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The 2006 Red Line VUE model changes!!!!

Sources tell us the 2006 VUE and Red Line VUE will receive a facelift. The VUE will have a new AURA and SKY inspired front fascia, with new redesigned headlamps. In addition, the Red Line VUE model will take styling cues from the Red Line ION, including an all Black Interior and improved support sport front bucket seats. Black will become the only Red Line VUE interior color available. The 2006 models will also receive a major interior overhaul, including a reportedly revised dash, and more upscale materials.

2006 Saturn Preview
SaturnFans.com · March 28, 2005

Continuous improvement has always been a hallmark of Saturn, and for the 2006 model year things are no different. Automotive News reported earlier this year that Saturn informed retailers at the North American Dealer Association's (NADA) annual convention that both the ION and VUE will be "refreshed" for 2006 to help make them more competitive and appealing. The move comes as Saturn struggles to keep its Spring Hill plant running, and retailers battle above average vehicle inventories on their lots. Saturn has had to shutdown the plant numerous times this year because of the ION and VUE slow sales. Sources tell SaturnFans.com that the changeover to both '06 models will happen in June, a couple weeks before General Motors' annual summer shutdown in July. The models will continue to feature their trademark polymer body-side panels, and will receive Saturn's new "piano black" stereos. The new radios will feature a front facing auxiliary port that will allow drivers to plug in portable music devices, such as an iPod.

Even though the ION sedan received a host of significant interior, exterior, and chassis improvements for the 2005 model year, continued slow sales have prompted Saturn to make even more changes. On the outside, the both the ION sedan and quad coupe are expected to receive new front-end treatment that will give them more of a family resemblance to the 2007 AURA concept and SKY roadster. Under the hood, the long-rumored 170-hp 2.4L powerplant will finally be available on mid- and uplevel IONs. The 2.4L has been in production at Spring Hill for some time now, and is used in a variety of other GM vehicles.

Even bigger and more exciting changes are expected for the 2006 VUE. Like the ION, all VUEs will receive a facelift. The fascia will sport new headlamps along with AURA- and SKY-inspired front grilles. V6 powered VUEs will now feature body-color bumpers. Gray plastic bumpers will continue to be standard issue on 4-cylinder models. Base models are also said to receive a boost in performance. Today's 140-hp 2.2L motor will reportedly be replaced with the same 170-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that will be used in the ION. Honda will continue to supply Saturn with 250-hp 3.5L V6 engines. The hybrid VUE is expected to be available mid-year. The VUE's interior will get a major overhaul. The instrument panel has reportedly been redesigned and will feature much richer materials along with black trim and chrome accents. The overall presentation is much more classy, upscale, and sophisticated. Taking a page from the ION Red Line, Saturn will install Recro front bucket seats in all VUE Red Lines. In addition, Red Line VUE interiors will only be offered only in one color: black.

Later in the model year, the Relay is expected to receive a more powerful, optional powerplant. At this time, its not clear what engine will be offered in the minivan. There have been rumors that all future Saturn will only feature DOHC motors, leading to speculation that General Motors new 3.6L 250-hp V6 will be made available. Other sources say that GM plans to make the 240-hp 3900 V6 an option in all of its minivans.

Vue Red Line SUV looks brash, but it's well-mannered

April 8, 2004

BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

The racy-looking 2004 Saturn Vue Red Line looks like a street tough out cruising for trouble, but the small SUV behaves more like a dependable soccer dad who just happens to have a couple of tattoos.

Appearances can be deceiving, and the Vue's flashy exterior hides the soul of a reliable, comfortable and attractively priced small sport-utility vehicle.

The Vue Red Line is the first in the high-performance line that Saturn just added to its lineup.

The 2004 Vue makes an overwhelmingly strong argument for buying the Vue's new optional 250-horsepower V6 engine, but the $1,995 Red Line option package doesn't deliver the blacktop-ripping, pavement-hugging performance its wide tires and lowered suspension lead you to expect.

The smooth and powerful engine and competitive price make the Vue a worthy competitor for any small SUV on the market, however. Prices for front-wheel-drive V6 models start at $22,405. Move up to all-wheel-drive and a V6 Vue can be yours for $24,055. All prices exclude destination charges. A smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment with the V6.

Standard equipment: 3,500-pound towing capacity, electric power steering, antilock brakes, daytime running and fog lamps, child safety door locks, rear window washer and wiper, roof rails, fold-flat front passenger seat, 70-30 split folding rear seat, rear cargo organizer with storage bins, air conditioning, power locks and windows, cruise control, map lights, center console, front and rear 12-volt outlets, liftgate lamps.

Options: Power driver seat with lumbar support, leather trim, power sunroof, Red Line performance package, AM-FM-CD-MP3 stereo with advanced audio system, XM satellite radio.

By comparison, the 2005 Ford Escape gets 200 horsepower from its 3.0-liter. The V6 and front- and all-wheel-drive models sticker at $22,750 and $24,500, respectively. The V6 Escape comes with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The Red Line boasts a lowered and stiffened suspension, 18-inch Bridgestone Turanza performance tires, aluminum wheels and low-slung body-colored front and rear bumper covers.

It's a very attractive package, but the suspension isn't stiff enough to deliver the handling the Red Line's styling promises. The $28,820 model I tested tended to rock from side to side in quick maneuvers and squat back on its rear wheels during heavy acceleration.

The SUV is fast and smooth, but too susceptible to body roll to qualify as sporty.

For my money, the Red Line option doesn't provide enough performance to justify the nearly $2,000 extra. I'd recommend buying a V6 model of the standard Vue.

The suspension absorbs bumps very well, however, carrying the Vue smoothly and quietly over rough, broken pavement. The Vue is also admirably quiet at highway speeds.

Acceleration is excellent, both from a standstill and in the key passing ranges of 30 to 50 m.p.h. and 50 to 70 m.p.h. General Motors buys the V6 from Honda Motor Co. Ltd. It is essentially the same engine that powers the larger and more expensive Honda Pilot SUV.

The Vue shares its basic structure with the new Chevrolet Equinox, but it is smaller than the Equinox SUV and the SOHC 24-valve, 3.5-liter V6 produces about 35 percent more power than the 3.4-liter overhead valve V6 powering the Chevy.

The brakes stopped the Vue smoothly, and the electric power steering was linear and precise.

The Vue's interior offers plenty of room for four or five passengers, with wide-opening rear doors for easy access and legible gauges and buttons within easy reach for the driver. The black-and-grey interior color scheme is attractive, but the armrest and storage compartment between the front seats and the lower parts of the doors and dashboard were covered in an unattractive hard plastic.

The rear end has plenty of cargo space, but the tailgate handle uses more of the same unappealing plastic.

The cargo compartment has a useful package holder hidden under its floor, but it's difficult to use, consisting of plastic dividers that must be clipped into place. The thin, hard plastic felt both cheap and fragile, reducing the appeal of a feature that could have been a major plus if GM had been willing to spend a little more for a better material.

Despite these weaknesses, the 2004 Vue's strong new V6, interior room, comfort and practicality make it an above-average player among the many small SUVs on the market.

The tuner-wannabe Red Line package may make promises the Vue's suspension doesn't keep, but the SUV delivers the value and practicality Saturn owners are likely to want.

Contact MARK PHELAN at 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com.

Source: http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phelan8_20040408.htm