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General Motors has to replace the battery packs in every Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura and Saturn Vue hybrid sold since 2007, some 25,800 U.S. vehicles. The problem? It doesn't have enough packs to fix what's broken. UPDATE below. More »
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GM just announced plans to give the outgoing Saturn Vue a facelift for Buick and introduce it as a plug-in 2-mode hybrid. It'll use Volt-like batteries and run 10 miles on electricity only, making it the first plug-in hybrid SUV. More »
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Today's hilariously inappropriate vanity license plate comes from the great State of California and one person who likes... well... just add an "I," a "U" and a dirty mind. NSFW. (H/T to Jeff) [Motive] More »
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What's a dog-and-pony show without some kind of award? At this year's LA Auto Show they'll be awarding Green Car Journal's fourth Green Car of the Year Award to one of five finalists. The competitors this year are the yet-to-be-unveiled 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the BMW 335d, Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid, Smart Fortwo and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The winner will be announced at a November 20th press conference, and we know which one we'll be pulling for - the 2010 Ford Mustang. Complete details, if you're into that kind of thing, below. More »
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Why you should buy the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid: More »
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Exterior Design: **** More »
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"That's a hybrid but you can't drive it on all-electric power?" No, you can't. And I got pretty good at explaining why not by the time the sixth person asked. The least enjoyable part of spending a week with the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid was telling inquisitive folks how it worked. And how it didn't work. GM bills the Vue as a hybrid, which it is; however, thanks to marketing and hype, most folks assume a hybrid vehicle can be powered by straight electric, straight gas, or a combination of the two. And the Saturn Vue hybrid isn't that kind of hybrid. More »
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There may be no better indicator that many carmakers have been unable to adjust to the sudden increase in gas prices and the resulting shift in consumer demand than hybrid sales. Although there was an obvious run to more fuel-efficient cars — witness the Civic besting the Ford F-150 in overall sales for the first time ever — hybrid sales overall were down 11% from April to May, down 24.3% month-to-month from 2007 and even the market-leading Toyota Prius experienced a 31% drop in sales for the month. How did that happen? There are a few factors at work here, which we've helpfully outlined below the jump. More »
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In the midst of a $4/gallon-inspired run on every ride that gets more than 12 MPG, we were more than a little surprised to hear that the 2008 Saturn Aura Green Line has racked up a measly 69 sales through the end of April. Wot's the deal? Turns out that leaky batteries, courtesy of supplier Cobasys, have sent the Saturn hybrids into the realm of vaporware at the same time GM's marketers are touting the company's green credentials to any buyer who will listen. The same issue has plagued the Saturn Vue Green Line, which saw sales numbers fall to 326 through April, vs. 2,683 in the first four months of 2007. Cobasys claims to have solved the problem and is now shipping defect-free battery packs. Knowing GM's luck with timing the market, a betting man might expect fuel prices to drop back below a buck a gallon at about the same time as production ramps back up. More »
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With the emerging global Saturn Vue shortage crisis biting into the supply of crossovers, global prices of the US-ified Opel are spiking to unheard of levels. Case in point comes from Saturn of Oxford Valley — ground zero for the desperate shortages. With so few Vues on the market, and demand so incredibly high, prices there have surged to $2,293,500. Of course, this particular model may be the one equipped with 70 lbs of platinum body panels so, you know, that would be market price. [Saturn of Oxford Valley] (Thanks Dillon) More »
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The quick-to-the-snap spy photographers at KGP have shot what they think is the upcoming 2009 Cadillac BRX doing some cold weather testing out near GM's Milford proving grounds. At least we can only assume it's cold weather testing as it's wearing a leather snowsuit that'd make even little Randy topple over into the snow. Plus we're here, so we know it's frickin' freezing. According to KGP's sources, this actually may not even be the BRX. We heard back in December GMC was also going to get a Theta-platformed CUV, and after the arrival of Cadillac's Provoq concept at CES and the Detroit Auto Show — which features several design cues that alternately match, and differ from this prototype, neither us, nor Black Bart's KGP's shooters are comfortable in decisively stating that yes, this is the BRX. However, it's more likely than not — and that Vue-like shape is a pretty obvious tell that it's a Theta. While we're not sure whether it'll be 2009 or 2010 when we'll see the first BRX, the full description from KGP of their reasoning why this is representin' Cadillac style and not so much professional grade, after the jump. And by the way — we actually decided not to buy KGP's pictures this time around as they're not that much different from the last prototype tester seen in our last set of shots — only this time more close-up. So we've decided instead just to run these old n' busted shots of the 2009 Cadillac BRX below and we've linked to his new shots after the description after the jump. More »
