2007 GM Saturn Aura to be Available as Hybrid
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 04.12.06
Saturn Aura Hybrid Car by GM
At the New York Auto Show (April 14-23), GM is unveiling its new 2007 Saturn Aura. It is a mid-size sedan that will be available as a "Green Line" hybrid model later in 2006. The hybrid technology used will not be the "full" hybrid used by Toyota and Ford, nor the "assist" hybrid used by Honda; rather, it will be more similar to the "micro" or "mild" hybrid system found in the GM Silverado pickup truck. Basically, the car will be fitted with a bigger starter electric motor and a 36-Volt NiMH battery. This will allow it to stop the engine when the vehicle stops moving, and to restart it immediately when the driver removes his/her foot from the brake pedal (a system similar to what can be found in the Citroën C2 Stop & Start, among others). Regenerative braking will help recharge the batteries. Also, and that's the main difference with most "Belt Alternator Starter system", the electric starter motor will be able to "provide a small degree of traction assistance".
Saturn Aura Hybrid Specifications
From Green Car Congress:
This assistance takes three forms: electrically motored creep at startup, light power assist during acceleration, and light electric mode during deceleration.
The gasoline engine of the GM Saturn Aura hybrid will be a 2.4-liter Ecotec instead of the 3.6L DOHC V6 that will be found in the regular version of the car.
GM is using the BAS-based Greenline hybrid system to try to deliver a simple hybrid architecture flexible enough—and at a sufficiently low cost—to implement globally on a broad spectrum of both powertrains and vehicles.
GM has not yet announced performance or fuel economy numbers for the Saturn Aura Greenline Hybrid sedan, but that should come soon as the car is supposed to be on sale by the end of 2006. Lets wait and see...
Via ::GM Announces First Production Passenger-Car Hybrid: Saturn Aura Green Line, ::GM Saturn Aura Greenline Hybrid on Sale in 2006. See also: ::Toyota, Ford, Mazda, GM: Using Water-Borne Car Paint, ::GM Responds to SUV Ad Controversy, ::Make Your Own SUV Ad
This 'GM come lately' retrofit approach to getting "hybrid" status reminds me, unfortunately, of lame attempts at meeting emission standards in the early 1980's. While the Japanese and German cars then easily met standards with few unanticipated quality issues, the US models were sad affairs. That of course led many to "blame EPA".
In the full article they do claim %20 better MPG and also not listed above is that all accessory loads except the AC are now electric. A weak hybrid but a good stepping stone for 36V car systems. GM should get this system on all their Echotec equipped cars. I hope to see some full hybrids from them soon.
That looks amazingly like the new Vauxhall (owned by GM) Vectra, although the Vectra isn't a hybrid.
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vx/carsandvans/brandcarhub.do?method=loadBrandHubCarPage&vehicleType=C&scope=S&brandName=newVectra
Its a start? :-\ I dunno.. this is sad maybe it will atleast be cheaper then the others? I would think a car with a much smaller engine and minimal extras should be.. but probably not. This is really sad I was really hoping american car makers would step up to the plate. Hopefully ford will be expanding their hybrids. Who knows though maybe the fall of GM will allow for more start up car companies in the US? Small companies use new ideas to make themselves look good.
IIRC, the 20% is for the Green Line VUE SUV, not for the Aura.
What a joke! Why would anyone buy one of these when you could buy a real hybrid for the same price?
"Why would anyone buy one of these when you could buy a real hybrid for the same price?"
That might actually be one of the main sellings points; it will probably be cheaper than other mid-sized hybrids (though, of course, less fuel efficient and clean too).
I think the answer to why someone would buy this instead of a real hybrid is that so far American car makers have produced only a few such real hybrids. I'm yearning for a hybrid by an American manufacturer (I live in the Detroit suburbs - half my neighbors are employed by the auto industry). I'd love to see a real kick-butt American hybrid like a Ford Focus that gets 38 MPG or something like that. I guess I'll stop holding my breath if this is the best that GM can do. Ford? Chrysler? Anyone?
