Here is a prototype PHEV Saturn VUE:



Mary Ann Wright:


Heads the hybrid battery division of Johnson-Saft Controls and has a contract with Saturn to provide lithium-ion batteries to this vehicle for production. She was quoted in an article in the last year saying something like "It is ok if the Prius and Volt get all the attention in the race to deliever the first PHEV-Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle". "The Saturn VUE just might beat both of them to production".

This former Ford Executive/Engineer is credited with bringing the Escape Hybrid to the market "on time" in August/September 2004. She as also gathered a number of former Ford Hybrid Engineers to work for her at Johnson-Saft Controls.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain. Aug. 2007

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio. May 2008

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa. July 2008.

Interesting - the prototype PHEV Saturn VUE is of the 2007 Staurn Vue model. I would be more jazzed if it looked like the 2008 model or newer. Seems her quote and picture could have been taken from an article back in late 2006.

I hope GM can get its act together.