Earlier this week, TopSpeed.com was graciously invited by GM to attend a press event on their famous Detroit test track ’Milford Proving Ground’. In the morning, we completed the safe driving program and test drove several GM vehicles. Later on, we met up for dinner with several other car bloggers and GM’s general manager, Edward J. Peper. Below are the highlights of the event.
General Motors will market a plug-in hybrid versin of the Saturn Vue “very quickly” – “2009-ish,” according to Saturn’s general manager, Jill Lajdziak. She spoke Wednesday at the Frankfort Auto Show.
The Vue plug-in hybrid will be able to travel up to 10 miles on electric power only, switching to the gasoline engine “very quickly,” according to Lajdziak. The plug-in Vue, which will join the gasoline and so-called “mild hybrid” versions already on the market, will use lithium ion (...) > Full story
They are two versions of the same car. One is losing ground in the market while the other is gaining. Why?
That is the situation with the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, and the answer may be nothing more complicated than the public image of the brands.
Solstice sales are down 19% in the first half of this year. On the other hand, dealers are scrambling to get the Sky, GM has only a month’s supply in stock, and customers are having to wait to get one.
Not to be (...) > Full story
A compact five-door crossover vehicle with European-inspired design and sporty ride and handling, the 2008 Vue is the latest Saturn model to showcase the brand’s new design character and intensified focus on driving characteristics. The Vue also reinforces Saturn’s commitment to safety by offering a comprehensive list of safety-enhancing features.
Full story
General Motors has announced that they will put diesel engines in Cadillac and Saturn USA models by 2010. Also they have confirmed that the company will use the fuel-saving diesel engine on U.S. passenger cars, crossovers and light-duty trucks.
Full story
Consumer Reports magazine, thought by many to have an institutional bias against American cars and in favor of any Japanese vehicle, is raving about the new Saturn Outlook crossover.
The August issue of the magazine, hitting news stands today, says that the 2007 is one of GM’s best products and real competition for models from Honda and Toyota.
Out of eight mid-size crossovers, the Outlook ranked third, narrowly behind the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Honda Pilot. The (...) > Full story
Everyone knows that when going to buy a car you can’t decide very easy on what to buy. You keep wondering but what about that one and what about the other one. To keep you away from all this trouble Saturn is offering you its new "Side-by-Side-by-Side Test Drive" program. So, if you decide you want to buy a Saturn Aura you also have the chance to test drive the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord.
The Side-by-Side-by-Side Test Drive program will run at participating Saturn retailers across (...) > Full story
The 200 Saturn Vue will go on sale in the second quarter of 2007. Pricing for the VUE will range from the XE FWD model’s base price of $20,770 up to the AWD Red Line model’s base price of $28,770 and then some when options are added.
The 2008 Vue will be the the first vehicle to use GM’s new affordable hybrid powertrain.
In addition to the hybrid, the new Vue will be available in XE, XR and Red Line trim levels. These models will offer a wide range of powertrains, including a more (...) > Full story
Honda has been supplying its 3.5-liter V-6 for use in the first-generation Vue since the deal was signed in 2002, but according to a report from Automotive News, GM has decided to drop the Honda engine option for the second-generation 2008 Saturn Vue.
The Honda-powered Vue was popular and accounted for slightly more than half of the model’s total sales throughout its lifespan. The engine will be replaced by a 3.6-liter V-6 produced by GM. The second-generation Vue will also be available (...) > Full story
GM has announced the pricing for the 2008 Saturn Vue model, and you will have a bad suprise to hear that the price is $3,295 over the 2007 model (the base price for the re-engineered, restyled Vue is $21,395 including shipping).
The base price of the crossover is close to that of such 2007 rivals as the Honda CR-V, at $21,195, and Toyota RAV4, at $21,595. But it is above the Ford Escape, which stickers for $19,985.
"Keep in mind that the previous model had a smaller four-cylinder engine (...) > Full story
Saturn cars