Ford is working on a hybrid drivetrain for it's Fusion right now. Not sure if it is to be an '07 or '08 model. This is to be a full hybrid as the Prius, Camary and Escape/Mariner.
Well, over here the Focus does 42MPG (combined), I have no idea why the US version does less when they're made by the same company.
The US gallon is smaller but that doesn't make up all the difference. The US has had cheap fuel for so long even our smaller econo cars arn't that good in the MPG dept.
It is not a true hybrid vehicle, which sucks. BUT, as far as GM goes, I visited their website. I was impressed with the E85 cars they are releasing in 08. They already are marketing "flex fuel" but their is nowhere to fill these cars up as of yet (especially near me ). An 85 percent ethanol car will pollute a whole lot less than a gas car and even less than a hybrid if I am not mistaken. I wonder though, why isn't the technology combined together? I would spend a little extra money for such a car if there were atleast 1 E85 ethanol gas station in the area.
I read somewhere that the combination of Aura's "mild" hybrid and 2.4L engine (which is a decent stepdown from the 3.5) may boost the fuel economy significantly.
If true, a 20% improvement may be an embarrassing underestimate. Gorgeous car, excellent lines, nice to see from my viewpoint.
We build gas hogs in the US.
-SUV's selling for 50K make US auto companies rich.
-Their fuel use keeps big oil rich.
-Then when the supply is short we war for more.
-This keep war mongers(suppliers) rich.
One big happy family.
Thats why GM, Ford, Chrysler refuse to give the US fuel efficeint cars.
Frederick
The Hybrid Aura will get no less than 25% better fuel economy as opposed to the expected 20%. The Aura Greenline starting off at UNDER $23,000, will likely be priced at $22,995. That's going to be super low plus there will be a tax credit.
With the additional standard equipment added, your total premium for the mild hybrid technology would be below $2,000 (tax credit not included). The same is also true with the VUE Greenline.
I am a consultant at Saturn of Louisville.
Any idea when these will finally hit dealerships?
The "Big 3" auto companies directly or indirectly affect 1 in 9 American jobs. I work for the "Big 3" and I agree that it is ridiculous that it is taking this long to bring a full-fledge hybrid to the market. I do know that Americans have short memories and I think if the American autos were able to bring legitimate product to the market the momentum towards Toyota/Honda etc. will shift.
Hi Dale,
"The "Big 3" auto companies directly or indirectly affect 1 in 9 American jobs. "
I'd be curious to know where you found that. I'd like to know, in particular, how "indirectly" is defined.. Because if you go far enough, I - personally - am affecting all American jobs indirectly... It does sounds like a statistic made up by the auto industry to impress congressmen.
But if it's true, maybe it shows a problem; if it takes 1 in 9 to make this industry work, it's probably not that efficient...
Anyway, I think you are partly right here:
"if the American autos were able to bring legitimate product to the market the momentum towards Toyota/Honda etc. will shift."
If the big 2 (not really 3 anymore, I guess) really get their act together and make GOOD QUALITY PRODUCTS, it will utimately make a difference. It can take a few years to create or get back their reputation, but in the end, product is king.
The problem is, the Japanese (and others) are moving targets, so if the US corps want to beat them, they'd have to leapfrog over them and that doesn't seem to be what is happening with products right now. We'll see..
Its funny what people say is quality.
American cars are currently more reliable and safer than Japanese cars. No contest. JD power associates has tested and ranked all the cars and the American cars over all have been under such hardship from " Anti American Car" people that they have to build a good product.
I used to own many foreign cars Audi, Mercedes, Toyota.
All when they got older had Very High repair costs.
I bough an American car put over 200k on it and still not too many problems at all, so I got another one and its really great.
Most Japanese cars from my research are built with very little to no crash protection. Most suffer from very poor crash records or they will have an ok to good records but in an accident they will cost much more to repair if hit by even the smallest car. The materials used are cheaper lighter thus can save fuel. One day in the emergency room will not pay for all the fuel you have saved.
Ford F150 Five Stars
Toyota Tundra failed the crash tests.
