Saturn Vue

The Saturn VUE is a compact SUV from General Motors' Saturn marque. It was the first vehicle to use the GM Theta platform.

The VUE was introduced for the 2002 model year and was designed by Saturn. It is manufactured at the Spring Hill Saturn plant. Its unibody platform is shared with the Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent and the European Opel Antara.

Four-cylinder VUEs use the Ecotec straight-4. 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 cancelled 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 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.

Green Line

The high-performance VUE Red Line will be joined for 2007 (in summer 2006) by an environmentally-oriented Green Line model. The VUE is a mild hybrid using what GM calls a "belt alternator starter" (BAS) system. A large electric motor is connected to the accessory drive via a belt, with a special 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. The electric motor will also assist somewhat in acceleration, though not to the extent that Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system does.

The 2.4 L Ecotec engine is used from the Saturn ION, and fuel savings are expected to be around 15%. The Green Line version is expected to cost just 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.

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