Tight budgets slow Saturn refresh

General Motors' Saturn brand currently boasts one of the youngest overall lineups in the industry - its oldest model is the Saturn Sky (pictured), which debuted in 2006 as a 2007 model. Tough economic times at GM may mean that the current crop of mostly new models will have to stay largely unchanged for longer than previous generations.

While existing models like the Astra (see our review here), Aura and Sky aren't scheduled for updates until 2011 at the earliest, with full redesigns pushed out to 2012 for the Aura and 2014 for the Sky - provided it's still in the lineup then - a new car is being considered for introduction. If it does go forward, the new car would be a small entry-level offering slotting below the Astra in the lineup, possibly a rebadged version of Opel's Corsa. A unique small car is also a possibility if importation proves impractical, and would be designed around GM's Gamma FWD platform, reports Automotive News.

Saturn's SUV and crossover lineup will face similar treatment, with a possible new Gamma-based entry-level crossover being considered, while the Vue will will remain essentially the same until its 2014 redesign, except for the introduction of a two-mode hybrid variant in 2009.

The rumored MPV planned for the brand won't be arriving until 2011 at the earliest, but will likely be a slightly redesigned Opel Zafira when it does. The troubled Outlook crossover, which has seen poor sales through most of its short life, faces the axe unless things turn around.