Comments on: Saturn Aura Green Line becomes lowest priced hybrid

By: DialM4Speed

DialM4Speed — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:13:16 +0000

Well the hippies have another car to buy at least it’ll be a domestic.

By: 79TA

79TA — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 07:42:28 +0000

GM is doing alright with brand management. Saturn has moved upscale, get over it.

Ford is just plain mismanaged.

Lastly, the Prius owes it 47 or so mpg mostly to its anemic engine. Regenerative braking doesn’t do that much (and does absolutely nothing while cruising at constant speed . . .). It’s an image thing no matter what car it’s on.

By: whoopee

whoopee — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:15:52 +0000

lets try the standard leftlane comment:

“hey gm, this looks good! roll it out to production and you can give ferrari, lexus and bentley a run for the money!!”

HAHA i kill me

no, really, just shutter saturn. its a case study on how to take something good and completely flush it down the toilet, the brand is DEAD

gm is the brand mismanager of the century, ford is #2.

By: Rene Curry

Rene Curry — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:42:19 +0000

Is there anywhere that compares the functional difference between this and a Prius? If any?

From a marketing perspective GM should add some functional add-on to distinquish the hybrid version from the non-hybrid version. Maybe cooling scoops or vents for the electric motor or alternator ??? People love to show they are GREEN and part of the club. Just having a badge doesn’t cut it. That is why everyone always knows & talks about the Prius and not the other models out there.

By: sj79

sj79 — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:34:09 +0000

The Aura GL is rated under old standards but it still matches the fuel economy of the Accord Hybrid which costs about $8k more. Stop complaining about it not being a full hybrid when its just as good as the Accord “full” hybrid. 28/35 is better than every four cylinder automatic in the segment. The best you can get is 24/34 but some cars like the Fusion are rated at lower numbers with their fours.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:46:46 +0000

EPA is way behind the curve, AAA has been on the ball for quite a while now. If you want to know what you can expect, as a normal person, to get out of a given vehicle, assuming that AAA tested it, then EPA should not be your first choice.

By: Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:33:50 +0000

I’ve had this pricing in my database for weeks. The only real news is the tax credit.

I also have competing hybrids from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan in the database.

To run thorough price comparisons:

http://www.truedelta.com/prices.php

By: Jon Luc

Jon Luc — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:17:46 +0000

Ugly is ugly. Whether it’s a Camry or an Aura.

By: Bush

Bush — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:12:01 +0000

I am still curious what these hybrids will be like in a few years when odometer rolls past 100,000 miles.
Comment by jonstew, posted on March19 at 12:11 pm

I have an aquaintence that has a 1st generation Toyota Prius. It is now pushing 147,000 miles. No issues.

By: Kaizen

Kaizen — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:59:30 +0000

Not here, and I work for TMS.

By: stadt

stadt — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:10:37 +0000

I don’t know why everyone is getting all up about the highway number when it’s the city number you should be paying attention too. 28mpg is better than most of the regular four cylinder mid-size cars.

And to the person who suggested we should be making bigger cars and SUVs into hybrids, I just think that the people who buy SUVs and big cars don’t give a shit about the environment, so they wouldn’t sell well.

And we’ll just recycle the batteries or something. It won’t be an issue. Priuses have been on the road in Japan since 1997, and if I recall correctly, the batteries are good for at least 150k miles. And I haven’t heard about any battery disposal predicaments over there. Has someone else?

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:51:00 +0000

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=101393/pageNumber=8
50+ MPG.
Know a instructor who gets 48 hwy, 52 city, combo 50.
has a 2004 prius. Also, hatchback is cool to haul stuff in ,like a small wagon/suv./cuv thing.
Comapct car length, EPA midsized sedan, in interior volume., All I really need.
take care. not offense= TCNO…from now on.

PS: who knows what will be out by 08 or 09?

By: autonutt

autonutt — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:22:13 +0000

Comparing highway MPG is pointless with hybrids.. the main purpose is to boost CITY MPG because the hybrid systems only shift to electric power when the RPM load is low, as in city commuting.

