Saturn will stage the world debut of its redesigned 2008 Vue at the Los Angeles auto show late this month, but the secret is out.

The 2007 Opel Antara and 2008 Vue are virtual clones when it comes to exterior styling. The sheet metal is shared, as are the fascias and the greenhouse. The two vehicles are distinguished mainly by the brand emblem at the top of each vehicle's grille.

The Vue is a crossover developed by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology on a front-drive unibody platform. Antara sales begin in Germany, Austria and Switzerland this year and the rest of continental Europe early next year.

The Antara is assembled in South Korea. The Vue will be assembled in the United States, but General Motors has not identified the plant.

The redesigned Vue will be priced higher than the 2007 model, said a Saturn spokesman. Base prices for 2007 models range from $17,995 to $24,230, including shipping.

While he would not say how much the Vue's base price would rise, the spokesman said it will not be "as high as Opel if you take a straight exchange rate." The Opel Antara has a long list of standard equipment. Its starting price in Germany is 26,850 euros, or about $34,265 at current exchange rates.

The 2008 Vue continues as a five-seater with dimensions nearly the same as the 2007 model. One big difference on the outside is the body panels. The current Vue has composite panels, and the 2008 model has sheet metal.

The folks at Saturn have already shown us their PreVue Crossover Concept, and the Europeans have shown an Opel Antara Concept. Both of those vehicles are from headlamps to tailpipes about as close as they can get to the next Saturn Vue. We're sure that Saturn and Opel will be carrying over many of the styling cues when these vehicles - and others sporting possible Chevrolet, Vauxhall, Buick, and even Daewoo names, among others - reach production, but they'll likely all have four doors, and not the two as shown on the concepts. GM confirms the Vue will come to the Los Angeles show, so stay tuned for more details.

Four model levels, including affordable Green Line hybrid and Red Line performance variants
Six drivetrain choices, including three engines, three transmissions and available AWD
Sporty ride and handling
Refined interior with premium materials
Wide array of standard safety features
LOS ANGELES – Saturn today introduced the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue, a compact five-door crossover vehicle with European design and sporty ride and handling. The vehicle was revealed at the Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show.
The new Vue is the latest Saturn model to showcase the brand’s new design character and intensified focus on driving characteristics. When it becomes available in the second quarter of 2007, it will be the fourth all-new Saturn model since the beginning of 2006 calendar year. The other all-new models are the Sky roadster, Aura sedan and the larger Outlook crossover utility.

“The 2008 Saturn continues the product revitalization at Saturn,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “The all-new Vue is versatile, technologically advanced and loaded with safety equipment. Saturn customers will be as pleased with the vehicle as they are with the customer treatment they’ve always received at their Saturn retailer.”
Saturn also confirmed that it will continue to offer the Green Line hybrid version of the Vue, beginning later in the 2008 model year. When it debuted in the 2007 lineup, the Vue hybrid was 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 powerful four-cylinder engine, and two V-6 choices mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. Later in the model year, a five-speed manual transmission will be available. All-wheel drive is available with both V-6 engines.

Ride and handling

At the core of the Vue’s European driving character is a stiff, steel body-frame integral structure. Ride and handling is augmented by model-specific tuning of spring rates and wheel travel. Front and rear stabilizer bars, MacPherson strut independent front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension, along with a double-isolated engine cradle, add to the smooth ride. Hydraulic power-assisted steering on V-6 models, standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, standard traction control and standard GM StabiliTrak electronic stability control provide outstanding vehicle control.

A towing package with hitch and wiring is available on all Vues. A towing stabilization system uses active braking to help control the vehicle in trailering situations. The Vue (except Red Line) can also be towed as an RV “dinghy vehicle” with all four wheels on the ground.

Safety

In addition to the handling features that help drivers avoid crashes, the all-new Vue helps protect occupants with a long list of standard crash protection safety features. Dual-stage front seat air bags, front seat side thorax air bags and head curtain air bags covering front and rear rows are standard on all models.

Complementing the air bags is GM’s rollover sensing system, which uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle tip-up on a flat road surface and apply brake force to the outside front and rear wheels to reduce lateral force in the vehicle. It also activates the roof rail air bags if sensors determine an impending rollover. Other standard safety features include front-row dual safety belt pretensioners, disengaging collapsible pedals and active head restraints.

Like all Saturn vehicles, the Vue comes standard with GM’s OnStar safety and security system, including a one-year subscription to the Safe & Sound plan. The OnStar service includes Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN), making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. If the vehicle is in a crash that activates an air bag, the system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor, who will contact the occupants and summon emergency help if necessary. OnStar also provides remote door-unlocking service and can assist authorities in locating a vehicle if it is reported stolen.

