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Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid

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This review is only about the alternative propulsion Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
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The Saturn VUE is a mid-size crossover SUV from General Motors' Saturn marque. 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.

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. 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 sticker to 27/32 mpg, the highest highway fuel economy of any SUV besides the Ford Escape Hybrid. 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 seconds.

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.

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