Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011
Saturn Vue Two-Mode hybrid – click above for high-res gallery
When word came in the last few days that General Motors had reached a tentative deal to sell the Saturn brand to Roger Penske, the obvious question then became, "What about product?" The Penske deal apparently includes an agreement to continue supplying some current Saturn products on an interim basis until Penske lines up a new supplier and Penske has said that EVs are a priority. One of the most anticipated products that was scheduled to come from Saturn soon was the first front-wheel drive application of the two mode hybrid system in the Vue. GM had completed development of the two-mode Vue in mid-2008 and production was originally scheduled to start in November of last year. However, when GM's finances went from bad to worse, the hybrid launch was delayed first until spring 2009 and then summer.
GM hybrid spokesman Brian Corbett spoke with ABG at the opening of the company's new battery lab and gave us the bad news. The Vue two mode hybrid will never be, despite the Penske deal. While the two mode system will be installed in other as yet un-named vehicles (likely including the Chevrolet Equinox), those models won't appear until at least calender year 2011. The delay is likely due to an engine change. The Vue was to use the 3.6-liter V6, and that engine is not currently used in the new Equinox or the new Cadillac SRX, the other rumored recipient. Most likely, GM is switching over to using the new 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 or perhaps even the new 2.2-liter DI four cylinder.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hypermiler 2:26PM (6/09/2009)
And Vue's replacement, Renault Korea's QM5, won't be a hybrid either.
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tigerinca 2:28PM (6/09/2009)
Actually that info regarding the 2-Mode Vue getting cancelled has been on Saturn's website for weeks. Was a common question so Jill answered it straight up. ;)
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Level 2:34PM (6/09/2009)
Can someone please explain to me why GM would not like to supply cars to Saturn under new owner ship and make some money in the process?? and instead have Saturn get their re-badge cars from somewhere else and be competition to GM???
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hypermiler 2:59PM (6/09/2009)
It costs serious money to keep a model on the market.
Jared 3:41PM (6/09/2009)
Level: revenue != profit
Just because GM could build vehicles for the new Saturn doesn't mean they could do so profitably.
http:www.showitortowit.com 2:41PM (6/09/2009)
Saturn should focus on small fuel efficient cars while keeping the Saturn Sky in the mix to add a fun factor. (Although I hear the Sky is going away following the GM Bankruptcy announcement.)
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falcon5768 2:51PM (6/09/2009)
the whole Kappa line is gone. The factory that made the 3 of them is being closed down and the workers laid off.
sydbot 3:00PM (6/09/2009)
2.4L DI?
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FousString85 3:13PM (6/09/2009)
The two mode hybrid with a four cylinder should offer some even more impressive mpgs.
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Dave 3:35PM (6/09/2009)
I hope to see a two-mode Malibu with the DI 2.2.
It will be interesting to see a fuel economy race between the Camry, Fusion, Altima, and Malibu hybrids.
I doubt that CUVs can make impressive highway numbers with their larger frontal area.
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jon 3:49PM (6/09/2009)
so for the first time in saturns long history of claiming to be "independent" they finally are... penske might be making a colossal mistake here, but with the right decisions, he could build saturn into a reputable brand, but it wont be easy
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Jim 3:57PM (6/09/2009)
Hmm, so Penske Saturn will "prioritize on EVs." I wonder if Roger has designs on Tesla Motors...
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Dave 10:46PM (6/09/2009)
Why?
Tesla has nothing special to offer.
They cobbled together a gutted Lotus, a pile of laptop batteries, and off-the-shelf motor, controller, and charger.
For the money, its not impressive at all.
Jim 10:55PM (6/09/2009)
It works, it's for sale, and Tesla keeps running into money issues. They need a sugar daddy, and if Penske wants Saturn to focus on EVs, Tesla is ripe for the picking.
Jim 10:57PM (6/09/2009)
oh, and Daimler isn't that sugar daddy. They're like King Midas, except everything they touch turns to crap, not gold.
Judy Zik 10:59PM (6/09/2009)
Hmm. Well let's see. Saturn's old friend Opel is now in the hands of Magna and Frank has plans to make Opel EV's and the technology to do it. Wonder if these might show up in the US as Saturns. EV's and small cars are the future for Saturn. I wouldn't consider this their mistake though. It would seem pretty obvious that it is GM who either doesn't want to part with the technology or wants too much for it.
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