One special technological touch was a gearless continuously variable transmission. Saturn dropped the CVT in 2005 for a conventional four- or five-speed automatic. A Red Line series arrived in early 2004 that promise high-performance sportiness. Developed with the assistance of
General Motors ‘ Performance Division, the Red Line has a lowered performance-tuned suspension, ground-effects body components and 18-inch wheels. Rather than the Vue’s original 3.0-liter V-6, the Red Line model uses a Honda-built 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 250 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V-6 was later dropped, and all V-6-equipped Vue’s now have the 3.5-liter engine. For 2006, the Vue gets exterior and interior [...]
Serving as the sportier member of the pair, the car-based Tribute attracts considerable interest even if its sales totals lag well behind the Escape’s. Both models compete against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. New Tribute i and s trim levels replaced the previous DX, LX and ES for 2006. A new 2.3-liter four-cylinder in i models produced 153 horsepower, versus 130 hp in the prior version. For the first time, four-cylinder models could be equipped with an automatic transmission. Little has changed for the 2006 model year. Front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available, but the Tribute and Escape [...]
