General Motors will introduce the all-new 2008 Saturn Astra and 2008 Pontiac G8 at the Chicago Auto Show next week, building on the momentum of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit – where the Saturn Aura captured the North American Car of the Year award and the Chevrolet Silverado claimed the North American Truck of the Year award.


Saturn continues its product revitalization with the new Astra compact car, along with the 2008 Vue Red Line and Vue Green Line hybrid. The Astra marks the fifth all-new vehicle in Saturn’s lineup, and is the last step in a complete reinvention of the brand’s showroom in less than 20 months.


The G8 sedan represents Pontiac 's continuing commitment to rear-wheel-drive performance, and adds to the G6 GXP and Torrent GXP recently introduced in Detroit. Additionally, a pair of special-edition Chevrolet Corvettes will debut.


The Chicago Auto Show is open to the public Feb. 9-18 at McCormick Place.


GM also will bring the cars that caused a stir in Detroit : the Chevrolet Volt electric car concept, the Chevrolet Camaro convertible concept, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2008 Cadillac CTS.


“It is truly an exciting time at GM, because every few weeks, we get to show off all-new models that reinforce the fact that we’re not only back in the car market, we’re back with the intention to lead it,” said GM North America president Troy Clarke. “The common thread linking all of these great new products is our renewed commitment to design excellence and technological innovation.”


Complementing GM’s new vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show is an all-new exhibit that is the auto show equivalent of an art gallery. It features a distinctive, more intuitive layout that allows visitors to experience GM’s eight individual brands in gallery-type settings.