Saturn Vue

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Saturn Vue & GMC Terrain (Middle East only)
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	2002–present
Class	Compact crossover SUV (LWB) Mid-size crossover SUV (LWB)
Body style(s)	4-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Platform	GM Theta platform

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. A second generation Vue was launched in 2007 for the 2008 model sharing styling with GM's global Antara model. The vehicle is also known as the Chevrolet Captiva (Mexico; not related to the European-market Chevrolet Captiva), GMC Terrain (Middle East, not related to the North American version), Holden Captiva (Oceania), Opel Antara (mainland Europe), and Vauxhall Antara (UK/Ireland).

First generation (2002-2007)
Production	2002–2007
Assembly	Spring Hill, Tennessee
Engine(s)	2.2 L L61 I4 3.0 L L81 V6 3.5 L L66 V6 2.4 L BAS hybrid
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 5-speed Aisin AF33 automatic 5-speed Honda automatic 4-speed automatic 4-speed automatic VTi CVT
Wheelbase	106.6 in (2708 mm)
Length	181.3 in (4605 mm)
Width	71.5 in (1816 mm) Hybrid: 71.6 in (1819 mm)
Height	66.5 in (1689 mm) Hybrid: 66.3 in (1684 mm)
Related	Opel Antara Chevrolet Equinox Pontiac Torrent Chevrolet Captiva

Contents 1 Sales 2 First generation 2.1 Red Line 2.2 Green Line 2.3 Engines 3 Second generation 3.1 Red Line 3.2 Green Line 3.3 Engines 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Sales

Model Year	Sales
2004	86,957
2005	91,972
2006	88,581
2007	84,767

^{[1] [2]}

[edit] 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 European 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 250 hp (186 kW) 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.

[edit] Red Line

Saturn introduced a special high-performance line of vehicles in 2004 under the name, "Red Line". The Vue Red Line includes the 250 hp (186 kW) 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, such as a higher quality audio system.^[3]

[edit] 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.^[4] 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.

The fuel savings are 20% up from the base vehicle's 22/27 mpg city/highway EPA sticker to 27/32 mpg, the highest highway fuel economy of any 2007 model SUV sold in the US market.^[5] In Canada, according to Saturn "the result is a Vue that gets an estimated 8.8L/100 km (27 mpg) city and 6.7 L/100 km (35 mpg) highway."^[6]

The Green Line has a 170 hp (127 kW) 2.4 L Ecotec DOHC-phaser engine which replaces the standard 144 hp (107 kW) 2.2 L engine, resulting in the improvement of 0-60 mph acceleration time by 1.0 seconds. Pricing for the hybrid is 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.

[edit] Engines

Years	Engine	Power	Torque
2002–2007	2.2 L Ecotec L61 I4	143 hp (107 kW)	152 ft·lbf (206 N·m)
2002-2003	3.0 L 54-Degree V6	181 hp (135 kW)	195 ft·lbf (264 N·m)
2004-2007	3.5 L GM L66 V6	250 hp (186 kW)	242 ft·lbf (328 N·m)
2007	2.4 L Ecotec LE5 I4	170 hp (127 kW)	163 ft·lbf (220 N·m)

[edit] Second generation

Second generation (2008-present)
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
Engine(s)	2.4L LE5 I4 3.5L LZ4 V6 3.6L LY7 V6
Transmission(s)	6-speed automatic 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	106.6 in (2708 mm)
Length	180.1 in (4575 mm) (SWB) 182.6 in (4638 mm) (LWB)
Width	72.8 in (1849 mm)
Height	66.3 in (1684 mm) (SWB) Hybrid: 66.2 in (1681 mm) 67.7 in (1720 mm) (LWB)
Curb weight	4325 lb (1962 kg)
Related	Opel Antara Chevrolet Equinox Pontiac Torrent Chevrolet Captiva GMC Terrain

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 have four.

Trim levels include the XE, XR, the sporty Red Line and hybrid Green Line. The standard engine is a 169 hp (126 kW) 2.4 liter I4 Ecotec with variable valve timing. Optional engines include a 222 hp (166 kW) 3.5 liter V6 and a 257 hp (192 kW) 3.6 liter DOHC V6.

Production moved to Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, where the Chevrolet HHR is produced.^[7]

[edit] Red Line

The second-generation Vue Red Line uses the same 3.6 L DOHC V6 from the XR trim level, making the same 257 hp (192 kW) as in the XR, but adds several more sporting changes to separate the Red Line from the XR. This includes Tapshift, allowing manual shifting of the 6-speed automatic transmission, a reduction in ride height of approximately 1-inch (25 mm), and a sport tuned suspension "has differently-tuned shocks and struts, different spring rates, and unique bushings and stabilizer bars."^[8] Exterior appearance changes include 18 in alloy wheels, more aggressive front bumper, tail lamps and exhaust tips.

[edit] Green Line

The Vue Green Line hybrid uses with the same mild hybrid BAS system with the 2.4 L Ecotec as first generation Vue. Software updates and optimizations to smooth the operation as well as improve fuel economy. Fuel economy under the new 2008 EPA standards is 25/32 mpg city/highway.^[9]

A full hybrid model featuring GM's Two-Mode system is to be introduced during 2008, most likely as a 2009 year model. After this system is introduced, GM will release a plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle in 2009.^[10] This will make it the first plug in hybrid with the system as original equipment.^[11]

[edit] Engines

Years	Engine	Power	Torque
2008-present	2.4 L Ecotec LE5 I4	169 hp (126 kW)	161 lb·ft (218 N·m)
2008-present	3.5 L High Value LZ4 V6	222 hp (166 kW)	220 lb·ft (298 N·m)
2008-present	3.6 L High Feature LY7 V6	257 hp (192 kW)	248 lb·ft (336 N·m)

[edit] See also

List of hybrid vehicles

[edit] References

v • d • e Saturn, a division of General Motors, automobile timeline, 1990s–present
Type	1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Compact		S-Series					S-Series							Ion					Astra
Mid-size											L-Series							Aura
Crossover													Vue						Vue
																		Outlook
Minivan																Relay
Roadster																		Sky