Spy Shots: Saturn Vue Red Line
With the new Saturn Vue crossover utility vehicle due to hit showrooms soon, GM's not wasting a moment: they're hard at work on the Red Line performance version. The intrepid paparazzi at KGP caught this thinly-disguised test mule driving around Detroit.
The shots reveal that the Red Line will get a much more aggressive front end than the standard Vue, with bigger air intakes and integrated fog lamps like on the Saturn Sky roadster, suggesting this could become a new design element for hotter Saturns. You'll also be able to tell the Red Line version from the ordinary Vue by the mesh grille inserts and dual exhaust pipes.
The new Vue Red Line ditches the Honda-sourced engine of its predecessor in favor of GM's latest sophisticated 250-hp VVT DOHC 3.6-liter V6 driving through the General's Hydra-Matic six-speed auto box. A five-speed stick and all-wheel-drive will also be available. That should make for a pretty hot little package from the brand that not long ago was anything but.
[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
admirer 2:52PM (1/05/2007)
that looks killer!!
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Owen 1:27PM (1/05/2007)
That is nice, that IS the nicest looking CUV on the market.
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Matt W. 3:37PM (1/05/2007)
Blah. It looks like a hatchback on steroids.
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menice 1:34PM (1/05/2007)
killer?
yea, ok, moms new soccer wagon is killer....
no matter what, it's still saturn, in 1-2 yrs it'll have more rattles and maint issues then it will juicey juice stains.
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Michael Karesh 1:49PM (1/05/2007)
Reading about a manual transmission in a piece on the next VUE Red Line was a pleasant surprise.
But then I clicked through to the article, and learned that the manual will only be available with the four-cylinder in the regular VUE.
Why do companies so often think we only want a stick with the weakest engine???
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wulfgar 1:56PM (1/05/2007)
Is this based on the Suzuki Grand Vitara platform previously developed with GM? Looks very similar, body-wise. Just curious........
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Tony C 2:10PM (1/05/2007)
Hmmm... GM... Sophisticated...
Nope. Doesn't go together.
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Jason 2:42PM (1/05/2007)
6. Hmmm... GM... Sophisticated...
Nope. Doesn't go together.
Posted at 2:10PM on Jan 5th 2007 by Tony C 0 stars
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"Sophisticated"?
Go back to the Castro "darling".
This is a blog for car guys!
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sk 2:44PM (1/05/2007)
#5 wulfgar,
No, it is based on the new Opel Antara. Its almost identical except for the interior.
http://www.opel.de
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Tom 3:03PM (1/05/2007)
Are you guys kidding me - it's a friggin Chevy Equinox
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Tom Parris 3:06PM (1/05/2007)
#3: I have owned several Saturns over the years and have had no reliablity problems and no more rattles and noises than any other car after 3 years. In fact our '05 VUE has not had any rattles that weren't tracked down by Saturn of ILM and repaired under warranty (there was only two and they were both loose screws - 1 in the rear hatch and 1 in the console. Our '01 L200 performed flawlessly for 39 months - even after it was hit in the back and pushed into another car in front. The experiences of a few ruin it for all...
#5: Good question.
I pulled up some pictures of the new GV and compared them to the '08 VUE. Very, very similar. It's a possibility. Remember: Suzuki helped GM develop the Theta platform. Suzuki took the Theta and went two ways with their own versions: short for the GV and long for the XL7. Makes sense that GM could take back from Suzuki and use the shortened Theta themselves.
#8: We know it's based on the Opel Antara. What he was asking was platform. We all know that car companies use platforms all over the world. Remember: the Equinox and Torent are based on the current VUE's platform (Theta) but you will never see a mention of the VUE in write-ups of those two.
These are just my opionions. Let the flaming begin!
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Mr_Oak 3:13PM (1/05/2007)
6. Hmmm... GM... Sophisticated...
Nope. Doesn't go together.
You need to check your facts. Dare I say that the C6 Z06 is more sophisticated than the 911 or M3.
A 7.0 liter engine that gets comparable fuel economy to your 3.6 liter more "sophicticated" Porsche engine, and will flat out maul anything coming out of Europe or Japan thisi side of a 1/4 to 1/2 million dollars.
Name a BMW Benz or Jag that will allow you to drive another 50 or so miles after you've blown a radiator hose or busted a radiator? The Northstar can.
GM = useful technology, Lexus brings you a that can park it's self. Now, tell me why do you have a drivers license if you can't park the friggin car?
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Dre 3:26PM (1/05/2007)
similarly you could say a 7.0L engine that makes the same power as a 5.0L.... just saying
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Steve 4:03PM (1/05/2007)
Hmm, are they sure about the 250HP 3.6? They tuned it to ~270 in the Outlook. If this is the sport model they may very well bump it to the full amount. Just a thought...
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Loud and Proud 4:34PM (1/05/2007)
11. 6. Hmmm... GM... Sophisticated...
Nope. Doesn't go together.
You need to check your facts. Dare I say that the C6 Z06 is more sophisticated than the 911 or M3.
A 7.0 liter engine that gets comparable fuel economy to your 3.6 liter more "sophicticated" Porsche engine, and will flat out maul anything coming out of Europe or Japan thisi side of a 1/4 to 1/2 million dollars.
Name a BMW Benz or Jag that will allow you to drive another 50 or so miles after you've blown a radiator hose or busted a radiator? The Northstar can.
GM = useful technology, Lexus brings you a that can park it's self. Now, tell me why do you have a drivers license if you can't park the friggin car?
Posted at 3:13PM on Jan 5th 2007 by Mr_Oak 0 stars
You tell 'em Mr_Oak while I pat my foot.
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MikeW 5:17PM (1/05/2007)
Maybe the Vue will drop the fricking joke of a 4 speed automatic 4t45 for the 6t40
otherwise no one will buy the 2.4 I4 besides fleets & rental.
The tires are smaller now : hankook 235/55 18 [RH06?} verus Bridgestone turanza el42 245/50 18, and the weight is up. This red line doesn't look like too much fun to drive.
The front drive VUE redline was ~3600lbs, now 4100lbs
http://media.gm.com/us/gm/en/news/events/autoshows/07la/brands/saturn/vue.htm
Where is the four wheel drive? 'Borrow' Alfa Romeo torsen3 four wheel drive.
twin turbo 2.8V6 300hp, 300ft-lbs
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Jim 7:00PM (1/05/2007)
The skirts changes the proportion of the car.
Looks like a toy.
Pull your skirt up missy.
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Mr_Oak 10:14PM (1/05/2007)
12. similarly you could say a 7.0L engine that makes the same power as a 5.0L.... just saying
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Exactly which 5.0 L engine are you referring to. The M5 V10 that none all of you marvel and none of you can afford. That's stuffed in that portly M5 or M6? The Z06 would annihilate either on open road or on a track for quite a bit less coin.
Yeah, I grow-up marveling those German cars too, then I finally owned one. Never again.
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