Another example of GM's commitment to hybrids arrived at the LA Auto Show today in the form of the Aura Green Line. This new addition to the Green Line family offers 25% better fuel economy than a standard Aura XE and expects to sell for under $23,000.
If today has shown anything so far, it's that GM is serious about alternative fuels and minimizing the impact of their vehicles on the environment. We'll have to see how well they do with the hybrid Aura when it goes on sale early next year...
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That price is $3000 less than the Camry hybrid starting point, though it's not as sophisticated as the Camry's system.
Still, $3 grand buys a LOT of gas, I bet the operating costs are lower with this one.
Wow, that's getting down into Hyundai pricing. For a hybrid, that should be an exceptional deal. As with any first gen, I'd be wary of the first year, but I bet I'll see quite a few of these on the road. First 60,000 buyers get a tax credit!
Im just finding out that the Aura is really a Vauxhall, and from the research Ive done, that car is just average. Badge engineering at its best!
We've had this discussion here before hondacura4. There's nothing wrong with badge engineering cars, so long as the clones aren't available in the same market. Example- many of your beloved Acuras are simply HONDAs from overseas. Too bad that Honda feels the need to cheapen the cars sold in the US under the Honda nameplate, while making you fork up additional dinero for the Acura that everyone else gets under the Honda nameplate. ;-)
Dunno about the just average assessment either. But I won't try to argue that point, as much of it is really subjective.
Yeah some Acuras are Hondas overseas but youve left out something....Honda still engineers/designs the cars not someone else. The only cars in the Acura stable that are sold as Hondas elsewhere are the Acura RL (Honda Legend) and the Acura TSX (Honda Accord). So if they can take a Honda and badge it as an Acura elsewhere thats a good thing!
So on that note "too bad" that Saturn couldnt design/engineer its own family sedan. Well they have before the L-series and Im not going there. In the end the Aura looks very promising for Saturn but in my eyes its just another decent sedan.
You *are* aware that this is no different for Saturn / Opel / Vauxhall, right? They are all *GM*. Different plants in different countries with different sub-brand labels, but still GM. No different than Honda / Acura.
While the platform (whatevre that means these days) is nearly all Vauxhall, the engines and transmissions are all GM North America (3.6L High "Feature" and 3.5L High "Value".) I would expect the Aura Hybrid to get either the 2.0L or 2.4L Ecotec engine from the Cobalt, another domestic variant engine. I'll be itnerested to see if these "sft" hybrids take as big a hit from the new fuel economy ratings as the full hybrids will. My understanding is that one fo the first new cars to be labeled with the new standards will be the '08 Mitsu Lancer.
Unfortunately for Saturn, their hybrid will get about the same fuel economy as a 4cyl Accord, Camry, or Fusion, if the % gains quoted above are accurate.