The Truth About Cars

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

GM got serious about its hybrid game for the 2007 model year, when the Saturn Vue Green Line hit showrooms. Fuel economy for this car was rated at 26 mpg city, 34 highway ; the Ecotec-only version with 6-speed automatic (there was also an available 4-speed automatic) got 22 mpg city, 33 highway.

Malibu Hybrid 62

Malibu Hybrid 2009 Chevrolet Hybrid 62

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) project, funded by GM, found that an ultracapacitor-based energy storage system (ESS) in a Saturn VUE BAS (belt alternator starter) mild hybrid performed at least as well or better than the NiMH battery system in the production hybrid. Source: Gonder et al. Click to enlarge. Pesaran, A.;

NiMH 299

NiMH Energy Storage VUE Saturn 299

Green Car Congress

MAY 5, 2009

Prototype Saturn Vue PHEV plugging in to a Coulomb Chargepoint ( earlier post ) in San Jose, CA. Click to enlarge. In a post on GM’s FastLane blog, Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said that the company will apply plug-in hybrid technology to one of the four core brands remaining after the restructuring: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.

VUE 150

VUE Plug-in GM 2011 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 11, 2009

GM has simplified the two-mode hybrid system for application in front-wheel drive vehicles—the Saturn VUE being the first instance ( earlier post )—while retaining its functionality and capability, according to Mark Selogie, Senior Manager Power Electronics, GM Powertrain, speaking at the SAE Hybrid Symposium in San Diego (11-12 Feb).

VUE 150

VUE GM San Diego Hybrid 150

Green Car Congress

JUNE 13, 2009

The competition challenges university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a 2009 Saturn VUE to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal. liter engine and fueled by E85 ethanol. The Ohio State’s design was powered by a 1.8-liter

Ohio 150

Ohio Universal 2009 Design 150

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 30, 2017

The Clarity Fuel Cell received the best driving range rating from the EPA of any electric vehicle without a combustion engine with a range rating of 366 miles and fuel economy rating of 68 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent combined.

Honda 150

Honda GM Michigan Manufacturer 150

Green Car Congress

MAY 9, 2009

At the recent SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit, General Motors engineers presented the first front-wheel-drive (FWD) iteration of their two-mode hybrid transaxle, termed the 2MT70 ( earlier post ), scheduled for its first application in the Saturn 2009 VUE 2-Mode Hybrid light sport-utility vehicle later this year ( earlier post ).

GM 257

GM Saturn Hybrid VUE 257