Autoblog

click above image to view gallery of the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line

The second generation of General Motors' original hybrid SUV has arrived, and it's still the cheapest hybrid SUV on the market, but just barely. The $24,795 price slides under the Ford Escape Hybrid by only $280. The new mild hybrid Vue Green Line being introduced this fall is the first of a trio of hybrid variants that will appear over the next two years. This time next year, a Two-Mode hybrid version will appear, followed by a plug-in version the following year.

For now though, the belt-alternator-starter (BAS) system has been optimized to yield a couple more miles per gallon. The Vue has earned a rating of 25/32 mpg city/highway under the new 2008 EPA test procedures, which is quite a feat considering most hybrids saw their fuel economy drop with the EPA's new testing procedures. Combined with a 19 gallon gas tank the Vue can cruise for 585 miles on the highway, which should be enough to outlast most bladders. For those with a more limited purchase budget, a non-hybrid 2.4L four cylinder Vue is also available now for $21,395.

Update: GM verified that the Vue hybrid is in production and they will still arriving in dealerships over the next few weeks. By Mid-November they should be widely available at all Saturn dealers.
[Source: Saturn]

Click images for photo gallery

Green-ness in the European auto market has become quite the trendy thing, as evidenced by the frenzy of alt-fuel/economy/clean-tech debuts littering the IAA floor. It's to be expected, given the regulatory noises coming from Euro government officials. VW-owned Czech automaker Škoda has gotten into the act this year, offering up a "GreenLine" version of its new Fabia compact. (Somewhere in the RenCen, Saturn officials must be grumbling about Škoda's name selection for its eco-roster.)

The GreenLine cars feature engines that focus on fuel economy and low emissions. As such, the Fabia GreenLine and Fabia Combi GreenLine (shown above) are powered by a 1.4L TDI with a diesel particulate filter that delivers 79 horsepower and emits less than 110 g/km of CO2. Another GreenLine car that will go on sale in biofuel-friendly Sweden later this year is the Octavia Combi Greenline, which is driven by a 100-horse 1.6L E85-compatible engine. Green is definitely the new black. Or something.

You can read more about Škoda's complete Frankfurt lineup in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Škoda]

Time is winding down for the chance to win a fully-loaded $29,000 Dodge Nitro, so get in when the getting is still good (Enter every day through June 14th by clicking here.) This week in pictures saw plenty of spy shots, new models, and some interesting videos. Among the many stories on Autoblog, we did a review of the Saturn Aura Green Line, we covered the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and Opel Corsa GSi.

The last week was a blast, and you only need three minutes to get an update by clicking on the above video. We've also added links below to some of the more significant galleries from the last seven days. This week, music comes from The Touch Ups with "Fast Food Rampage". Enjoy!

Click image for photo gallery

We recently spent a week with Saturn's latest addition to the stable, the Aura Green Line, which afforded us the opportunity to size it up relative to its Aura XR sibling that we tested last year. The Aura XR was impressive, with attractive styling, some real pop underhood courtesy of the 3.6L V6, and a nicely-rounded, comfortable driving experience. A lot of he same basic good stuff carries forward to the Aura Green Line. Autoblog's Aura Hybrid also looked pretty sharp and comported itself well overall. Follow the jump for a brief rundown of some of our observations of the Green Line compared to the XR, and keep an eye on AutoblogGreen in the coming days, as our colleague, Sam Abuelsamid, will be posting a complete full-length review of the car.

The folks at Saturn have finally slapped a sticker on their 2007 Aura Green Line, and at $22,695 (with destination fee) it undercuts the price of every other hybrid on the market. If that wasn't enough incentive to woo would be fuel misers into the dealership, the Green Line also qualifies for the $1,300 federal tax credit.

As a refresher, the hybrid setup in the Aura combines a 2.4L engine to an electric motor/generator to produce 164 HP and 159 lb.-ft. of torque while returning current EPA mileage figures of 28 city/35 highway. The 30-percent increase in mileage over the base Aura is achieved by both shutting off the engine at idle and cutting fuel delivery during deceleration. The Aura GL is considered a "mild" hybrid since the electric motor doesn't move the vehicle on its own or assist the IC engine in acceleration at any time.

You can check Saturn's website for more information or read the press release after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Click for Red Line / Green Line photo gallery

It turns out that the Astra isn't the only thing GM's Saturn division has up its sleeve for this week's big Windy City show. Visitors to McCormick Place will also get their first eyefuls of the 2008 Vue's performance and hybrid variants.

The '08 Vue Red Line (above) gets a "performance-inspired" new look that's bound to have people talking (that may not necessarily be a good thing). The Red Line's front end is dominated by an enormous air opening below the front bumper, which is bookended by big secondary cutouts that house projector-beam foglights. The center cutout is so large, you'd expect to see an intercooler hiding behind it. Don't look for any forced induction here, though. The Vue Red line has the same powertrain as the Vue XR: GM's 250-horsepower 3.6L VVT V6 matched with a six-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode. Buyers can order it with either FWD or AWD.

Follow the jump for more info on the Red Line, initial info on the Vue Green Line and GM's official press release.

