http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins.../B01-60875.htm

 

This makes me wonder how much the automakers actually do focus groups like this? I don't see how a lot of car makers could possibly make half the ugly crap that they do if they just test market the designs ahead of time. Good hearing that about Saturn though. Most people I've heard that have seen them agree that the Saturns look really nice.

 

I was just at the show today . The Aura and Sky in person are really striking cars . Saturn as odd it sounds , will definately have the best looking GM cars . The Sky looks rich and in the league of the last gen SLK , same with the Aura , it looks very rich and in the league of a Audi A4 . Both cars at the time I was there had very large crowds around them all day .

 

while looks are good. things like marketing have had a big effect in the last few years. but people are now starting to get immune to most advertising, so they have to step up on their products.

 

Yea that charger is crap...makes the 04 GTO look flashy and exciting

 

The Charger was definitely a huge dissapointment. Around the time I sat in one and was around the display, there was virtually no crowd. No suprise there. Its nice how you can tell the interior has a "borrowed" appearance, much like the exterior, from the Magnum and somewhat the 300C. If Chrysler won't call the Charger "Magnum Sedan" then why not try to differentiate it more? Its like DCX is going toward the old GM half-assed effort, not actually trying mentality and its starting to show. Perhaps if the Charger wasnt its own entity, the LX platform wouldnt seem so played out? The extra set of doors doesnt help either...

On the Saturn turnaround, I'd never thought I'd say this but, I like what Saturn has to offer. This is essentially their last shot to get things going and they definitely dont want to mess up. Looks like Saturn will in fact have one of the best line-ups amongst the divisions.

 

I've told a lot of people about the sky, and they all say, "a saturn?!" Then I show them the pictures and they all convert.

Two words: Sky Redline

 

Saturn looks a lot better than that Dodge Charger. RWD is the only thing the Charger has going for it.

 

Just goes to show you that good product can change an image. Four months ago, Saturn was the red-headed stepchild of GM. Now, everyone is singing its praises. The Aura is by far the best looking sedan in any of GM's lineups IMO and the Sky is yet another homerun for the Kappa chassis.

I think this line of thought can be applied to Camaro. All the stereotypes can be gone in a flash if it is an outstanding product. You only have to look at Saturn and Cadillac for proof.

 

I guess I am the only one in the entire world that actually likes the Dodge Charger

If DCX named it anything but "Charger", I'm sure it would've gotten a much better responce.

 

I like the vehicle as well, but it doesn't seem right to call it a charger.

 

Maybe but frankly I don't think so. I just don't think it looks good at all. 4 doors and all aside I loved the way that 99 concept looked and it had 4 doors. This thing however....anybody remember those little balsa wood derby cars from Cub Scouts? The ones where you bought a little block of wood and you could hammer four wheels onto them and you raced them? Now remember how you were supposed to whittle it down into something that looked remotely like a car. Well the new Charger to me looks like the prewhittled block that some kid forgot to do and just hammered the wheels on and called it done.

 

I like it as well. However, I'm not a fan of the front end. I haven't seen one in person yet (didn't make the LA show), but just judging by pictures the Magnum nose looks better.

I too like the Saturn Sky (more than the Solstice) and the Saturn Aura looks like a Chrysler 300-like home run. My only issue is that while the Sky will be out within a year, why are we looking at almost 2 years before the Aura hits the streets??

The chassis is already in production & the design of the production car according to Bob Lutz is identical. My question is if GM has the ability to do a car from scratch to showroom in 18 months from approval, why is the essentially rebodied G8 & Malibu Saturn Aura going to take another 20 months!