Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, SUVs
Detroit Auto Show: GM debuts 2007 Saturn Vue hybrid
Erin reports that GM continued its NAIAS hybrid push with Sunday's debut of the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid. Targeted at the Toyota Highlander, Ford Escape, and Honda Accord Hybrid, the Vue Green Line will be built at Saturn's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant. The green Vue will be available this summer.
Official Press Release:
SATURN VUE GREEN LINE HYBRID DELIVERS GREAT FUEL ECONOMY THROUGH NEW, LOWER-COST HYBRID SYSTEM
DETROIT
Saturn unveiled the production version of the 2007 Vue Green Line Hybrid, the first GM vehicle powered by a new, more affordable hybrid system. The Vue Green Line delivers an estimated 20-percent improvement in fuel economy, depending on driving conditions. It is expected to deliver an EPA estimated 27 mpg in the city and the best highway mileage of any SUV at 32 mpg.
The Vue's hybrid system will cost under $2,000. The full vehicle price will start at less than $23,000. "The Vue Green Line is expected to be the lowest-cost hybrid-powered SUV in the market," said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Its lower price allows us to offer the fuel-saving benefits of hybrids to a wider group of customers."
The Vue Green Line uses sophisticated controls and a unique electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4L VVT four-cylinder engine and 4T45-E four-speed transmission. It is a simple and flexible hybrid design that provides additional power from the motor/generator during acceleration and allows increased fuel economy through engine shut-off at idle, fuel cut-off during deceleration and the capability to capture electrical energy through regenerative braking.
The Vue Green Line will be available in the summer of 2006. It is based on the popular Vue SUV, which was restyled for 2006 with distinctive exterior appointments and a more refined interior. "As Saturn continues an aggressive product lineup expansion, a hybrid version of the popular Vue is a natural addition," said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. "The Vue Green Line strengthens our position as an environmentally aware brand that provides great value an attribute that has always appealed to Saturn customers." Along with the Vue Green Line, Saturn will introduce the Sky roadster, Aura midsize sedan and Outlook crossover utility vehicle during 2006.
Fuel-saving performance
Vue Green Line's innovative 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain is rated at 170 horsepower (127 kw), a powerful increase from the 143 hp provided by the 2.2-liter engine in the conventional four-cylinder Vue. This maintains the vehicle's sporty feel, with acceleration better or equal to many non-hybrid SUVs. The Vue's hybrid system reduces fuel consumption by: ·
Shutting off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, to minimize idling ·
Restarting the engine promptly when the brake pedal is released ·
Enabling early fuel shut-off during vehicle deceleration ·
Capturing vehicle kinetic energy during deceleration (regenerative braking) to charge an advanced nickel metal hydride battery ·
Performing intelligent battery charging when it is most efficient
Additionally, the system provides additional power from the electric motor/generator during launch, when required. At wide-open throttle, such as during a passing maneuver, the system improves acceleration feel by using the motor/generator to bolster the gasoline engine to achieve maximum power. The new hybrid system also is designed to automatically maintain full accessory functionality, including climate control, when the vehicle is stopped, so that hybrid operation is transparent to the driver and passengers.
The Vue Hybrid allows an appropriate balance between fuel economy and comfort by providing a system with two driver-selectable operating modes. An economy mode favors fuel economy by limiting the affect of air conditioning, while the other mode favors maximum passenger comfort and defogging performance.
Three hybrid systems
The Vue Green Line is one of 12 hybrids GM will launch, providing customers with several levels of fuel economy savings at different price points on vehicles ranging from cars to full-size SUVs. GM launched the world's first hybrid pickup trucks in 2004, with retail availability expanding nationwide with the 2006 model year. GM also will introduce an all-new, two-mode hybrid system that is uniquely compact and scalable to vehicles of all sizes. This new system will debut in GM's new, full-size Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs in 2007.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
voice of reason 9:45AM (1/09/2006)
Kill Saturn now, and put the hybrid drivetrain in the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. Saturn is redundant.
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k 9:59AM (1/09/2006)
true Saturn is redundant, but so is Pontiac, GMC, Chevrolet, and Buick. There should only be two lines, if that. standard consumer line and luxury line.
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Ian 10:08AM (1/09/2006)
While the mileage figures are impressive I wonder why GM use "only" a 4 speed transmission? Surely a 5 or 6 speed autobox would allow for even better mileage and better aceleration? Seems like a missed opportunity to me.
