You want new?

Let me introduce you to Saturn.

GM"s youngest division has been transformed from a purveyor of so-so family sedans to one of the sexiest, highest quality, most outrageously gorgeous products around. And guess what? There's more to come.

Nothing in Saturn's lineup, as of this model year, will be older than two years old, and I can't think of any car company in the universe that can make that claim.

Let's start with the newest, the Saturn Vue.

To say that this new Vue is nothing like the old one is to indulge in understatement.

First, it looks great, with all the European flavorings that come from being based on Germany's popular Opel. Little things count here, too, such as the cool side marker turn signals built into a stylish air scoop on each side of the car. There's an unusual parking brake design inside that takes getting used to, but it too, is a nifty design cue.

Outside, the Vue looks muscled and ready for action. There are tight wheel-to-body relationships, large jeweled headlamps and a sweeping upper profile line contribute to the Vue's striking design.

It drives much better, too. It has a solid, stable feeling to it, and brisk acceleration as well, at least with the V-6 choices. Steering is also nicely responsive without all the looseness and skittishness of Saturn's old electric steering system.

Vue is available in XE and XR trim levels, as well as the Red Line performance model and Green Line hybrid model. Vue's broad lineup will offer a wide range of powertrains, including a more powerful four-cylinder engine, and two V-6 choices mated to six-speed automatic transmissions.

Engine choices include a 2.4-liter, 169-horsepower four cylinder, a 3.5-liter, 222-horsepower V-6 and a 257-horsepower V-6. Fuel mileage ratings range between 19/26 and 23/29.

In addition to handling features that help drivers avoid crashes, the all-new Vue helps protect occupants with its high-strength steel structure and a long list of standard safety features. Dual-stage front-seat air bags, front-seat side thorax air bags and rollover capable head curtain air bags covering front and rear rows are standard on all models. OnStar is standard across the lineup.

Inside, the Vue continues the upscale theme with refined materials and precise fit and finish. Designers used lighter colors to bring a greater sense of spaciousness to the cabin, and incorporated an array of useful storage solutions and convenience features, many of which are uncommon in the segment.

Saturn also has a new hybrid Green Line Vue that was just announced, and already there's good news on it, based on 2008 EPA test measurements. It's powered by a 170-horsepower four cylinder engine.

The VUE GL is the most fuel-efficient sport utility and the most affordable hybrid on the road today, with an estimated 28 mpg combined city/highway rating and an price of $24,795. The non-hybrid Vue line is priced at $21,395 to $27,395.

These fuel economy ratings represent a 27% improvement over the non-hybrid VUE. With these numbers, the VUE GL becomes more fuel efficient than a Camry (25 mpg combined) or an Accord (24 mpg combined).

Looking for a stylish family sedan? Look no further than Saturn's Aura.

Here's a beautiful, well-built sedan priced between $19,985 and $23,945 that has just about everything you're looking for: style, comfort, lots of standard equipment and a high safety rating.

For 2008, there's a new 2.4-liter XE four-door sedan model that has been introduced.

In the meantime, Aura, named the North American Car of the Year by a group of auto writers, promises to make people sit up and take notice, especially when they find out that the projected residual value of the car after three years sits at 51 percent, only an insignificant three points away from Toyota's Camry.

The new Aura gets GM's first six-speed automatic transmission, which will be teamed with the 3.6-liter, 252-horsepower V-6, rated at 18 mpg city and 29 on the highway. Lower-level Auras get a 224-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 20 city/30 highway. The Aura will be available in two model levels: the base XE and the up-scale XR.

Each Aura has standard automatic climate control; driver information center; universal home remote; power steering, windows, brakes; and side head curtain air bags.

Another one you won't want to miss is the Saturn Outlook, a cool-looking crossover with huge amounts of room, three rows of seats, plenty of standard equipment and a rating by most journalists that puts it at the head of the class.

Driving it, the Outlook feels substantial and heavy, but once you're under way it actually feels much lighter than it is. The steering is perfectly balanced, the inside details quite nice and the whole package comes off as better than just about anything GM has done in years.

The Outlook is pretty new to the lineup, so you still don't see a lot of advertising on it. But trust me. Head to your dealership and take a look.

The all-new 2008 Saturn Astra, will not only provide a European flavor and taut handling characteristics to the North American market but also will offer a wide range of standard equipment, safety features, and very good fuel economy for an MSRP of less than $16,000.

The Astra is available starting Jan. 2. It is offered in three- and five-door models, with a starting price of $15,995. Astra is packed with a wide range of standard equipment and safety features, including six air bags. Power comes from a 138-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that is both energetic and economical.

Equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine at 140 horsepower, and a five-speed manual transmission, the 2008 Saturn Astra five-door XE will be offered at a price of $15,995. The uplevel Astra five-door XR will start at $17,545 and the sporty Astra three-door XR will be priced from $18,495. All prices include shipping and destination charges.

Standard features on all 2008 Saturn Astras include:

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control, six standard air bags, including dual-stage frontal air bags; roof rail head curtain air bags and seat-mounted thorax/pelvic air bags (for front-seat passengers) active head restraints, pedal release system, OnStar with one year of Safe & Sound service, standard tire pressure monitoring, rain sensing wiper system, remote keyless entry, steering wheel controls, cruise control, express-down power windows, and a driver information center.

The Astra will arrive in showrooms around December.