Will Saturn bring the Agila mini-car to the US?
Since Saturn has essentially become the U.S. arm of Opel, and all the new models (aside from the Outlook crossover) are essentially re-badged Opels, the big question is, "what next?" With sales of larger trucks and SUVs in complete collapse and carmakers scrambling to shift production to smaller cars, Opel has a model that might be a perfect fit, the Agila. The Agila is developed and built jointly with Suzuki and is sold as the Splash by the Japanese brand. The Agila is powered by three and four cylinder engines of 1.0L and 1.2L displacements.
It's unknown if the Agila is even close to being able to pass U.S. safety standards. However, GM will begin producing engines in the U.S. next year that fall into that size range so there will be U.S.-certified engines that would fit. The Agila could potentially make a very interesting competitor to the Smart ForTwo, VW up! and Toyota iQ. The Agila is built in Poland which may make it an affordable option for the U.S. market. The 1.2L version is rated at a combined 42.8mpg (U.S.) with the 1.0L version scores 47mpg (U.S.).
[Source: BurlappCars.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
UH2L 10:57AM (6/10/2008)
Bring it over! That thing is good looking for such a small car and it's just as efficient and more practical than a Smart.
Reply
Wildgoosechase73 11:24AM (6/10/2008)
I'm sure that if it met US crash and emmisions standards it would already be on the boat. I kinda doubt it though.
Reply
Throwback 11:35AM (6/10/2008)
I would prefer the next Meriva with the suicide doors.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/03/geneva-08-opel-meriva-concept/
Reply
steven 12:45PM (6/10/2008)
I'd like to see these great GM product over here too. Three issues I see that have to be addressed to get stuff over here quickly:
- available production capacity at current factory(s)
- ability to meet @2's points and build same at current factory(s)
- cost of first two issues as it relates to the US price point
Cheap small cars are not a mystery to US buyers. Expensive small cars will be.
Reply
Yggdrasilly 1:06PM (6/10/2008)
The Agila is built in Poland which may make it an affordable option for the U.S. market...
"We have been, let us say, to hear the latest Pole
Transmit Honda Preludes through his hair and finger-tips..."
--Not T.S. Eliot
Reply
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 3:53PM (6/10/2008)
isn't the Agila also sold with the Fiat 1.3 multijet diesel ?
Reply
Wave54 4:11PM (6/10/2008)
After the dismal sales figures for the Saturn-branded Astra, I'm not sure why GM would import another Opel. It would probably come in at a price point of $12-14K to start, and be competing directly against Honda/Toyota/Chevy/Nissan/Hyundai.
As far as fuel economy figures go, has anyone made any correlation between Euro and US specs? From Edmunds:
"In European trim, the Ecotec's fuel economy is rated at 38.7 mpg on the combined cycle, and city driving is pegged at 28.5 mpg."
The US model (same model, same engine) is rated at 24/32 with 27 MPG combined. A significant loss in gas mileage between continents.
Reply
Wave54 4:22PM (6/10/2008)
Sorry, should have stated that the MPG comparison was for the Opel/Saturn Astra with 1.8L Ecotec. It just makes me question Euro mileage figures (even stated in US gallons) since this identical model is rated 11+ MPG lower for combined in the US vs. Europe.
Reply
stevefazek 7:19PM (6/10/2008)
Its prolly the 1.6L in europe Wave.
I hope saturn will bring the Opel Corsa D or next gen to this country. Its a good competitor to the fiesta and Accent and Yaris.
Gm needs to build them here or in mexico. Right now i think they are made in belguim.
They need to regear the transmission because its getting crappy mpg the astra. I have a feeling its built for city driving. there is no reason why it shouldn't see 36 MPG.
Its a great car yet they are doing zero marketing for it.
Reply
Wave54 9:33PM (6/10/2008)
* Its prolly the 1.6L in europe Wave. *
They offer 12 different engines in Europe, but the article stated it was the 1.8L. It sounds like their test cycle is nothing like the EPA cycle used here and mileage numbers don't compare well.
Yes, they're not marketing the car at all -- I've never seen one. For all the drooling consumers that wanted GM to bring a "good" Euro-sedan to the US, once they did, nobody seemed to care.
Reply
Azrael4h 11:22PM (6/12/2008)
The Astra isn't selling because GM doesn't want it to sell. There is absolutely no advertisement, no marketing support whatsoever for the Astra. What little Saturn gets is focused on the Aura and Vue.
The reason they don't want to sell them is simple. It is costing them big time. Between the falling $US dollar and the usual import costs with shipping a car halfway around the globe; GM cannot sell the Astra and make a profit as it is currently.
The fuel economy issues with the Astra are entirely due to gearing; for some odd reason GM decided on a much too short over drive gear. The Astra would otherwise easily beat 35mph highway EPA. They did the same with the older Cobalts as well; only know changing it.
Reply
94 Taurus owner 1:18PM (6/11/2008)
I hope it does reach our shores. If it gets better MPG than a Smart it seats 2 more people and requires regular grade fuel its a steal.
Reply
Mike 12:05PM (6/11/2008)
Gm should wait on this one until the next generation. People are still getting used to offerings as small and underpowered as the Astra. Wait till they can engineer this one with the US market in mind, and then offer it as the new Chevy Aveo, Pontiac G3, and the Saturn version. That way it'll be ready for the market, and the market will be ready for it. Bringing it over now would be nice but it would be a financial disaster that GM can't afford.
Reply
Matt Giles 12:50PM (6/12/2008)
Why is this "mini" car the same size as a mini van? The only thing mini about it is the engine.
www.gilesprojectcar.blogspot.com
Reply
Kotse 12:27PM (6/11/2008)
Either Saturn or Suzuki should bring over the Agila/Splash mini...
Reply