"Now the word is that GM is going to kill the Ion, probably at the end of the 2006 model year., have many fans in GM's executive row.NEW YORK — Nothing is ever simple for Saturn, the General Motors nameplate that seemed about to be reborn.Automotive News, the trade publication in Detroit, says that GM will be importing the small Opel Astra from Europe to replace the Ion.msn.S. Saturn was to become sort of an American arm of GM's German division, Opel. Nor does the one time-quasi-independent Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. GM apparently also plans to replace this little SUV derived from Opel. Given all of GM's current problems, there is some logic to this strategy. But the imports will not start coming in until after the middle of next year, well after Ion production has stopped. In this business, continuity is important. Consumer Reports calls it "disappointing.comPosted by Jerry Flint. At one time, wall fan motor Manufacturers in China the vehicle that the Ion replaced sold 300,000 units per year, but the Ion posted only 101,000 sales in 2005.As I said, nothing is ever simple with Saturn. In the meantime, GM is replacing a car that accounts for 100,000 sales per year with one that is likely to sell about one-fifth of that amount. That might happen in two years. Volkswagen is losing $1 billion per year.S. According to Automotive News, GM might bring in 20,000 to 40,000 Astras per year. The apparent plan was for most future Saturns to be close derivatives of Opel designs but to be built in the U. In short, the Ion has been a big disappointment. The word is that GM has looked at various plans for replacing the Ion, but it will not have a replacement ready at the time it pulls the car off the market.Then there is the Vue, the next best-selling Saturn (92,000 sales last year). Despite its flaws, the Ion is still the best-selling Saturn model. factories.GM wanted to cut its product-development spending on Saturn, so that is why Vice Chairman Robert Lutz turned to Opel. It would have made more sense to improve the Ion and keep selling it until an American-made alternative was ready. Frankly, cars such as the Honda Motor Civic, Ford Motor Focus and Toyota Motor Corolla outclass the Ion. One Detroit news source says GM will build the Vue successor in Mexico. It is likely to be a small number, because the euro/dollar relationship makes it hard to bring in a low-priced car from Europe.Let's start with the Ion, a small car introduced as a 2003 model to replace the original little Saturn passenger car.GM executives never had much love for Saturn, the brainchild of former GM Chief Executive Roger Smith. If that happens, it will be a couple years from now.It's reasonable to think that one day Saturn will be producing an Astra-like car at one of GM's U. This does not sound like good management strategy, and it cannot be good for Saturn dealers