[Source: GM]

Click image for full review at AutoblogGreen

Did we say Autoblog Garage? We meant to say AutoblogGreen Garage, because that's where we've posted our thoughts about Saturn's first hybrid vehicle. Yes, it still sports the "classic" plastic-fantastic bodywork. No, it can't run in all-electric mode. But despite its age, silly faux radiator grille, and the fact that its current powertrain isn't of the fancy-schmancy Toyota or Ford variety, there's still quite a bit to like about the lame-duck Vue in Green Line trim. Our full thoughts about the ride are at AutoblogGreen, so please be sure to head over and check out the review in its entirety.

Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak's enthusiasm for her brand is infectious. And really, who can blame her? The charismatic and ebullient Ms. Lajdziak is at the helm of a brand that's critical to GM's product-based turnaround plan and which has seen its entire lineup overhauled over a very short timeframe. It's paying off, too. The day before we interviewed her, the Saturn Aura won the North American Car of the Year Award -- beating out both the Honda Fit and Toyota Camry. We aren't necessarily surprised about that -- we raved about the Aura XR that paid a visit to Autoblog Garage last year. Aura's just one part of the story, though.

It's joined by a compelling new crossover in Outlook, a legitimate halo car in the Sky, and will soon see the dated Vue replaced by a stylish replacement courtesy of sister brand Opel. To top it all off, next month in Chicago Jill will pull the wraps off the Saturn Astra hatchbacks. Saturn is a very serious player in multiple segments now, but Jill Lajdziak hasn't lost sight of the brand's roots, either. Read on as she tells us what it's like to oversee such a drastic brand reinvention and how she plans to carry Saturn's existing customers into the new era while winning over new converts who haven't perhaps considered the brand before.

The first question and answer can be found below. Follow the jump for the interview in its entirety.

Jill Lajdziak -- Division General Manager, Saturn
North American International Auto Show
January 8, 2007

Autoblog: Obviously you won the North American Car of the Year award yesterday. Was it unexpected for you? How surprised were you to get that?

Jill Lajdziak: Well, you know what? Tough competition. And so to win versus two very key competitors in the marketplace, we couldn't be more honored. We weren't surprised -- we know we've got a great product on our hands -- but it ultimately comes down to the voting. And I think what makes this award really coveted and really special is it's done by 47 jurors, 47 auto journalists. We have high respect for them, they're the best at what they do, writing about cars and trucks, they evaluate product every day, all manufacturers 365 days a year. They have voted and the have obviously named the Saturn Aura the Car of the Year. We couldn't be more thrilled. And because of that, it's not just one person's opinion, but it's 47 opinions and that's a good endorsement for this brand and it's a great recognition for the kind of product we've brought forward to the marketplace.

UPDATE: Saturn will initially offer the new Vue Green Line with the current model's mild hybrid drivetrain, then offer both that drivetrain and the new FWD two-mode system together. See AutoblogGreen's coverage with more info here.


Here's some news we weren't expecting. The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid will sport the first front-wheel drive version of the company's two-mode hybrid system first seen on the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. The full hybrid drivetrain should return a 45-percent improvement in fuel economy over a non-hybrid Vue. That's a big bump over the 25-percent improvement in fuel economy that GM's claiming for vehicles saddled with its mild hybrid drivetrain, like the current Vue Green Line and upcoming 2008 Aura Green Line. The main difference between the two types of hybrid drivetrains is that the two-mode system allows for electric-only propulsion at low speeds while the mild system's battery backs can only assist the gas engine.

The Saturn Vue Green Line's transmission also sounds like a piece of trick hardware, with two electric continously variable modes and four fixed mechanical gear ratios. While details are scarce and we left our engineering degree back home, that tranny appears to be a combination of a CVT and traditional four-speed that's split between the electric drive and power provided by the gas engine, which is GM's own 3.6-liter VVT V6. Perhaps we're reading the press release wrong, but it's light on verbage and exposition so that's all we have to go on.

It's a very smart move by General Motors to upgrade the Vue Green Line to true hybrid status, especially considering that an even more frugal Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid is now being developed. While most shoppers aren't aware of the intricate differences between a mild and full hybrid setup, the cache that comes with running a full hybrid drivetrain has weight and the improvement in mileage can't be denied. The fact this is the first front-wheel drive application of GM's two-mode hybrid system means we should see it start being used in other passenger cars in the near future, as well.

Check out the full press release for yourself after the jump.

[Source: GM]

UPDATE: Gallery of live shots added after jump


After being on sale for a year, the Saturn Aura is getting its green wings. The Aura Green Line is the first of four hybrids that General Motors will release in 2007, another of which includes the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line. Like that vehicle, the Aura Green Line features a mild hybrid system that, while not boosting MPGs as high as a Toyota Prius, manages to keep the premium for being green lower than a traditional hybrid. The vehicle's base price, in fact, will begin below $23,000. Saturn designers also chose to keep the Aura Green Line's styling low key, with the only indication you're driving a green machine being the "Hybrid" badge on the back and the assist/charge gauge on the dash.

Follow the jump for more info and pics of the Aura Green Line, as well as GM's full press release.