2007 Saturn Astra

General Motors has killed a bold new design for the entry-level Saturn Ion, set to launch by calendar year 2007. The design, shown to auto journalists more than a year ago as proof of GM's impending design renaissance, was of a four-door that would've reversed the Ion's image and made it a premium small car. Now Saturn says it'll build out the current Ion, ending production this December, with enough units to see it through much of the 2007 model year. The new replacement will appear some time in 2007, and it won't be based on the Chevy Cobalt or the upcoming Pontiac G5 compact. It's likely the new Ion will be based on Opel Astra, which has been a critical and sales success.