| Saturn Vue |
Article Index for Saturn |
Website Links For Saturn |
Information AboutSaturn Vue |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SATURN VUE | |
| crossover suvs | |
| compact suvs | |
| hybrid vehicles | |
| saturn vehicles | |
| vue | |
| front wheel drive vehicles | |
| all wheel drive vehicles | |
| 2000s automobiles | |
The Saturn VUE is a Compact Crossover SUV from General Motors ' Saturn Marque , and is Saturn's top-selling model in the United States . It was the first vehicle to use the GM Theta Platform . The VUE is the oldest model in the Saturn lineup since the demise of the L-Series in 2005. FIRST GENERATION The VUE was introduced for the 2002 model year and was designed by Saturn. It was manufactured at the Spring Hill GM plant. Its unibody platform is shared with the Chevrolet Equinox , Pontiac Torrent and the Europe an Opel Antara . The first generation ran from model year 2002-2007. Four-cylinder VUEs use the '' Ecotec '' I4 . The '' L81 '' V6 from the L-Series and 5-speed Aisin AF33 Automatic Transmission were initially offered, but starting in 2004, all 6-cylinder VUEs were equipped with the Honda -manufactured L66 Engine and a Honda transmission. The four-cylinder VUE was available with the VTi Continuously-variable Transmission (CVT) until GM canceled it for 2005. The VUE received a facelift for the 2006 model year. Upgrades included a redesigned interior with higher-quality materials, a new bumper and grille, and some minor cosmetic pieces to the exterior. OnStar is now standard as well as Cruise Control and automatic headlights. Red Line Saturn introduced a special high-performance line of vehicles in 2004 under the name, "Red Line". The VUE Red Line includes the '' L66 '' V6 and sportier suspension tuning for performance. 18 in alloy wheels, ground-effect front bumpers, chrome exhaust tips, special black leather and suede seats, footwell lighting, and a special gauge cluster complete the visual updates. It also includes some special interior features as well like a better audio system."Saturn VUE". Advertisement brochure. Canada: General Motors Corporation and General Motors of Canada Limited, 2006, p.21 of 32. Green Line The high-performance VUE Red Line was joined for 2007 by an environmentally-oriented Green Line model. The VUE is a Mild Hybrid , or Assist Hybrid , using what GM calls a " Belt Alternator Starter " (BAS) system.1 A large electric motor is connected to the crankshaft via a special accessory drive belt, with a modified automatic transmission fitted. It automatically stops the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt and instantly restarts it when the vehicle must move again. Not to be confused as just a "start-stop" system, the electric motor also assists somewhat in acceleration, though not to the extent that Honda 's Integrated Motor Assist system does. A Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery located under the load floor powers the electric motor, as well as collects and stores regenerative braking energy. The NiMH also provides some electric assist to the engine during steady driving, further improving fuel economy. The regenerative charging and electric motor assist functions are shown to the driver via an analog gauge on the dash board, and real-time fuel-economy feedback is accomplished via an "eco" light that glows when the instantaneous fuel economy is beating the window sticker fuel economy values. According to Saturn "the result is a VUE that gets an estimated 8.8L/100 km (27 city/highway sticker to 27/32 mpg, the highest highway fuel economy of any SUV besides the Ford Escape Hybrid .2 The Green Line has a 170 hp 2.4 L '' Ecotec '' DOHC -phaser engine which replaces the standard 144 hp 2.2 L Engine , resulting in the improvement of 0-60 mph acceleration time by 1.0 Second s. The Green Line version costs about US$ 2,000 more than a similarly-equipped VUE, and debuted in production form on January 8 , 2006 at the North American International Auto Show . The Green Line went on sale in fall 2006. SECOND GENERATION Saturn introduced the all-new second generation 2008 Saturn Vue at the 2007 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show (held in Nov-Dec 2006) and is a re-badged Opel Antara . A preview of the new design was shown at the 2006 New York International Auto Show as the Saturn PreVue concept, which itself was based on the Opel Antara GTC concept displayed in Frankfurt in 2005. While the PreVue had only two doors, production Vue models will all have four. The standard engine is a 2.4 liter Ecotec with variable valve timing. Optional engines include a 3.5 liter V6 and a 3.6 liter DOHC V6 . Production moved to Ramos Arizpe , Mexico , where the Chevrolet HHR is produced 3. Although now built in Mexico, GM does not sell this vehicle as a Chevrolet or Pontiac there. Ironically, Saturn's ad campaign is "Rethink American". The new Saturn Astra will also not be American-made. The Vue Green Line Hybrid debuted with the same Mild Hybrid system as the current model. A full hybrid model featuring GM's two mode system will later be introduced. This model will feature Front Wheel Drive . After this system is introduced, GM will release a Plug-in Hybrid version of the vehicle. This will make it the first plug in hybrid marketed by an OEM Automaker . http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/11/29/la-auto-show-saturn-vue-green-line-will-offer-2-mode-and-plug-i/ SEE ALSO List Of Hybrid Vehicles REFERENCES |
|
|