click the photo for high-resolution images of the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line

We've just brought you our take on driving the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV, and now we can gear up and get ready for the '08. Saturn announced today that the new version (along with the non-hybird '08 Vue Red Line) will be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show this week. So, what's new in the '08?

Let's start with what's the same. First, the Belt Alternator Starter (BAS) light hybrid system is the same as in the 2007 Vue Green Line, so Alex's thoughts on the 36V battery and 170-horsepower 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine should provide a guess as to the new Vue's power. The engine shuts down when the vehicle comes to a stop, and the battery is charged by regenerative braking.

Now, what's different. First, this isn't the plug-in version, but that's not a big surprise. Official fuel economy figures are not yet available for this Vue, but GM is already promising "a 45-percent improvement in fuel economy compared to its non-hybrid counterpart" from the even-more-updated Vue Green Line that has GM's new two-mode hybrid system in the third quarter of 2008.

Look for the SUV on the lot in the fourth quarter of 2007, but AutoblogGreen will have a lot more information from Chicago later in the week. Stay tuned.

Click on the image above or the thumbnails below to see a high-resolution (1,280 pixel wide) image gallery of the 2008 Vue Green Line. The images are downloadable for your personal use.

GM's full press release is after the jump, and you can read about the non-hybrid 2008 Vue Red Line at Autoblog.



Related:

• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line
• How the GM mild hybrid drive-train works
• LA Auto Show: Saturn Vue Green Line will offer 2-mode and plug-in hybrid technology

[Source: GM]