Saturn’s Vue Gas-Electric Hybrid

The magic word in automobile manufacturing today is hybrid. Of course, that’s quite misleading, because there is no such thing as a generic hybrid vehicle. Just about every hybrid manufacturer builds their vehicle a little differently from the other. Now is not the time to be cautious if you are thinking about going the hybrid route. It won’t be long before these alternative autos are everywhere around you. If you want to cash in on the cool cache still offered by driving in traffic in which a hybrid sticks out, this may be your last year to do it. Recognizing that, Saturn offers up its Vue Green Line.

Saturn’s entry into the gas-electric hybrid sweepstakes is the 2007 VUE, which will be the first automobile using GM’s belt alternator start systems. Although the prime selling point of hybrid vehicles is their cost savings due to better fuel economy, the Vue is actually estimated to get only slightly better gas mileage than its non-hybrid counterparts. For instance, compare Saturn’s estimate of 27/32 mpg to 36/31 mpg figures posted by the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. For this reason, Saturn is trumpeting the VUE Green Line’s affordability over similar hybrid vehicles. The VUE Green Line should carry a premium price that is only $1500 above the price of comparable non-hybrid models.

Saturn’s hybrid differs from its brethren by investing in a less complex, but more flexible acceleration design that promises better fuel economy through engine shutdown when the vehicle stops and a faster restarting of the engine upon the brake being released. In addition, the battery charging process has been designed to take place when it is at peak efficiency. The car makes use of an electric motor as well as a nickel-metal hydride battery pack to supplement the engine; as a result, it can run solely on its electric power for only a few seconds. The reason for the curtailed electric running time is because the hybrid system has been designed mainly as a supplement to the gasoline engine. In other words, the electricity is not there to propel the vehicle, but instead to provide a burst of acceleration for such things as passing.

The key engine points of the Saturn VUE Green Line are a 2.4 liter hybrid power train drawing 170 horsepower. In addition, the vehicle is designed with automatic functionality in mind such as climate control whenever the vehicle comes to a stop. The Saturn VUE Hybrid will also provide the driver with dual selection capability offering a choice between fuel economy, which limits air conditioning and comfort, which allows full blowing air as well as defogging.

The hybrid model follows the design of the gas-based Saturn Vue line, retaining most of the exterior style, except for a small alteration to the grille. In addition, there is a change in the tire choice so to improve resistance to rolling.

One major difference in the Saturn Vue Green Line from other models is that it will be the first to the market available only in front wheel driver. Word is that there will not be any all- or four-wheel driver models to go along with the front-wheel drive model.