"It would be easy — effortless, even— to accuse GM of bad faith in the Saturn Vue Green Line, a maximally minimal venture in hybrid powertrain technology that would seem less about fuel economy and more about securing coveted hybrid badges on the doors (and the current $650 tax credit for buyers). Unlike 'strong' hybrids from Toyota, Honda, Ford and most recently Nissan, the Green Line project doesn't deploy a gas-sipping Atkinson cycle engine; a continuously variable transmission with exotic power-routing gear sets; an electric air conditioning unit that doesn't depend on the engine running; a powerful electric traction motor; or a large and potent advanced-chemistry battery.