People really need to wake up and get educated about cars this whole thing Japanese is better than American is absolutely not true anymore. In fact the new 2007 Camry 75% of the people who own it hate it because of transmission failure and other factors. I would never get a Toyota Camry because of all the bad press on this model.
I was at the auto show and I could move all the metal (Core Support or Radiator support with my hand on all the Toyota models.
IF GM has made a hybrid car that is cheaper to manufacture and gets better gas mileage than the normal engine, more reliable because of a more simple design, they need to be praised and noted for their engineer’s great work. I looked up the fuel savings and it was around 10 MPG savings something the Toyota Prius can even do because they were deceptive about the 60 MPG its really only 40MPG. My neighbor got a Toyota Prius and sold it after a few months because his wife’s Honda Civic normal engine got basically the same mileage and he was like why do I want this car now? He ended up getting a Ford Escape Hybrid and likes that much better.
Comparing GM to its past issues is really a bad tactic because we can start doing that with Toyota and Honda too when they first starting making cards all the cover-ups and bad transmissions they produced engines melting. The Japanese also had huge rust protection problems for using cheap materials that they are accused of today.
Greg
I
Its funny what people say is quality.
To answer the guys question above yes if you buy American you will help America no question!
If you dont like this country I thing you should move to another country. This report outlines the factors of buying a foreign car.
www.levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/scorecards/ford-v-toyota-scorecard-lfi.pdf
American cars are currently more reliable and safer than Japanese cars. No contest. JD power associates has tested and ranked all the cars and the American cars over all have been under such hardship from " Anti American Car" people that they have to build a good product.
I used to own many foreign cars Audi, Mercedes, Toyota.
All when they got older had Very High repair costs.
I bough an American car put over 200k on it and still not too many problems at all, so I got another one and its really great.
Most Japanese cars from my research are built with very little to no crash protection. Most suffer from very poor crash records or they will have an ok to good records but in an accident they will cost much more to repair if hit by even the smallest car. The materials used are cheaper lighter thus can save fuel. One day in the emergency room will not pay for all the fuel you have saved.
Ford F150 Five Stars
Toyota Tundra failed the crash tests.
People really need to wake up and get educated about cars this whole thing Japanese is better than American is absolutely not true. Consumer Reports is given huge amounts of Donations ( AS they are non-profit) In fact the new 2007 Camry 75% of the people who own it hate it because of transmission failure and other factors. I would never get a Toyota Camry because of all the bad press on this model.
I was at the auto show and I could move all the metal (Core Support or Radiator support with my hand on all the Toyota models.
IF GM has made a hybrid car that is cheaper to manufacture and gets better gas mileage than the normal engine, more reliable because of a more simple design, they need to be praised and noted for their engineer’s great work. I looked up the fuel savings and it was around 10 MPG savings something the Toyota Prius can even do because they were deceptive about the 60 MPG its really only 40MPG. My neighbor got a Toyota Prius and sold it after a few months because his wife’s Honda Civic normal engine got basically the same mileage and he was like why do I want this car now? He ended up getting a Ford Escape Hybrid and likes that much better.
Comparing GM to its past issues is really a bad tactic because we can start doing that with Toyota and Honda too when they first starting making cards all the cover-ups and bad transmissions they produced. The Japanese also had huge rust protection problems for using cheap materials that they are accused of today.
Greg
If you dont like this country I thing you should move to another country.
The King of all hateful Strawmen.
American cars are currently more reliable and safer than Japanese cars.
Nonsense.
Most Japanese cars from my research are built with very little to no crash protection. Most suffer from very poor crash records or they will have an ok to good records but in an accident they will cost much more to repair if hit by even the smallest car. The materials used are cheaper lighter thus can save fuel.
Nonsense, nonsense, and nonsense.
Toyota Tundra failed the crash tests.
No, it didn't. Stop lying.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/4177.html
And the Tundra is built in the United States.
Consumer Reports is given huge amounts of Donations ( AS they are non-profit)
87% of their revenue comes from subscriptions and other sales to their customers. 8% comes from donations. "Consumer Reports receives no corporate donations, samples, or advertising."
http://www.consumerreports.org/annualreport/financialreport2006.pdf
I see you get a good deal of your business from right-wing and military sources. Couple your bald-faced lying with that and we can pretty much rate your reliability relative to Consumers Union.