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Saturn's lawyers are at it again — this time they are declaring a world's first. The Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode is the world's first front-wheel-drive compact hybrid SUV in the world, or so they say. The obvious key feature is the two-mode hybrid technology capable of increasing fuel economy by 50 percent compared to the non-hybrid V6 Vue. A 500 mile driving range also sounds pretty nice, at least on paper. The Vue Green Line 2 Mode features a 3.6-liter VVT V6 engine that can go 0-60 in 7.3 seconds. Expect this SUV to hit the dealer floor in late 2008. More »
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In a mere two years Saturn will make its Vue Plug-In Hybrid available for masses. Wait for it, wait for it, yes, this hybrid will plug into the standard 110V household electrical outlet and connect to the car at the front fender, utilizing an adapted two-mode hybrid system from GM. The battery will fully recharge in four to five hours. In addition to the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the Plug-In Hybrid will also feature GM's 3.6-liter V6 VVT engine. Even though it does contain a V6 engine, the Plug-In Hybrid will be capable of electric-only propulsion of 10 miles or so at low speeds according to the early testing. I would hate to see what this would do to household electronics. I have problems running the toaster and the dryer at the same time and who knows what would happen if a car was plugged into the mix. More »
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Saturn has gone and made its Vue Hybrid even more hybrid-tastic. Now equipped with GM's advanced two-mode hybrid technology, the new 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid promises a fifty percent increase in fuel mileage over the standard V6 model. All of that efficiency comes from a 3.6L V6 equipped with VVT and direct injection and not one, but two 55 kW electric motors integrated into the transmission. Those motors provide assist at different vehicle speeds in order to minimize fuel consumption. Pretty clever, eh? Our only problem with this whole thing is the page long name. We'll be digging around in the new Saturn starting Sunday and you can follow at our Detroit Auto Show tag page. Feel free to hit up the RSS feed for your RSS reader or just keep refreshing till your browser crashes. More »
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The GM brand all about Saturnalia announced today the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid will have a fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon in city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. Those are numbers putting it in line with the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Ford Escape hybrid. In addition, Saturn's priced the hybrid version of the Vue at $24,795 — pricing that slots it lower than any other hybrid SUV on the market. Plus it gets those Opel-tastic good looks to boot. Full press release after the jump. More »
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With the LA Times's Dan Neil giving a surprising cuddle to the new, Daewoo Theta-platformed Saturn Vue, we've become a few clicks above moderately interested in the new Vue Red Line. That's the performance -oriented version of the redesigned small SUV. As it appeared at the Chicago auto show earlier this year, the Vue Red Line is spec'ed with a 3.6-liter V6 VVT engine producing 250 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb.-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. That sixer's adjoined with to a six-speed automatic tranny over front- or all-wheel drive and 18-inch zapatos. Neil says the base model is a far sight better than the slushy rattletrap that was the previous Vue, and with the more potent hardware underfoot, the 2008 may become a dark horse in the domestic small performance SUV sweepstakes. Make that the only horse in a one-horse race. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=301888&view=rss&microfeed=true Dan Neil says the new Saturn Vue is "a winner." If Dan Neil says it's a winner — it must be a winner for GM. Or else he's been possessed by aliens. American-loving aliens. [LA Times] More »
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Although we weren't "lucky enough" to get a first drive of the new Opel Saturn Antara Vue, we're able to rely on the crazy kids at the site all about a Gary Numan song to show us what we're "missing." Rabbi Dave over at their blog, Kicking Tires, got a chance to whip one around for a bit, so until we get a chance in the driver seat, they're the best you're gonna get. Yeah, it ain't much, but like we said — it's the best we can get as of yet of Saturn's newly redesigned Car-UV. I mean, we're not saying the General's scared or nothing to let a "real blog" take it for a ride, but you know, if the tires fit...– Ray Wert More »
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We're not afraid to admit at least one of us (that would be me) really digs the new styling of the Saturn Vue. True, it's vaguely jellybean-esque, but it's still so much more appealing to the eyes than the boxy Rubbermaid exterior of the last one, it's hard not to be rooting for the little CUV. We dunno how either the Greenline Hybrid or Redline "performance version" actually perform, but man, we like how they look. Further not helpful lack-of-information-and-deets can be found in the press release below. – Ray Wert More »