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:18:38 +0000

Hey, what’s the deal? On another site, someone said all this “mild hybrid” is is GM has an extra larger generator on their car, and to “start it” from a stop(when gas cuts off?) the alternator “pops it” into action, vs electric motor(s)?
Anyone?

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:59:30 +0000

S-60 Driver….. I was at the autoshow, and on the EPA rating for Aura hybrid, it was 37 MPG.
35 ya say?
Either way, not very impressive, when you have Fusion with 31-32MPG, G6 same,Sonata at 33, Camry and Optima at 34…all normal gas engines. Yes, they pollute more. Most cost less, though.
Maybe compared to the Sebring 30 MPG, this is a big deal.

take care.not offense.

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:55:27 +0000

PS: Not the Astra, either… ( when i mentioned a Spectrum,new, at GM… but make it better). The Astra is ok, but the Storm , for it’s time, looked “futuristic”, sort of ( it was ahead of it time, with it’s “egg shaped” /90′s cars, like the 200 sx, the NX2000, etc).
The Astra is ok, but not “futuristic”, from what I could see.
I guess many cars aren’t these days,lol.

By: S-60-driver

S-60-driver — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:54:23 +0000

at the beginning of the article—–
“General Motors today announced the 2007 Aura Green Line hybrid will start……”

that’s a 2007 model. Late delievery. The EPA mileage is NOT reflected on new 2008 standards!!

That’s scary! only 35 mpg highway, i wonder what will it be for next year as 2008 model….. 32 mpg??? WHOA!!

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:51:57 +0000

Although the Chevy Storm(Geo Storm, an Isuzu Impulse), was not thebest car on the road, I would Welcome something from GM like that car, maybe slightly larger for today’s market( maybe the Cobalt I-4 in it),and mild hybrid( 10-20 % MPG increase?).
Say, 38-40 MPG, 0-60in 9-10 seconds with automatic, 3 door sporty hatch!
That would get me into a Chevy dealership.
The Aura, no.
take care. not offense.

By: LJ

LJ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:49:33 +0000

http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html

Says others coming, like Malibu, and in 09, some smaller cars, liek Accent and Fit hybrids, Possible Sonata hybrid( I-4 in that, for Less than a Aura? I bet Hyundai would trump them all in MSRP, just to take some buyers ).
I still like the polluting Auto-manuals ( 5 speed automatic, or shift it yourself,all-in-one)gas engines, with 33-34MPG, and 16-20K(or higher, if you prefer more gadgets).
A hybrid, say 40% better MPG, that already gets 33-34MPG? So… maybe Mid-40′s mpg for a mid-sized(EPA Large) Sedan(Sonata)?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Like I said before, I owned GM, Nissan, Hyundai, Scion(tC), and in-laws own(ed) GM, Mazda,Ford,Chrysler,Suzuki.
I buy what I like, or is the best deal, For Me, at the time.
When is the Hybrid HUMMER, with nearly 15- 18 MPG coming out?

By: swamprat

swamprat — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:07:31 +0000

I am not sure that the 35 mpg mileage rating is based on the new EPA standards. If it is, that’s good, but I think its based on teh old numbers.

By: LamborghiniZ

LamborghiniZ — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:50:49 +0000

Good one, A4

By: youngm7

youngm7 — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:48:11 +0000

It’s an impressive number considering all it really does is shut the engine off when you are stopped. No electric motor, just an oversized alternator that can start the car.

But fortunately it’s not much (if any) of a premium over the well equipped Aura XE.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:17:38 +0000

The only way Hybrids are going to get anywhere is if they are more than just overpriced compact cars. They need to be bigger and less expensive. This is a good step along with the Camry and Accord Hybrids. But for this country, Hybrid pick-ups and SUVs should be just as much of a priority as family cars. Also stop offering non-hybrid versions of those cars or SUVs, as they are made. This however will not be a workable solution until the performance and mean knowledge base for mechanics and “do-it-yourselfers” catches up.

Still a good next step, Go GM!

By: angelo

angelo — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:44:03 +0000

Part of why the numbers are lower is because they probably the reflect the EPA’s new testing methods, which are somewhat accurate (for a change). These methods are going to show lower figures, especially for hybrids.

