Saturn, Edmunds Team in Contest; Prize Is Trip to Frankfurt

Saturn, Edmunds Team in Contest; Prize Is Trip to Frankfurt

To build buzz for the upcoming launch of its Saturn Astra, based on the German- built Opel Astra , Saturn teamed with Edmunds.com for a contest. The grand prize is a trip to Frankfurt, Germany, in September to attend the auto show, test-drive the Astra and blog for Edmunds.com.

Contestants visited a specially designated page on Edmunds.com and submitted an essay of less than 500 words explaining why he or she should be chosen.

The winner, to be announced Friday, will fly to Frankfurt on September 9, returning September 13. The winner will receive media credentials, access to General Motors’ Premier Night and an invitation to Astra launch activities. While in Germany, the winner will write for Edmunds’ Straightline blog.

“While the contest is centered around the Frankfurt show and the Astra test-drive, the winner’s role as citizen journalist is the interesting twist to this contest,” said Sean Peoples, Edmunds’ executive director of OEM Initiatives. “Car-shopping consumers increasingly seek the opinions not only from the experts like those on the staff of Edmunds.com and Edmunds’ InsideLine.com but also from people like themselves.”

Already a hit in Europe as an Opel, the Astra, on sale by the end of the year as a 2008 model, is Saturn’s small-car entry with a European flavor. Offered in three- and five-door configurations, the Astra is outfitted with a European-style suspension for a spirited driving experience and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 140 horsepower.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.