Penske Lining Up Renaults for Saturn?

There was talk of Saturn being saddled with the Korean built, Renault-Samsung badged, one generation removed Nissan products awhile back. But that didn't make much sense, Nissan has already discarded/improved those products for this market and selling a brand new last generation Nissan under a Saturn badge didn't sound like a Penske move.

Now MotorAuthority has put up an article saying Penske is negotiating to bring in Renaults. Yup, French Renaults.

Here's a link to their product line available (in English): http://www.renault.com/en/vehicules/Pages/index.aspx

It's been awhile since new French cars have been sold in the US. If I remember correctly the last French automobile manufacturer with a presence in the US Puegeot and the left toward the end of the 1980s (if I'm not mistaken).

Interesting.

Penske Purchases Saturn

Saturn's future is secure. Roger Penske has purchased the brand.

In statements made to the press, Mr. Penske has outlined the product plan for Saturn. In the interim they will continue to utilize products manufactured by GM. Down the road they are open to branding and supporting products from other sources.

Penske has associations with Renault Samsung Motors, which makes a couple of cars that are inherently prior generation Nissan vehicles. That is one possibility. But I don't think that likely personally.

There's the possibility that the products will be sourced from Opel (if they get the sale of that group to Magna sorted out). Opel builds decent product and it would help them to have a market in the US. (Ask Fiat if it's good to be in the US market. ; -)

However, I'll go out on a limb and say that Saturn may go after a Chinese manufacturer (and there's still a lot of work to be done to make that a viable proposition).

The one thing for sure that will happen with Penske ownership of Saturn is that Saturn will be a good company offering good product and service. Nothing is done shabbily, it's the Penske way.