Saturn Aura

Saturn Aura
Saturn Aura XR
Overview
Manufacturer	Saturn (General Motors)
Production	2006–October 2009
Model years	2007–2010
Assembly	Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Designer	Bryan Nesbitt[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Midsize car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	GM Epsilon platform/GMX384
Related	Chevrolet Malibu Fiat Croma Opel Signum Opel Vectra C Pontiac G6 Saab 9-3
Powertrain
Engine	gasoline: 2.4 L LE5 I4 3.5 L LZ4 V6 3.6 L LY7 V6 gasoline/E85: 2.4 L LE9 I4 BAS hybrid: 2.4 L LAT I4
Electric motor	ISG Motor
Transmission	4-speed 4T45-E automatic 6-speed 6T70 automatic 6-speed 6T40 automatic
Hybrid drivetrain	BAHVs (Aura Green Line)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112.3 in (2,852 mm)
Length	190.9 in (4,849 mm)
Width	70.3 in (1,786 mm)
Height	57.6 in (1,463 mm)
Curb weight	3,781 lb (1,715 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Saturn L-Series
Successor	Buick Regal (fifth generation)

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 to 2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generation Chevrolet Malibu, its most closely related platform companion.

The Aura debuted as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005, followed by the production model which debuted at the 2006 New York Auto Show. 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 The Aura superseded the Saturn L-Series, which was discontinued after the 2005 model year.^[2]

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.^[3]

The Aura was part of a product rejuvenation for Saturn, intended to make the brand profitable and competitive with European imports.^[4][5] Reaction to the Aura was positive, both in terms of reviews and sales.^[6] The Saturn Aura was the 2007 North American Car of the Year.

The concept used a 252 hp (186 kW) 3.6 L V6 and a new 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission.^[7] 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 164 hp (122 kW) 2.4 L inline-four, down from 170 hp (127 kW), in the Green Line. The Aura, developed on the GM Epsilon platform, was available only as a sedan and was built at the Kansas City, Kansas, Fairfax Assembly 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.^[8]