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 2006–2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generation
Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1983 and again since 1997. The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-wheel-dr ...
, its most closely related platform companion.
The Aura debuted as a
concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
at the
North American International Auto Show in January 2005, followed by the production model which debuted at the 2006
New York Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first S ...
. 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 The Aura superseded the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
The Saturn L series is a line of automobiles, sedans and station wagons that were made by Saturn Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware.
Poor sales of the L-series cars caused GM to cancel the line for 2005. The first L-series car was built in May ...
, which was discontinued after the 2005 model year.
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.
The Aura was part of a product rejuvenation for Saturn, intended to make the brand profitable and competitive with European imports.
[Saturn is ready to turn a profit](_blank)
Reaction to the Aura was positive, both in terms of reviews and sales.
The Saturn Aura was the 2007 North American
Car of the Year Car of the Year (COTY) is a common abbreviation for numerous automotive awards.
The "Car of the Year" phrase is considered to have been introduced by ''Motor Trend'' magazine in 1949 when the new publication named Cadillac as Motor Trend Car of the ...
.
The concept used a 252 hp (186 kW) 3.6 L
V6 and a new ''
6T70'' six-speed
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
. 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
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
164 hp (122 kW) 2.4 L
inline-four
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the e ...
, down from , in the ''Green Line''. The Aura, developed on the
GM Epsilon platform
Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was multi-division project of GM North America, Opel and Saab, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely i ...
, was available only as a
sedan and was built at the
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, abbreviated as "KCK", is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As of ...
,
Fairfax Assembly
The Fairfax Assembly & Stamping is a General Motors automobile factory at 3201 Fairfax Trafficway, Kansas City, Kansas in the United States. As of 2022, the plant employs over 2,100 hourly and salaried employees. Employees are represented by UA ...
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
The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. For nearly its entire production, the Regal has served as the premium mid-size/intermediate offering of the Buick product range. Introduced as a submodel of the Buick Centu ...
.
Design
Exterior
![Saturn-Aura-rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Saturn-Aura-rear.jpg)
All Aura models came standard with folding side mirrors and side marker lights.
The design of the Aura Special appearance pieces included an integrated radio antenna in the rear window, a chrome appearance package available on XR models, standard 17 inch wheels with five-spoke wheel covers and P225/50R17 all-season tires on XE models, and standard 18 inch machined aluminum 14-spoke wheels on the XR with high-performance Goodyear Eagle LS2 P225/50R18 T tires.
Interior
![Saturn-Aura-interior](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Saturn-Aura-interior.JPG)
The interior of the Aura also marked a new interior direction for Saturn, moving to a more European-style interior. The design of the interior of the Aura differed from that of the Ion, which was highly criticized. On the upscale XR model, the interior came with an option for saddle leather and paddle shifters, as well as an option for back seat radio controls.
[Saturn Aura Pricing and options: Saturn.com](_blank)
Despite being praised for its design and fit and finish, the Aura's interior was criticized for using cheap materials.
[Automobile Magazine: By Design, Robert Cumberford, December 2006 issue]
/ref>
The Aura XR's standard features included automatic climate control, remote vehicle start, Stabilitrak stability control, backseat audio controls, heated seats, six airbags, ABS four-wheel disc brakes, steering wheel audio controls, universal home remote, OnStar
OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, emergency services, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada, China, ...
and a "Driver Information Center".
Models
Aura XR
The Aura XR was the top-line Aura model. The XR was fitted with the 3.6 L DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...
V6 with VVT, rated at at 6200 rpm and of torque at 3100 rpm. This engine was first used in the Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is an executive car that was manufactured and marketed by General Motors from 2003 until 2019 across three generations. Historically, it was priced similarly to cars on the compact luxury spectrum; but it has always been sized ...
as well as the Cadillac STS and marks its third use in a North American GM car. With this 3.6 L engine, the Aura was the first front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
GM passenger car to use the new Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission featured TAPshift, which allowed the driver to manually select gears by using paddles located behind the steering wheel. The Aura XR was the performance-oriented version with a taut, but not harsh, suspension and the more powerful engine. Available interior colors in the XR were tan and grey leather (available in the XE), along with the XR-specific black or Morocco Brown leather. Cloth was standard. Other standard features included the Advanced Audio Package, 18 inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior door handles, and remote vehicle start. Given the 2007 Saturn Aura's European roots—the car's chassis was also used for the Saab 9-3. The Aura also used hydraulic power steering (V-6 models only) that provided more feedback and a more linear feel than the fussy electric power-assist units. For 2009, an entry level XR became available. It included the 17 inch 10 spoke alloy wheels available on the XE and the 2.4 L LE5 Ecotec engine mated to GM's all new 6T40 6-speed automatic transmission with TAPshift. The 3.6L VVT with 18" wheels was optional.
