What Is It?
2004 Saturn VUE Red Line
What's Special About It?
BMW has its M division, Mercedes has AMG, Ford has SVT. Now Saturn joins the in-house tuner parade by bringing out its Red Line series. The VUE Red Line makes its presence known with its big mesh-filled mouth, crisp rocker panel extensions, unique rear fascia and chromed 3-inch exhaust outlet. The cabin of all 2004 V6 VUEs will feature a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob along with white-faced, chrome-ringed gauges. And every 2004 VUE will benefit from increased sound insulation.
More than just a looks package, the VUE Red Line has the hardware to back up its daring body mods. First and foremost is a beefy 3.5-liter V6 with 250 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of twist, putting it head and shoulders above anything else in the compact SUV class. A five-speed automatic shifts the gears and either front- or all-wheel drive can be had. Saturn claims that the Red Line can blast from zero to 60 mph in just 7 seconds, making it quicker than most midsize 'utes packing V8s. A sport suspension, antilock brakes (albeit with drums still out back), "performance tuned" steering and 18-inch alloy wheels with meaty 245/50 Bridgestone Turanzas complete the functional upgrades. Whether these tweaks will be able to vanquish the off-the-line torque steer we've experienced in our long-term VUE remains to be seen.
Why Should You Care?
On paper, there doesn't appear to be anything that would match the performance potential of this hot-rod VUE. We still think the VUE's interior has way too much hard plastic trim, but rapid acceleration and nimble handling have a way of making up for such deficiencies. We'll have to judge for ourselves once we get our hands on a Red Line. — John DiPietro
2004 Saturn VUE Red Line
What's Special About It?
BMW has its M division, Mercedes has AMG, Ford has SVT. Now Saturn joins the in-house tuner parade by bringing out its Red Line series. The VUE Red Line makes its presence known with its big mesh-filled mouth, crisp rocker panel extensions, unique rear fascia and chromed 3-inch exhaust outlet. The cabin of all 2004 V6 VUEs will feature a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob along with white-faced, chrome-ringed gauges. And every 2004 VUE will benefit from increased sound insulation.
More than just a looks package, the VUE Red Line has the hardware to back up its daring body mods. First and foremost is a beefy 3.5-liter V6 with 250 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of twist, putting it head and shoulders above anything else in the compact SUV class. A five-speed automatic shifts the gears and either front- or all-wheel drive can be had. Saturn claims that the Red Line can blast from zero to 60 mph in just 7 seconds, making it quicker than most midsize 'utes packing V8s. A sport suspension, antilock brakes (albeit with drums still out back), "performance tuned" steering and 18-inch alloy wheels with meaty 245/50 Bridgestone Turanzas complete the functional upgrades. Whether these tweaks will be able to vanquish the off-the-line torque steer we've experienced in our long-term VUE remains to be seen.
Why Should You Care?
On paper, there doesn't appear to be anything that would match the performance potential of this hot-rod VUE. We still think the VUE's interior has way too much hard plastic trim, but rapid acceleration and nimble handling have a way of making up for such deficiencies. We'll have to judge for ourselves once we get our hands on a Red Line. — John DiPietro
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