08-23-2007 - Saturn Aura Expands Range With Fuel-Efficient Four Cylinder Model
Source: GM Media

DETROIT, MI - Saturn Aura - the 2007 North American Car of the Year - expands its range of well-equipped, European-influenced sedans for the '08 model year with the addition of a four-cylinder powertrain. With it, the new Aura XE four-cylinder delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The Aura XE four-cylinder is powered by a 2.4L Ecotec DOHC engine and carries an MSRP of $20,395, including destination. It includes noise-, vibration- and harshness-reduction features that are tuned specifically to the unique characteristics of the four-cylinder engine.

"Adding a four-cylinder model expands Aura's appeal to a greater number of customers in the segment," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "And with the new powertrain, Aura retains all of its driving character and refinement - attributes that have impressed consumers and the automotive media."

The 2.4L Ecotec engine is rated at 164 horsepower (122 kW) and 159 lb.-ft. of torque (215 Nm). It is one of the most powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines in its class, incorporating numerous state-of-the-art design features, including lightweight aluminum cylinder head and engine block, chain-driven camshafts, twin balance shafts and a very rigid structure. It is mated to GM's Hydra-Matic 4T45 four-speed automatic transmission, an electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transaxle with an electronically controlled torque converter clutch noted for its low noise, high durability and smooth shifting.

Aura style, craftsmanship and safety
The Aura is a critically acclaimed sedan that blends the brand's new design language and high levels of refinement with its trademark customer-focused purchase and ownership experience. It is built on a stiff, robust chassis that serves as the foundation for an exciting driving experience. A long, 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase provides a smooth ride, while careful tuning of the suspension provides sharp and immediate response to driver input.

Enhancing the driving experience and reinforcing the Aura's refined feel are 55 noise-reduction features that include the application of numerous innovative resonators, baffles, sealers and sound-absorbing materials. Examples include:

• Acoustic-laminated front windshield and front door side glass
• Thicker, 5.4-mm front windshield
• Laminated steel front-of-dash
• Flat windshield wiper blades
• Lower-edge seals on all doors
• Composite wheel house liners with sound-absorbing acoustic material
• Larger, more heavily reinforced body sections and tailor-welded blanks used throughout the underbody

The Aura XE four-cylinder also delivers a comprehensive roster of standard safety features that helps protect occupants before, during and after a crash. They include:

• Dual-stage frontal air bags with GM Passenger Sensing System
• Head curtain side-impact air bags
• Front seat-mounted thorax protection air bags
• Front safety belt pretensioners
• Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
• Traction control

All Aura models feature the OnStar safety and security system, including Turn-by-Turn Navigation capability, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar.

Aura Green Line hybrid
The Aura XE's four-cylinder powertain is also the power behind the Aura Green Line hybrid, which is equipped with the affordable GM Hybrid system. Its sophisticated controls and unique electric motor/generator, mated to the 2.4L Ecotec and Hydra-Matic 4T45 combination, reduces fuel consumption by:

• Shutting off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, to minimize idling
• Enabling early fuel shut-off during vehicle deceleration
• Converting vehicle kinetic energy to electrical energy through regenerative braking to charge the advanced nickel metal hydride battery
• Performing intelligent battery charging when it is most efficient

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Aura Green Line is 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. It goes on sale later in the 2008 model year and is expected to be the lowest-price midsize hybrid sedan on the market, with an MSRP of $22,790, including destination charges.