Saturn set to unveil 2008 Astra

Ever since the SL2 was discontinued, Saturn's sedan lineup has been somewhat lacking. The Ion was the SL2's natural successor, but with its center-mounted displays and "roundness" factor it was just a little odd for many people's taste. Now Alex Nunez reports on Autoblog that Saturn will publicly unveil the 2008 Saturn Astra in a few days:

The Astra is no slouch when it comes to high tech safety features. All Astra models feature dual-stage front air bags, seat-mounted thorax/pelvic air bags, and head curtain air bags. It also comes with active head restraints that move forward if a rear-end crash is detected to reduce the risk of neck injuries, and collapsible foot pedals that move during a crash to help prevent leg and ankle injuries. In addition, safety belt pretensioners kick in to reduce the slack of the front safety belts, helping to limit the movement of passengers.

While it's not the hybrid or electric I was hoping for, it does look like a worthy replacement for my aging '98 SL2. I have to admit entertaining thoughts of going back to Toyota, despite some disastrous experiences with local dealerships in the past. With this new model, Saturn may keep my business after all, which is just fine by me.