The current-generation Saturn Vue is also sold in Europe as the Opel Antara, and in the right hand drive UK market as the Vauxhall Antara. Since it's introduction in 2007, the Euro editions have been available with an Opel 1.9 turbodiesel engine. With the public debut of the two-mode hybrid Vue last week at the Detroit Auto Show the next bit of speculation revolves around a European edition and the possibility of a diesel hybrid. According to GM spokesman Brian Corbett there are no production plans for an Opel/Vauxhall hybrid Antara or a diesel hybrid. The two-mode system is quite expensive to manufacture at this point, and a diesel two-mode would probably be prohibitively expensive for its market segment. Add in the lesser popularity of hybrids in Europe and it will probably quite a few years before a diesel hybrid Antara shows up on European roads. A mild hybrid diesel with the second-generation belt alternator starter system using a lithium battery might be a different story though, not that GM is saying anything about that.
[Source: AutoExpress, General Motors]
[Source: AutoExpress, General Motors]
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