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Winding Road's Paukert The Exclaimer reports on new spy images indicating the new Saturn Vue Red Line is nigh. And excited we should be, largely because the Opel Antara cousin will be getting a new, 3.6-liter VVT V6 producing 250 hp (@ 6,500 rpm) and 243 lb.-ft. of torque (@ 4,400 rpm) hooked to GM's new six-speed Hydra-Matic tranny. No GMC Typhoon this, though we may be surprised at how close it comes, even sans turbo. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Spinn's dropping of the hybrid bomb a little while earlier makes this somewhat anti-climactic, but that's ok — because what you see in front of you, is a Saturn, so quit asking already. And now, there's even some Opel and Daewoo design in the new-for-2008 Saturn Vue. Although I already know one commenter doesn't like the General's new prettiness — I have to admit, it's hella better looking than it's predecessor, a CUV that looked like it hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down — and then smacked nose-flatteningly-first into the ground. But of course I've been talking up the look and styling of the new Antara-derived Vue since back when it was just a Pre-Vue kid swinging on the New York Auto Show swing-sets. Judge for yourself in the gallery below and then view the press release in it's entirety after the jump. – Ray Wert More »
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We guess the euro boys n' girls are big fans of biking. All we know is we can rarely get our asses out from behind the laptop long enough to even ride a bike, much less require a rack to carry them. Nonetheless, we're sure there's a decent sized chunk of the population — both in Euro-land and here in the good old US of A — that'd love what Opel's cooked up. It's called the "Flex-Fix" and it's coming as an add-on for the '07 Opel Antara and Corsa. It's a rear-end hatch popping open and pulling out a two-bike carrier out of the bumper without the need of tools. And speaking of tools, the Antara's expected to replace the tool-mobile that is the current Saturn Vue. No word if we'll get this little tech-goodie over here, but if Saturn knows what's good for them, they'll drop it into some accessory package. Maybe they can call it the "trail mix" option pack. Full press release below the jump and gallery located via the link. – Ray Wert More »
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They're not absolute doppelgangers, but recent spy shots of the upcoming Hyundai Veracruz and new shots of the next Saturn Vue indicate the war of the crossovers could wind up being the most ho-hum battle since Coke and Pepsi decided they both sucked and started inventing new flavors (yay, chocolate-banana Coke!). Brace yourselves, people. The next few years will usher in the era of the rolling jellybean, the polygon on wheels, the minivan with doors, the @#&*%$#*! crossover SUV. Let the above be a warning. That is all. More »
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The new-look-for-2008 Saturn Vue, fascia obscura-less and sporting a look all it's Opel, was picked up by spy photog Brenda Priddy's li'l Metro D man, Chris Doane — and bought n' paid for by the folks who travel a road which knows no straightness. The new-for-2009 four-door CUV is expected to be built at the General's Ramos Arizpe, Mexico plant. According to the spy photog's sources, it'll come in a choice of manual or auto tranny with either a pair of V6's, two separate hybrid systems or a partridge in a pear tree. One of the two hybrid engines will reportedly use a Belt Alternator System (BAS) (that'd be the 2.4-liter), the second system will use GM's 3.6-liter V-6 and incorporate a hybrid powerplant from the joint-development team of DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and BMW. Yay, team! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201604&view=rss&microfeed=true We've been asking that question since the New York Auto Show, when we got our first look at the Opelization of the Saturn brand. Take, for example, the PreVue (hint, hint) concept based on the Opel Antara, Sky Redline based on the Opel GT and new Aura sedan based on the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra. It would appear Saturn's San Francisco treat of an agency, Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, heard some other folks asking the same question. Whoever they heard, the commercial's the latest part of Saturn's "Like always. Like never before." advertising campaign — a blitz, er, one commerical seeking to reimagine the brand as something that doesn't evoke a vegan burrito. Making and selling the vehicles noted above is one way to start that process. More »
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All the talk about hybrid cars coming out on the losing end of a cost-benefit analysis may not be true exactly, says Edmunds. According to a study by the car-info maniacs, some hybrids cars will cover their price premium within a few years, considering the current level of gas pricing and tax credits from the Feds. While hybrids cost between $1,200 and $7,000 more than comparable gas-only models, Edmunds says, the most efficient gas-electrics will pay off within a reasonable time period. Two examples cited are the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape, which assuming 15,000 miles per year and an average fuel cost of $3 per gallon, would break even in three years. Less-efficient models like the Saturn Vue, Toyota Camry and Civic Hybrid would zero out the premium in six years. Of course, we'd love to see such data graphed against that of high-efficiency gas-powered models sans both premium and tax incentives. But we're silly like that. More »