Exterior

The new Vue’s exterior exhibits Saturn’s new European design cues, with a look that is clean, sculpted and distinctively sporty. Tight wheel-to-body relationships, large jeweled headlamps and a sweeping upper profile line contribute to the Vue’s striking design. The tapered roof line is one of the design cues drawn from the PreVue concept shown at the 2006 New York Auto Show.

Another cue inspired by the PreVue concept is the fender accent molding located vertically along the forward front door line. The styling feature is molded in charcoal color and incorporates a side repeater turn signal. Bright accents surrounding the side glass add to the appeal of the vehicle’s profile. The grille proudly displays Saturn’s recognizable chrome brand bar with a large Saturn badge.

Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on XE models, while larger 17-inch alloy wheels come with the uplevel Vue XR. XE and XR models are further distinguished from each other with specific fascias, rockers and wheel opening trim. The Red Line model, to be unveiled later, will sport its own performance-inspired design cues.

Interior

Inside, the Vue continues the upscale theme with refined materials and precise fit and finish. Designers used lighter colors to bring a sense of spaciousness to the cabin, and incorporated an array of useful storage solutions.

The interior offers a host of comfort and convenience features, many of which are uncommon in the segment. These include optional eight-way power driver’s seat; standard flip-down second-row armrest with storage; standard CD stereo with MP3 capability; standard driver information center in instrument cluster; available automatic climate control system with electronic controls; available navigation system; and an optional enhanced convenience package that includes an automatic rain-sensing wiper system, remote start, universal home remote and heated windshield washer system.

Other cabin highlights include:
Rich materials including chrome accents on the air vents, center stack controls, instrument cluster and speakers
Bolstered seating upholstered with two levels of flat-woven fabric with specific inserts; leather seating is available on most models
Low-gloss, low-glare upper instrument panel with embossed grain
Amber backlighting in the instrument panel and center stack control faceplates
Ample covered, flocked and damped storage, including a locking glove box big enough for a medium-size purse
A sliding storage bin under the front passenger seat
Flat-folding 60/40 split rear seatback
A rear cargo management system that uses upper and lower rails and storage nets to accommodate storage nets for everything from beverage bottles to home-improvement accessories
Powertrain

No other vehicle in the segment will offer as wide a range of engine choices as the 2008 Vue. The XE FWD and Vue Green Line models are equipped with the 2.4L Ecotec with variable valve timing. It produces 164 horsepower (122 kW) at 6,300 rpm* and 160 lb.-ft. (221 Nm) of torque at 4,500 rpm.* It is mated to the Hydra-Matic 4T45, four-speed, electronically controlled transaxle. A five-speed manual will be available on four-cylinder Vue XE models in early 2008.

All-wheel-drive Vue XE models come equipped with a 3.5L V-6 engine, delivering 215 horsepower (260 kW) at 5,900 rpm* and 220 lb.-ft. (304 Nm) of torque at 2,800 rpm,* with a broad torque curve and good low-end torque for quick acceleration.

Vue XR and Vue Red Line, are powered by GM’s sophisticated, high-feature 60-degree dual overhead cam 3.6L V-6 VVT that delivers 250 horsepower (186 kW) at 6,500 rpm* and 243 lb.-ft. (329 Nm) of torque at 4,400 rpm.*

All Vue models equipped with V-6 engines receive the new Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmissions, which helps maximize powertrain performance and economy.

Spy photographers snapped some shots of the Saturn Vue Redline without disguise in Detroit. The Vue Red Line will ditch the current model's Honda-sourced V-6 engine in favor of GM's sophisticated, high-feature 60-degree dual overhead cam 3.6L V-6 VVT that delivers 250 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 243 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm.



All Vue models equipped with V-6 engines receive the new Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmissions, which helps maximize powertrain performance and economy. Later in the model year, a five-speed manual transmission will be available, while all-wheel drive is available with all V-6 engined models.

Saturn has a pair of Vues for the Chicago auto show - the hybrid Green Line and the higher-performance Red Line.



The Red Line is the successor to the current model, though it now features GM's excellent 3.6-liter V-6 with 250 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only gearbox offered.



Available in front- or all-wheel drive, the Red Line sports a revised front-end air intake, a lower suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and chrome exhaust tips. Inside it gets a black interior with leather seats and suede inserts, along with special floor mats.



The Green Line hybrid consists of a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder with electric motors and batteries and a modified four-speed automatic transmission. The new Green Line system shuts off the engine at low speeds and uses regenerative braking to charge its batteries along with the engine's power. A second hybrid Vue is being planned; it will use GM's new two-mode hybrid system that promises even better fuel economy than the version being shown in Chicago. A plug-in Vue hybrid is also in the works.



Neither version has been rated for fuel economy as of this report. Saturn promises the Vue Red Line for the third quarter of 2007, while the Green Line will emerge in the fourth quarter.