Plug-in Saturn Vue expected on the road in "2009-ish"

Remember this picture? That's GM's Jill Ladjiak at last year's LA Auto Show when the General announced the plug-in Saturn Vue hybrid. Pretty excited, no? At the time, GM's Rick Wagoner said the PHEV Vue, which will use a modified version of GM's 2-mode hybrid system and a lithium Ion battery pack, was a "top priority" but no one would dare suggest when the car might be available for sale. Since then, we've had all kinds of updates on the progress of batter development and other things that need to happen to get you, yes you, a plug-in Saturn.

The Detroit Free Press' Mark Phelan is now reporting that Lajdziak told him in Frankfurt this week that the plug-in Vue is coming "very quickly ... in 2009-ish." So, we're getting there. Remember, though, that GM is not new to the plug-in game: here are plans for a PHEV from 38 years ago.

Related:

• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line
• GM Awards two lithium-ion battery contracts for PHEV Saturn Vue
• Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid unveiled
• US gets three hybrid Saturn Vues, Europe gets a diesel Opel Antara

[Source: Detroit Free Press]