Aura XE
The base version was the Aura XE. Equipped with the 3.5 L VVT V6 ( LZ4), the engine was matched with the 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission. In the Aura, the engine produced and of torque.[Saturn Aura unveiled](_blank)
/ref> Traction Control, six airbags, V6, automatic, auto headlights, CD with AUX, 17 inch wheels, among other features, comes standard. The Aura XE had a softer suspension, but still handled very well. A Special Edition version of the XE included equipment upgrades, the option of the XR-only black or Morocco Brown leather, along with new, XE-only 18 inch machined alloy wheels. Beginning with the 2008 model, the 2.4 L LE5 Ecotec 4-cylinder became available with the 4T45-E 4-speed automatic. For 2009 the standard 4-cylinder was mated to GM's all new 6T40 6-speed automatic with TAPshift as standard equipment. This improved overall performance and increased fuel economy to in the city, and on the highway, up from the 2008's city, highway
Aura Green Line
The Aura Green Line was a mild hybrid, following the Vue
Vue or VUE may refer to:
Places
* Vue, Loire-Atlantique, a commune in France
* The Vue, a skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina
Arts, entertainment and media
* Vue (band), a rock and roll band from San Francisco, California
* Vue Cinemas, a c ...
Green Line as the second vehicle in Saturn's lineup incorporating GM's belt alternator starter system. It rode on the XE's suspension.[Green Car Congress: Saturn Aura Green Line](_blank)
/ref> It was sold from late March 2007 to 2010.
As in the Vue, the Aura Green Line was equipped with the 2.4L Ecotec engine mated to an electric motor/generator and the 4T45-E four-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain was rated at and of torque. The electric motor/generator augmented the gasoline engine during launch and under wide-open throttle. The Aura Green Line had an EPA estimated fuel economy of city and highway (for the 2007-08 model years it was city and ), which Saturn claimed was up to a 30% improvement over the Aura XE.
The Saturn Aura Green Line was eligible for a $1300 US Federal tax credit, as well as several state tax credits.
Prior to the shutdown of Saturn, General Motors said that they would introduce a new hybrid system in summer 2010.
Recall
On September 21, 2012. General Motors recalled 473,841 vehicles involving the Chevy Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1983 and again since 1997. The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-wheel-dri ...
, Pontiac G6
The Pontiac G6 is a mid-size car that was produced by General Motors under the Pontiac brand. It was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year to replace the Grand Am.
The G6 shared the GM Epsilon platform with the Chevrolet Malibu, Saab 9-3 ...
and Saturn Aura from model years 2007 through 2010 equipped with four-speed automatic transmissions. The problem is a condition that could make cars roll when in park. The recall affects 426,240 in the United States, 40,029 in Canada and 7,572 in other markets.
Engines
Reception
Reception to the Aura was generally positive. The Aura was described as the best looking sedan to come out of GM in quite a while.[Fuel Show review of the Saturn Aura](_blank)
/ref> The Aura was also praised for its performance. The Aura has been described as "the best Saturn yet", and fit and finish and ride quality are regarded as greatly improved over previous Saturns. Other improvements include reduced road noise, attributed to the fact that this model doesn't use polymer body panels like its predecessors, in addition to the extensive soundproofing GM added to car, and the triple-pane front windows and windshield. The Aura also garnered praise for its value, as it was noted that an Aura XE loaded up with certain options cost less at the time than the standard MSRP of the Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry ...
with a V6. The Aura finished fourth out of six places in a ''Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was f ...
'' comparison test, ahead of the Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring ( ) is a line of mid-size automobiles that was sold from 1995 through 2010 by Chrysler. Three generations of convertibles, two generations of sedans, and two generations of coupes were produced. Although the coupe shared the ...
and the Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry ...
, but fell behind the Honda Accord
The , also known as the in Japan and China for certain generations, is a series of cars manufactured by Honda since 1976, best known for its four-door sedan variant, which has been one of the best-selling cars in the United States since 1989. ...
.[Familial Four Doors: Car and Driver mid size sedan comparison](_blank)
/ref> Despite this, it was the best performing out of the cars compared. The Aura also got praise for the craftsmanship of its interior and its European flair.
/ref> The Aura also got a favorable review by Consumer Guide, with it being a recommended pick.
It also got more than favorable reviews from actual owners of the vehicle.
Despite this, the Aura has a few criticisms. The Aura's interior has been criticized for using cheap materials. Also, the steering wheel has been criticized for being too big for some drivers and that rear headroom was tight when equipped with the optional sunroof. The Aura was also criticized for being noisy over bumps and its lack of a rear armrest and head restraint, and that the push button controls on the steering wheel cannot be operated while holding the wheel. Robert Cumberford of ''Automobile'' magazine claimed that the Aura is a good car watered down by GM's cost cutting department.
Awards
The Aura won the North American Car of the Year
The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year are a set of automotive awards announced at a news conference each January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 60 automotive journali ...
prize for 2007. As a result, Saturn sent a copy of the award to select customers who bought an Aura before it was awarded. The Aura also won Canadian's Motoring Television's 2007 car of the year award,[Saturnfans.com: Saturn Aura awards](_blank)
/ref>''Motorweek''s Driver's Choice for best new midsize sedan, and ''World of Wheels'' Editor's Choice for best family sedan.
Yearly American sales
See also
*List of hybrid vehicles
This is a list of hybrid vehicles, including both regular hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in chronological order of first production:
Automobiles
Overview by decade
Early designs: 1899-1917
*1899: Carmaker Pieper of Belgi ...
References
*
*
*
Notes
External links
{{Saturn Corporation
Aura
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Mid-size cars
Sedans
Cars introduced in 2006
Hybrid electric cars
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States