GM turns to German engineering to boost Saturn - with Jekyll & Hyde results.

[NINETY_EIGHT_REGENCY]

GM turns to German engineering to boost Saturn - with Jekyll & Hyde results.
Pete DeLorenzo
Autoextremist.com


Detroit. Driving the new Saturn Vue XR is a revelation. Taut, competent, exquisitely detailed - and superbly capable - the Saturn Vue is clearly one of the stars in GM's burgeoning product arsenal. Based on a vehicle from GM's Opel in Germany, the Vue feels Germanic, imparting that over-the-road confidence and solidity that German vehicles have long been known for.

Saturn has gone from being the forgotten division languishing in GM's product limbo to undergoing a complete transformation in just three years, with the Aura sedan, the full-size Outlook crossover, the Sky roadster, the new Vue, and the upcoming Astra sport compact making up one of the most impressive vehicle lineups in the business.

Saturn is one of the most glittering examples that the Bob Lutz-led product renaissance is finally bearing fruit for General Motors, and GM's strategy of taking advantage of existing world-class German Opels to flesh-out Saturn's product portfolio is looking to be a brilliant stroke. But as good as the Opel engineering is in the Vue (and the upcoming Astra is purported to be), one serious drawback is emerging that gives me reason to pause. And that is the fact that the Vue, for all of its goodness, is heavy. As in seriously heavy. As in 4,325 pounds heavy (for the AWD XR we've been driving).

That's a lot for a "small" sport utility-crossover vehicle.

And that weight results in an EPA estimated 16 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. The mileage you get may vary, blah-blah-blah, but as we can attest, the real world mileage we achieved around town on our top-line VUE left a lot to be desired. It's clear that the solid composure that the Saturn Vue displays at speed comes with a steep price.

Where is this weight coming from? That's easy. It seems that by leaning on its compatriots at Opel, GM has not only dramatically shortened the time it takes to boost the Saturn portfolio, it has also signed-on for the downside of contemporary German engineering - and that translates into bloated curb weights.

Somewhere along the line, the halo of "German engineering" and the air of superiority that German automakers have enjoyed (and lorded over their competition over the years) has devolved into vehicles that are overgrown, overweight, overwrought and overcomplicated. It seems that in their zeal to load up their vehicles with every hi-tech gizmo available - combined with their fundamental belief in engineering structures that bristle with vault-like solidity - they have lost their way. And now, virtually every German manufacturer is guilty of churning out shockingly heavy vehicles.

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[jkennedy293]

I don't think American consumers are weighing fuel economy more than power and handling just yet. This is evident in the strong sales of Lambdas, Impalas, and full-size SUVs.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

I don't think American consumers are weighing fuel economy more than power and handling just yet. This is evident in the strong sales of Lambdas, Impalas, and full-size SUVs.

Until someone in a Saturn showroom does this doubletake:

Outlook AWD 16 C / 22 H
Vue XR AWD 16 C / 22 H

[CrunkedRL]

So the new Vue is a fatty we've heard this complaint many times before. My guess is that we'll probably hear the same thing about the Astra too which in all accounts will probably be true. I just don't understand why German engineered cars are significantly heavier than U.S. engineered cars if Germans and Europeans as a whole are more fuel concious than those living in the western hemisphere. The only thing I can blame it on is the higher quality interior cabin materials, added safety features, and suspension.

[Bornfromparents]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

I don't think American consumers are weighing fuel economy more than power and handling just yet. This is evident in the strong sales of Lambdas, Impalas, and full-size SUVs.

The Lambdas get just slightly better fuel economy than the Vue
Ouch, but its great vehicle none the less! they just need to make some parts alum. to bring its weight down to around 3600 lbs. plus tdi would be a good choice for this cuv as well

[Bornfromparents]

Originally Posted by CrunkedRL

So the new Vue is a fatty we've heard this complaint many times before. My guess is that we'll probably hear the same thing about the Astra. I just don't understand why German engineered cars are significantly heavier than U.S. engineered cars if the Germans are more fuel concious.

they nned to add some light weight materials to offset the extra safty gear and so on

[paul8488]

Isn't the Vue a GMDaewoo design? Did Opel really have much to do with the Antara / Vue?

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by Bornfromparents

they nned to add some light weight materials to offset the extra safty gear and so on

Exactly...

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Isn't the Vue a GMDaewoo design? Did Opel really have much to do with the Antara / Vue?

I'm sure Opel had a hand in the styling and fettled the suspension to give it a European feel, but the engineering (and inheritant corpulence) are all Daewoo's doing.

The MPG figures alone stopped me from considering the Vue. It's a very appealing vehicle, but that 16mpg figure is absurd. Mazda's CX-7 outshines it in nearly every arena.

Now if GM could get the Zafira here sooner...

[Ghrankenstein]

The MPG figures alone stopped me from considering the Vue. It's a very appealing vehicle, but that 16mpg figure is absurd. Mazda's CX-7 outshines it in nearly every arena.

17/22 for a FWD CX-7 Sport, DI turbo 4-cyl (from Autobook). It practically pays for itself!

[5 watt]

The good news is that GM has admitted (on autoline) that there platforms have a weight problem and that they are working to improve it. They were able to trim 400lbs for the Tahoe hybrid, so you have to ask why all of the Tahoe’s 400lbs lighter?

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by Ghrankenstein

17/22 for a FWD CX-7 Sport, DI turbo 4-cyl (from Autobook). It practically pays for itself!

I know! Fuel economy is abysmal with ALL new vehicles. Part of why I still haven't bought a new vehicle is because nothing on the market bigger than the Yaris gets decent MPG. And since 90% of my driving is done in the city, I don't even look at highway figures.

Psst.. GM! Zafira..... Diesel..... Automatic.... Here......NOW!!!

[Bornfromparents]

Originally Posted by 5 watt

The good news is that GM has admitted (on autoline) that there platforms have a weight problem and that they are working to improve it. They were able to trim 400lbs for the Tahoe hybrid, so you have to ask why all of the Tahoe’s 400lbs lighter?

It should be there goal for all platforms, especially added weight for hybrids
and batteries and so on

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by 5 watt

The good news is that GM has admitted (on autoline) that there platforms have a weight problem and that they are working to improve it. They were able to trim 400lbs for the Tahoe hybrid, so you have to ask why all of the Tahoe’s 400lbs lighter?

Because aluminum is more expensive then steel.

[Bravada]

What a pile of rubbish... The VUE, or Opel Antara, is a GM DAT design (and product, when speaking of the Opel) with some styling cues by Bryan Nesbitt and those awful Envoy vents. The VUE was reengineered for the North American market and production (possibly to also absorb as many already-madde American-built components as possible). The Aura is also all-American, only sharing the front fascia look with the Opel Vectra. The Sky is also an American designed, also given to Opel (but not the other way around). The only "German" Saturn is the Astra (but it's made in Belgium and GME's design studios are now pretty much "European" rathe than "German").