By: Egbert Souse

Egbert Souse — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:40:24 +0000

Wow, Ive always disliked GMs products and American cars in general but it really seems like GM is kicking some serious ass lately, Ford on the other hand.. well may God help them cause it is not looking pretty. You guys have to understand that the public loves hybrids, coming out with this is only gonna help them in the long run.

By: A4

A4 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:54:59 +0000

al gore is an asshole

By: PrimeGTP

PrimeGTP — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:54:52 +0000

The Aura is a nice car, though I preferred the visual design of my G6 GTP. The mileage is not fantastic for a hybrid, but we have to remember that A) it’s more affordable, and B) it’s not a full hybrid, it’s more electric-assisted than electric-driven. Something to research would be whether or not these EPA numbers are the old or new standard, also. 35MPG highway using the new “real world” standard is rather impressive for a car that can cost under $20k with the tax credit and even the most minor of incentives. And it looks like a real car, not trash like the Prius.

Could be a hit or a bomb. Wait and see, I suppose.

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:44:42 +0000

I don’t hate hybrids, as one member in my family, as i mentioned last week, drives 120-130 miles Per Day, for work purposes, on avg.
Use a POV for this.
Edmunds Ongoing 2004 Prius testing( long term, around , think they are on 50,000 miles now, going to 100,000) said they had a best of 54 MPG( I read one of 50.1 MPG a few months back). Seems the longer(more miles) put onto the thing, the higher the MPG numbers go!
Ya gotta remember, the torque from thebatteries is a trip. I test drove one, and actually got the tires to “squeal”. Not bad.Rumors haev it the next generation will have a larger gas engine, and better batteries,(more power?) and supposedly, a 0-60 between 9-10 seconds( under 10 is what they’re trying for, about normal compact car speeds and length car, but with a Mid-sized sedan volume for interior).

Seriously, if I wanted MPG(which we do, can’t afford a trade in until 08, or we’d lose too many $$$$, make it not worth while, on any vehicle more costly than an Accent)I’d either check out the smaller Civic Hybrid, or get the Prius.
35 MPG is nothing amazing for a mid-sized sedan these days( when most avg 33-34MPG already, on a normal engine).
take care/not offense.

By: LamborghiniZ

LamborghiniZ — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:39:34 +0000

If it operates anything like the Vue Greenline, I’ll pass

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:38:02 +0000

Why pay 22K for a hybrid that only gets 35 MPG(at the autoshow, the sticker said 37 hwy)?
IIRC, Edmunds, etc, tested the less expensive( and rated better by C&D in a 6 car shootout in Feb,IIRC… Optima was behind accord and altima, ahead of aura,camry and sebring)….Optima( 5 speed auto-manual shift), and it Did Get 34MPG hwy( for under 17K car).
Wow…5K savings right there! Doesn’t the Camry advertise 34MPG, also?
G6 gets what, 30-32MPG hwy, I-4? 167HP?

What gives? Smoke and Mirrors? GM just wants to say”we have a hybrid Car, too?”
Doesn’t the Ford Escape SUV hybrid get 35-37MPG?
That’s sad that GM has to use a hybrid to get 1 MPG better than a Camry or Kia Optima, that use normal gasoline engines!
Isn’t Ford considering bringing out a hybrid Fusion next year, or as an 08 model?
I hope these things get better than 35-36MPG.
Try Over 40! That is how ya do it.
Camry Hybrid is what 39-40 (I dunno, & don’t really care). I just read stuff, try to recall, and post the info I read.
if this Aura got 40+ MPG, that would be a little more impressive than 35 MPG.
take care/not offense.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:54:10 +0000

I hate hybrids. Just flat out hate them. I heart gasoline.

By: Aston Martin

Aston Martin — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:49:35 +0000

Diesel is about 95p a litre, and unleaded is about 82-87p a litre. Thats 1.65 dollars per litre.

By: TomF

TomF — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:23:40 +0000

I was driving around the UK three weeks ago in a diesel-powered Renault Megane station wagon that, according to the trip computer, was giving me 51 mpg on a mix of motorways and country lanes. Six-speed transmission, eager to cruise at 90mph, loads of space, nothing to complain about (except the price of UK fuel… about 90p a liter, which translates roughly to $7.50 a gallon). Anyway… MUCH more attractive than a hybrid… why can’t we have that technology in the US?

