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2006 Saturn VUE PreVUE

One Small Step for Saturn, Giant Leaps Coming Soon

Since last January when Saturn showed up at NAIAS in Detroit and shocked us all with the production-ready Sky and stylish Aura concept, not much else has transpired at my favorite up-and-coming nameplate. Finally, I have something with some meat on it to chew on and share with you... uhh, that didnt come out right. What I meant to say is that finally Saturn has something new in the production front to talk about. Hard facts, there are few things I like better.

One vehicle I had a hard time imagining getting any more enticing was the Saturn VUE Red Line. The standard VUE, with its boxy, anti-conventional styling and wacky plastic panels was unusual yet endearing, all in one tidy package. Drop it more than an inch onto stiffer springs, a sport-tuned suspension, larger alloys and fatter rubber, give it a front-lip spoiler that leaves a person wanting for little more, and then add more than ONE HUNDRED Honda-derived

One vehicle I had a hard time imagining getting any more enticing was the Saturn VUE Red Line. (photo: General Motors)

horsepower, and youve got a small SUV that is nearly out of control. Nearly, but not quite.

As I mentioned in an article a few of weeks ago (see automotive news section for Jul 6, 2005: The End of an Era: Reinventing Saturn), Saturn seems to be moving away from polymer body panels and slab-sided styling, in the direction of European-inspired design. Of all the Saturns and their awkwardly hard edges and slabby panels, more of a mid-80s-Volvo-school-of-design look, the VUE is the one I will miss the most when it is summarily "sleekified" and "Eurovated". Actually, its probably the only one Ill miss. Give the VUE credit, it broke the mold when it came

Give the VUE credit, it broke the mold when it came to play and has since developed a couple of imitators in the Element and Scion xB (the latter Stateside only). (photo: General Motors)

to play and has since developed a couple of imitators in the Element and Scion xB. So whats new for 2006? Saturns compact crossover SUV is getting a partial redesign before the fully European-influenced 2007 arrives at auto shows and eventually dealer showrooms next year. For this years redesign, the front end gets a spanking new grille to go along with Saturns self-acclaimed "clean and contemporary" look. Other updates include new headlight bezels (its amazing how much attention and care car makers often devote to the gaps between the headlight elements, but nonetheless it is a great place to make a funky statement--check out a Nissan Altima 3.5 SE some time), chrome trim on door handles and

Saturns compact crossover SUV is getting a partial redesign before the fully European-influenced 2007 arrives next year. (photo: General Motors)

window trim, shiny new alloys and other bright splashes of chrome underneath the grille and around the fog lamps.

All of these minor upgrades should help ease Saturn customers into the models future European design language, which along with other upcoming Saturn models will include healthy doses of chrome and aluminum. Also worth noting is that this is probably the last year you will be able to get the VUE as a dent-resistant polymer-paneled parking-lot champion.

stack houses the flush-mounted steThe interior gets refreshed as well, and the overall effect is a massive improvement over the previous base VUEs economy roots. The flow-through center stack and console is bordered on either side by two slats of wood grain trim and more conventionally shaped vents. Regarding the wood, I personally would have chosen

The interior gets refreshed as well, and the overall effect is a massive improvement over the previous base VUEs economy roots. (photo: General Motors)

aluminum to reflect the general forward-thinking design of the vehicle as a whole, but then again Im of the opinion that you can never have too much aluminum. The center stack houses the flush-mounted stereo components, which can be optioned out with various radio and media options such as portable MP3-device inputs and chrome-trimmed knobs on the simple, straightforward HVAC controls. Supplementary controls are available on the optional leather-wrapped steering wheel, which also looks near premium along with the large white-faced speedo and tach in the middle of the gauge cluster.

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