who knows if GM will want to continue their relationship with Saturn. So here is a nice alternative. The Peugeot 407 is sold with lots of engine choices in Europe in both diesel and gas ranging from a 1.8l 4 cyl to a 3l V6. This one is pretty stylish and has some hint of Jaguar in the design.

Renault Samsung QMX

While I personally hate SUVs, car makers feel they have to have them which I can understand. So here is a mini SUV with a 1.7l turbo diesel producing 170ish HP which is pretty good. This is one SUV that I wouldn’t mind driving since it is small, stylish and efficient. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new Saturn snatched this up since I did read that they are looking to Renault Samsung for possible models.

So GM has dumped the Saturn and Hummer brands off to other companies, Chrystler is looking to do the same with their Viper brand but will these deals pan out in the long run? I think not. You see, these companies have purchased a brand with no manufacturing, at least none beyond a few years. So what happens after their manufacturing deals are over? The new Saturn owner, Roger Penske, has indicated that they will shop around for new manufacturing once GM stops Saturn production. This simply means finding existing models and rebadging them as Saturns. Sounds good on paper but will “loyal” Saturn customers still view these new outsourced models as actual Saturns? The answer is probably not because brand loyalty is about more than just buying a brand especially when it comes to a sizable purchase like a car. People buy Toyotas because they feel they are more reliable. If the Toyota brand were bought by some unknown Chinese company (not that that could ever happen) and started badging Chinese built cars as Toyota it is highly unlikely that they would still buy them.

Fact is, that people buy cars they trust, if you can’t trust a car, regardless of brand, they won’t sell. In effect, the brand ceases to be valuable. For brands like Saturn, Hummer and Viper to survive, they will need to rebuild their reputations once new manufacturing starts. They will simply not survive on branding alone. So will the new owners be able to pull it off? In case of Hummer, I doubt it, the Hummer brand is already on its death bed. A Chinese quality Hummer will be the last nail in its coffin. For Saturn, that will be a big question mark that will depend on the manufacturing they pick up. If they go after interesting European brands like Peugeot, Vauxhall/Opel (if they survive) or perhaps strike deals with the likes of Toyota and Honda then the Saturn brand may survive.

Everybody knows about the much talked about Volt, but now it looks like Mitsubishi and a new comer by the name of Coda are slating electri cars by 2010 and 2011. So if GM can pull the Volt off, it will have some competition. I will say that the Volt is the best looking of the lot. With all three looking to sell for a cool $40k+, it’s doubtfull that they will sell well. We know the hollywood celebs will buy their token EV to show all the boobs that follow them how much they care about the environment, but with the relatively high prices for it’s not looking like the average Joe will be buying these en mass.

Chevy Volt

Range: 40 miles on electric charge, on board ICE for regenerating batteries

Battery Technology: Lithium Ion

Price: $40,000+

Comments: Not much to say about this one since everybody knows all about it. Big question remains whether GM can pull this off despite BK. For sure the best looking of the 3. Looks like an actual car.

Coda Sedan

Range: estimated 90-120 miles

Battery Technology: Lithium Ion

Price: $45,000

Comments: China built rebadged by new car company to be called Coda. Looks a bit strange. Hafei Saibao (never heard of it? Me neither) rebadge from a 2005 design. The fact that it will be built in China is a little suspect for a $45K car. Aren’t things made in China supposed to be cheap?

Mitsubishi I-MiEV

Coda Sedan

Range: estimated 100 miles

Battery Technology: Lithium Ion

Price: $45,369+

Comments: Until the GM sets Volt pricing, this is the most expensive of the lot. It’s also the ugliest for sure. If GM can bring the Volt to market, don’t know how many people will buy this one. This will be more of a micro car so maybe ideal for city driving.

Tesla Model S

Range: estimated 300 miles

Battery Technology: Lithium Ion

Price: $50,00+

Comments: Ok so this one is for 2012 so technically does not fall in the year of the EV but thought I would throw it in. This design is HOT and will probably have more range than the three above but will probably cost more than 50 grand. This one has Hollywood green liberal written all over it.

We all know GM is ditching Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer but one thing that is puzzling me is why in god’s earth are they keeping Buick over Saturn or even Pontiac? What does Buick even sell any way? All I know about Buick is that they make old foggie cars which nobody under 75 would even think about buying, well nobody under 75 except for maybe Tiger Woods, but then he is getting paid a few million bucks. Looking at their current lineup, I see absolutely nothing that appeals to the populous. I see 3 ugly ass models. The Enclave (yipee! another GM suv), a Lucerne and a LaCrosse. Have they sold a single Lucerne or LaCrosse lately? Because if they have I certainly have not seen them. So my big question for GM what exactly is so great about Buick , because all I see are a 3 unappealing old fart cars which I wouldn’t be caught dead in. Yet another thing that puzzles me is the fact that both Saturn and Pontiac actually out sold Buick so that’s another question to ponder. What I really hope does NOT happen is them bringing the G8 and/or Solstice back as a fricking Buick because if they do, it will be a total insult to a pair of decent cars. If they weren’t selling it as a Pontiac they sure as shit are not going to sell as Buicks.

Is anybody buying one of the turds below?

Crappy Buicks

So it seems that some politicians seem to think that the tighter MPG regulations proposed by President Obama last week may not be enough to reduce the US dependency on foreign oil (you can read the article at Edmonds). Looks like the other idea being tossed around is an increase in gas taxes. Yes, that’s right, higher fuel costs imposed by our out government. They seem to think this will encourage people and manufacturers alike to build and buy more fuel efficient vehicles.

Were these politicians not around last summer when gas prices were 4+ dollars? While the idea of higher fuel costs seems to light a fire under people to ditch their SUVs and trucks for more efficient vehicles, we hardly need more taxes to increase fuel costs. It seems to me that the oil market is more than capable of doing so without them. Unless you foolish enough to think that current gas prices will remain, then you know that higher fuel costs are just around the corner. Luckily, for the time being, while they think the tax may help no politician wants to put their political lives at stake.  We shall see how long that lasts…