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Devin Lussier 10:24AM (1/09/2006)
I personally think Saturn is a more customer-friendly brand than Chevy. Anyone I know who's had a Saturn has always had fond things to say about it, even if it's only about their service department. I think Saturn is a great model for what all of GM needs to focus on. Inexpensive vehicles with great customer service, designs that are clean but interesting enough, and an easy ownership experience.
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Paul 10:39AM (1/09/2006)
gm is redundant. ford is redundant.
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klaatu 10:54AM (1/09/2006)
Just silly. Dragging around batteries for only a 20% improvement is dumb. Hybrids should be at least a 50% improvement in mileage. My Prius is an 80 to 100% improvement in mileage (compared to a vehicle of similar properties).
GM's usual answer - do it cheaper - wow, what a surprise. You get what you pay for (and less, in this case).
Toyota and Hyundai and Subaru are all working on less expensive hybrids, too - the cost savings will come about from mass production, not giving the customer less value, as this "light hybrid" system.....
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Lithous 12:00PM (1/09/2006)
klaatu, there you go again, not getting it.
First GM doesn't want to do hybrids. There are at least 2 other alternatives (all electric and hydrogen) which are going to take over hybrids relatively soon and would have been sooner if millions haven't been diverted to them now. Look at the "Minority Report" car blog on this site where toyota predicts the car of the future is all electric.
Second, when Honda is charging at least $7k more for their hybrid systems in cars that weren't hybrids from the start and they get just over 50% difference. Add to the fact that the $7K (and Saturn's $2K, though, U.S. companies are doing 0% all the time) difference is financed in most cases so it turns out to be more money for the hybrids over the life of the loan i.e. interest on $7K is a lot more than on $2K.
It starts to all make (monetary) sense.
Scroll over civic sedan then civic hybrid and accord sedan and accord hybrid to see where I got my Honda price differences: http://automobiles.honda.com
BTW, sorry I didn't use Toyota as the comparison instead of Honda. When I went to see info on toyota.com about hybrid camry vs regular camry I had to watch a movie load up and it was painful, even over high speed connection. They couldn't just let you see the cars all on one menu (like honda). They have to show you a movie with weeds (dandilions sp?) before they gave any info. Give me a break.
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BF 2:35PM (1/09/2006)
# 5 klaatu,......80 to 100% better mileage in your Prius than say an Echo, Corolla or Camry?
Yeah right. Even if you take the EPA numbers you don't get there. MT had MPG in the mid 40's during their Long Termer. Hell my old Saturn SL used to get 41 MPG HWY.
I think you are drinking a little too much of the Toyota Kool Aid.
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harry murphy 9:57PM (1/09/2006)
As for the cretin who says saturn should be dumped and the green line technology given to pontiac and chevrolet, he obviously never comparison shopped a saturn retailer with chevy and pontiac dealers, especially in the same day. the difference is nothing short of dramatic. saturn is the polar opposite of redundent. several years ago, I did comparison shop saturn vs. dodge, chevy. ford, pontiac and toyota. to make a long story short, the saturn sales consultant was the only sales person who did not try to hustle me into his managers office and was the only one who didn't ask what he had to do to get me into a car NOW! Mike, my saturn consultant, really knew his product and his company and his competition. he was also low key, sincere and just impressed the hell out of me. I am now driving my third trouble free saturn, a '99 sl2. I am waiting to buy my '06 aura. i hope saturn makes it big in the marketplace and continues to expand it's product line because i just can't imagine myself buying anything other than a saturn. Who knows. someday GM might get smart and fashion all of their franchises after the saturn model. do that and never worry about chapter 11.
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Ed 1:37PM (1/10/2006)
Yeah, GM's disinterested in hybrids because it's just so close to breakthroughs in hydrogen and full electric. Right.
First of all, those technologies won't be around for 15 years by even the most wildly optimistic estimates. Will GM be around in 15 years?
Second, the Japanese will beat GM to those technologies just like they've beaten the General to every other technology on the face of the Earth (except for heated windshield washer fluid, GM's great technological achievement) for the past couple decades.
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Charles Williams 4:39AM (1/11/2006)
Ok Ok. I work for Saturn and the thought of buying a prius that gets 40 to 50mpg is nice until I think of being killed buy a suv. Those cars are so over hyped and ugly. At least with the green line Vue you can afford to take it off road and do something with your kids. Try that in you YUGO Prius. And to everybody posting that GM is going broke. Well look again we still employ over 1.1 miilion people threw plants sales dealerships and subsideraires. And world wide sell 9,000,000 cars a year globaly. So shut off your T.V. and quit watchingbloomburg in the morning and read and get your facts straight. ONE LOYAL GM EMPLOYEE
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