Oh, and a little coda:
======
•Foreign cars made in the USA. Honda's Ohio-built Accord is 70% domestic parts. Toyota's Corolla is made in a California plant alongside General Motors models.
•American cars made abroad. Ford's hit Fusion sedan is made in Mexico; only half its parts are from the USA or Canada. GM pitches its small HHR sport utility and giant Suburban straight at the American market, but they, too, are built in Mexico. HHR has only 41% American and Canadian parts.
•Famous American names and foreign owners. More than three-quarters of the parts in Dodge's new Nitro SUV, which is assembled in Toledo, Ohio, are American or Canadian. But the profits go to Germany because Dodge is part of DaimlerChrysler. Chrysler Group, meanwhile, just became the first major automaker to announce it's going to make small cars for the U.S. market in China.
[and GM's Aveo is made in Korea]
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-03-22-american-usat_N.htm
Phil Nonsense is how you look up your information.
Look it up
Toyota Tundra Vs Ford F 150
Toyota Tundra Failed the Crash Tests.
Look it up
Toyota Camry Vs Ford Fusion
Ford Won for Better Quality.
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ford/fusion/2006/
Look it up
Safest Sedan on the Road new 2008 Ford Taurus.
Look it up over all American car quality
http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/23/Autos/american_cars/
Look it up
Consumer Reports Is given most of its “Donations” by Toyota
Also Buying American look at my link above supports American Jobs because the Technical Higher paid goes back into the USA.
Just look it up and you will see how the advertising of the Japanese Car companies are Brain washing you to buy inferior products.
Sorry forgot to give you the link that the Toyota failed the test.
Where you said Nonsence.
Its true again
http://www.autospies.com/news/New-Toyota-Tundra-fails-to-get-5-star-crash-rating-13436/
IF you buy one american its equal to buying 5 foreign cars made in this country.
So yes buying an american made honda it does help a small amount. However if you really want to support american you need to buy american. Or you will have to buy 5 Honda or Toyota cars to have the same impact.
Greg
Opps sorry another link that you said is nonsence
Top Ratings go to 2008 ford taurus.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070513-2101-crashtests.html
The Taurus has been discontinued.
Not getting 5-stars for a certain test is not the same as failing. If it were, the F-150 failed its rollover test.
The Honda Ridgeline (a Japanese truck) did better than the F-150. Fly away, xenophobic theory!
As for all your other mindless retorts, simply saying "look it up" without a reference is meaningless.
IF you buy one american its equal to buying 5 foreign cars made in this country.
You sure like pulling things out of thin air.
With technology like this, it is no suprise that American car makers are opposing new MPG standards.
The dinosaurs are dying. Detroit will be a tar pit for their bones.
Wow, it's hard to believe all the Big 3 bashing -- last time I checked the Japanese make large gas guzzlinge SUV's and trucks,too. And didn't Honda just withdraw the hybrid Accord because of slow sales?
Anyway, here's a link to the Saturn Aura website with pricing and mileage estimates. Admittedly this hybrid doesn't deliver the mileage of a Prius, but it is affordable, does improve mileage over the standard models, and looks a lot better than a Prius.
http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicles/aura/greenLine.jsp
You can compare the performance/price/mpg of the vehicle to the 2.4l pontiac G6. (26 mpg combined) Actually the Saturn will have slightly better performance due to motor acceleration assist.
There is approximately a $2500 premium for the hybrid system. $1200 after the $1300 tax credit.
The increase in mpg is about 16% over the G6; unfortunately far from the claimed 25%. (~26 mpg combined for the G6, ~30 for the Aura)
Given an average of 15,000 miles driven per year and a cost of gas of $3.20 per gallon you would recoup the price premium in about 4 years. (Obviously this will go down with more miles per year or higher gas prices.) In addition, every mile you drive over the break even point you will be saving 16% on gas. Add to that the decreased impact on the environment and you have yourself a no-brainer.