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GM's kept a promise it made last year when it first started dropping hints about the Saturn SUV Green Line into conversation with the chicks at Hef's grotto (at least that's how we picture it happening). It's priced the Saturn VUE Green Line compeitively not with fellow hybrids, but with non-hybrid SUVs in the same class. It's also selling the Green Line's decent-but-not-outstanding mileage figures in comparison with gas-only models. It's a smart strategy considering the Vue employs a mild hybrid system, in which the electric motor supports the gas engine not takes over for it — leaving mileage numbers less than sexy. Still, it winds up with 170 horsepower from the 2.2-liter four, compared to the gas-only version's 143, and uses a stop-start system to reduce emissions. MSRP starts at $22,995 and the EPA says it'll get 32 mpg on the highway (adjust expectations downward). It all means GM can claim the lowest-priced hybrid SUV on the market. Huzzah. More »
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Check out the new Saturn. Ok, so it's the Opel Antara SUV, which GM will launch later this year in Europe. But following after will surely be the US premiere of its will-be doppelg nger, the next-generation Saturn Vue. (Sister ships, the Chevrolet Captiva for Europe and Daewoo Windstorm for Asia, were revealed earlier.) The Antara's design cues come straight from the Opel Antara GTC concept, which was shown at the Frankfurt soiree last year, and the Saturn Prevue (get it?) concept, unveiled at the New York show last month. Unlike the three-door concepts, however, the production Antara is a five-door ute with seating for five and a 224 hp 3.2 V6 propelling mom and rugrats, along with "intelligent" four-wheel drive with electro-hydraulic differential. Get a good Vue. Ok, we'll stop now. More »
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After seeing all of the Opel-y goodness of the new Saturn line-up in New York, we're all hard up to strip the face mask and ass-obscura off of this Car Connection cam-captured Vue. If it's anything like the new hotness that was the PreVue (get it, pre-view — that one still cracks us up) concept, they may have an appealing design on their hands. However, who are we kidding? Those headlights totally look ol' and busted to us. More »
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The General may have found a way for "design by cost" to be a help instead of a hindrance. To top it off, it may even be environmentally-friendly. Holy Earth Day, readers! According to CNN/Money, the new Saturn Vue Green Line may have skimped on costs, but taking the competition's prices into account, it may give the General's new-and-green sports ute some added cache. Accountants everywhere are beaming over their adding machines. More »
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Here they come. Earlier this month, Chevrolet introduced its new SUV for Europe, the Captiva, at the Geneva show. Now a version is rolling out for South Korea, the GM-Daewoo Winstorm. Soon, we'll be seeing double and triple in markets all over the world. The importance of the new seven seater, developed by Daewoo, for GM's worldwide strategy cannot be underestimated — GM boss Rick Wagoner found time to attend a ceremony for the Winstorm, the production of which will bring laid off Daewoo workers back to the line. We'll see it in the US as the Saturn Vue, while Europeans will also get the Opel Antara and Vauxhall What the Hell is a Vauxhall? (Sorry, mates, cheap joke.) More »
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The General debuted a couple of new hybrid vehicles here in Detwa, one of 'em with a rather interesting twist. Farago wrote in from afar to remind us that GM had previously shown a hybrid vehicle that wasn't actually a hybrid, and that if possible we should check for the hybrid system with our own two eyes. Interestingly enough, when our operative asked a GM staffer on the Chevy stand for a peep under the hood of the '08 Tahoe Dual-Mode Hybrid, a couple of product specialists came over and warned them off the stand as soon as the staffer started to pop the bonnet. Take that as you will, readers. More »
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If it's Monday morning, it must be a spy photo from The Car Connection. Today, its a digitally enhanced image of the Opel Fontera, captured during high-biergarten testing somewhere in Europe. If you've been playing along at home, you're aware that a variant of the GM-Daewoo crossover will also replace Saturn's Vue in the US when it's launched in 2007 as a 2008 model. The Frontera will be introduced at next year's Geneva motor show, with the New Vue Review due for Detroit in '07. More »
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GM says its new Saturn Vue hybrid, coming in 2007, won't include at least one feature that's standard in most of its competitors' vehicles: a premium price. Of course, having a mild-hybrid system, the Vue Green Line also won't get the same mileage gains as vehicles with full-hybrid systems, like the competing Ford Escape hybrid. At the heart of the matter is is GM's BAS gas-electric system — a mild hybrid in which the electric motor supports the Vue's existing drivetrain. It won't drive the wheels alone (and won't require a new drivetrain with a continuously variable transmission), like the full-hybrid systems in the Ford Escape and Toyota Prius do. That means, in addition to a cheaper price, Vue owners will only see mileage gains in the 10 percent range. Get ready for the GM marketing blitz touting the price, but remember what grandpa's accountant said about getting what you pay for. More »
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