Saturn recently announced that it will sell the Astra compact in the U.S. starting for with a ‘08 model year. While it’s no great secret that the General Motor’s all-American brand is developing an ever-cozier relationship with GM’s European subsidiaries, the question remains: How will Saturn take advantage of it? Has it been long enough that people will forget Saturn’s folksy, feel-good start in the bucolic rolling hills of Tennessee? Does it have what it’ll take to fight the good fight against those evil imports?

Saturn recently announced that it will sell the Astra compact in the U.S. starting for with a ‘08 model year. While it’s no great secret that the General Motor’s all-American brand is developing an ever-cozier relationship with GM’s European subsidiaries, the question remains: How will Saturn take advantage of it? Has it been long enough that people will forget Saturn’s folksy, feel-good start in the bucolic rolling hills of Tennessee? Does it have what it’ll take to fight the good fight against those evil imports?

Well, I guess the saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” applies here. The Astra models, at least initially, will be coming from Belgium, not Spring Hill, Tennessee. GM has a prime opportunity to go head-to-head with the VW Rabbit (Golf to the rest of the world). Let’s hope it’s not stingy with the engine options, which supposedly include a zesty 237-horse turbocharged Ecotec. With that engine, the Saturn Astra could make a credible competitor against the VW GTI and Mazdaspeed 3. Alas, at least in initial statements, no diesels will be available at launch.

What will be most interesting is how marketing handles this delicate situation. Clearly, the flag-waving, jingoistic, all-American theme doesn’t work anymore. Maybe marketing could try “European engineering” or “Tuned on the Nürburgring.”? But the real proof will be in the product. The days of “good enough” are ove. This had better be one kick-ass compact if Saturn wants to have any credibility with hot-hatch enthusiasts. Being one myself, I’ll be watching this one closely.

–Edward A. Sanchez