By: hanlond

hanlond — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:15:21 +0000

How ever, without the first cars, phones, computers, or cell phones we would never have them today. Technology has to start somewhere, and its most likely going to start as being crap.

I don’t really care for hybrids, but I think this is nice. A good looking car being offered as the cheapest hybrid on the market. GM will probably sell a lot of these.

By: deutschetouring1337

deutschetouring1337 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:06:50 +0000

Well I was wrong it was GM paying GMAC 1 BILLION. And GM did sell a 51percent controlling interest in GMAC, but GMAC is going to be hit because a large protion of its buisness aside from realty is lending. With the Govt giving tax breaks on electric and hybrids, the later statment is absurd.

By: Aston Martin

Aston Martin — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:53:52 +0000

Utter rubbish. Saturn is just another crap branch of GM. Today’s hybrids all suck, however. Think of any technology in its early days; the first cars were crap, the first telephones just crackled a lot, the first computers took up the size of a building and were about as fast as a lethargic slug and had all the storage space of a teaspoon, and the first mobiles were like bricks.
It will take many years for hybrids to be great and appreciated like the technologies listed above (unless by then all our cars run on hydrogen and/or global warming has killed us all).

By: Piablo

Piablo — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:44:47 +0000

deutschetouring1337 – I thought GM sold it’s controlling share… They still own a portion of GMAC, but back when they were bailing themselves out they sold off a large portion of GMAC.
Also in leading news…Al Gore is getting grilled by congress today on his views of global warming. Will this effect hybrid technology and sales???

By: roadmaster96

roadmaster96 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:41:49 +0000

is it rated by the old mpg system or the new 2008 ratings system?

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:27:01 +0000

Part of the problem with diesel hybrids may be the start/stop responsiveness. Hybrids gain a a great deal of their mileage boost by engaging the ICE only when the extra power is needed. A diesel may not be able to engage as quickly as a gasoline engine, causing a lag in power delivery which would affect performance (or even safety)

As far as the performance numbers go, something isn’t adding up. For a 2.4L engine, 164 hp @ 6400 rpm and 159 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm seems low, especially when you consider the torque characteristics of an electric motor. Then factor in 28/35 MPG, which is on par with the Honday Accord Hybrid or Altima hybrids, which generate greater HP and torque.

By: F451

F451 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:20:11 +0000

It certainly has an excellent price-point, and the IRS deduction puts it up another level of desirability higher. Seems to provide solid value for the money…I’m impressed.

By: mujician

mujician — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:19:20 +0000

It’s still a mid-hybrid as apposed to everyone else and their Full hybrids.

By: bb_454

bb_454 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:13:45 +0000

“why can’t they just mate the best of diesel with hybrid? Perhaps a ‘light’ hybrid diesel car?”

I’m assuming that the cost of equipping a car with a diesel motor along with a hybrid system would end up costing the consumer too much money. Bob Lutz said it would cost the consumer approx. $5k just to equip one of their vehicles with their new 2.8l diesel thats being released in Europe, add in the hybrid costs and its kind of expensive for just a small car. But thats just my two cents.

By: deutschetouring1337

deutschetouring1337 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:11:23 +0000

Its a rebaged Opel whoopty doo. Now on to more serious things Daimler is shopping around looking to sell Chrysler to private equity firms… where is this info Leftlane? Also SubPrime lending what does it mean to the Auto industry? Well considering GMAC is right there with NewCentury (youve been paying attention right?) anyways GMAC has jus pumped 1 million dollars into itself due to GMAC having people default, this is a serious problem for GM. With GM not doing so hot plus their financial branch in trouble there is more on the horizon!

By: bb_454

bb_454 — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:07:20 +0000

“Wished the EPA numbers were a little higher, but this should be a good hit for GM.”

I thought the same thing, but it’s only a mild hybrid.

By: Toy Yoda

Toy Yoda — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:06:41 +0000

I’m sure it’s been said before, and engineers have pondered the design but…. why can’t they just mate the best of diesel with hybrid? Perhaps a ‘light’ hybrid diesel car? I think Peugeot has a concept car like this.