Opel is taking over responsibility for the design and development of Saturn cars, according to a report in Automobilwoche. The report quotes General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz. A handful of Opel employees at Rüsselsheim have been working on Saturn projects since the end of 2004.
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The move is part of a wider restructuring of development and manufacturing throughout General Motors. Vehicle design will be organised globally rather than by brand or region.
Opel had already been given a lead role in the development of mid-size models including the Vectra and Saab 9-3. The Saturn Aura, due in 2006, will share the same architecture.
Saturn SUVs and crossovers will be developed outside of Germany and in total 8 of the 11 General Motors design centres will have influence over the future Saturn model range.
The Saturn Sky Roadster, for example, is based on the Vauxhall VX Lightning study that came out of General Motors’ design studio in Birmingham, England. The Sky will be sold in Europe as the Opel GT, reports Automobilwoche.
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