Click above for a high-res gallery of the Two-Mode Vue

Ever since the initial hybrid version of the Saturn Vue, the "different kind of company" chose to go its own way by badging its fuel-saving wares as Green Lines. This designation will be going the way of the Dodo in favor of the much more simple and recognizable designation of simply "hybrid." The reasoning is that the Green Line badge adds unnecessary confusion to Saturn's line of vehicles and is too long for marketing purposes. This becomes especially true as General Motors rolls out new versions of its hybrid technology. Soon, the Saturn Vue will be granted the sophisticated 2-Mode technology as is used on full-size SUVs from GM such as the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. While the current Vue is well priced considering its decent fuel mileage of 25 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, the new 2-Mode model will be capable of powering the vehicle on electricity alone and should be available in 2009.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Click on the photo of the Aura hybrid for a huge high-res gallery

The U.S. General Services Administration GSA announced this week that it has updated 55 cars in the Federal fleet by taking delivery of that many Saturn Aura Green Line hybrids. The cars are destined for the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, and to the Departments of Transportation, Interior, Energy and Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Space and Aeronautics Administration (leases of 43 of the vehicles will make up that portion). GSA will keep the other 12 to use as daily driver and for demonstrations, for example during sales presentations to federal customers.

The Aura hybrids are just the latest greening of the GSA fleet. Since 1991, GSA has purchased over 140,000 alternative fuel vehicles and hybrids.

Related:

• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid

[Source: U.S. General Services Administration]

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]

Derrick got a peek at the new Saturn Aura hybrid at the NextFest a few weeks ago, and for those of you interested in GM's latest mild hybrid, the good news is that production on the test vehicles will start this week and the cars should be available early next year. GM's plant in Fairfax, Kansas will begin making five hybrid Aura Green Lines a week for testing. There's not a whole lot of numbers out about the Aura hybrid, but we do know that standards Auras get 20 mpg in the city and 28 or 29 on the highway, and the hybrid version is expected to get about 10 to 15 percent better mileage. Price for the Aura Green Line has also not been announced.

The Ford Motor Co. plant in nearby Claycomo makes the hybrid Ford Escape-Mercury Mariner sport-utility vehicle. GM's next hybrid should be the Chevrolet Malibu, also coming next year.

[Source: Kansas City Star]