Why does the Saturn Vue have a Honda engine?

[BrianWC]

It's called "Google." Plus it was in every Automotive magazine when the deal was finally inked. Read a review of the Saturn Vue Redline. It's what got the engine.

 

[JohnBrowning]

In order to compete in that segment of the market they needed an engine that was refined,powerful,fuel efficient,and EPA certified. They did not have anything ready for the Redline Vue. It is much cheaper to source an exsisting product then to develop your own. This is especialy true if you are not sure how it is going to sell. This is true as well if you are working on a design or waiting to get production up on a new design. The 3.6 high content engine is going to have some big shoes to fill.The 3.5 Honda V6 is a very refined V6 and is also very durable.

 

[gedcruise]

Hate to be pedantic, but Google is a search engine, not a source.
In any event, looked at pieces from Automobile, US News, Wikipedia, Saturnfansforum and Ward's Auto World. The only mention of any sort of trade was in Wards. Wards mentioned a 1999 (!) componenet sharing agreement between Honda and GM, but the only actual fuit was the more recent agreement for Honda to supply GM with 76,000 V-6 engines. No diesel trade that I could find, although such a deal may have been contemplated at an earlier time.

 

[BrianWC]

Google is a search engine to help you find a source.

This took all of 2 seconds.
Actually less:

Quote:

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Results 1 - 10 of about 406,000 for Honda V-6 GM engine deal. (0.23 seconds)

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http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3165/is_2000_Feb/ai_62965384

Quote:

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Scuttlebutt
Ward's Auto World, Feb, 2000


Engine Deal Could Lead to Future Links General Motors Corp. is no novice when it comes to V-6 engines: It makes 2.6 million of them each year. So why did GM cut a deal with Honda Motor Co. Ltd. to take some 100,000 Honda V-6s annually in exchange for about the same number of 4-cyl. diesels built by GM's Japanese affiliate, Isuzu Motors Ltd.?

The answer is each automaker gets something it needs without additional investments and to explore future collaborations. "We wanted to get closer to Honda," admits a high-ranking GM official, "and get to know them." Dispelling speculation that Honda may abandon its go-alone stance, President Hiroyuki Yoshino says the tie-up actually "will strengthen our ability to maintain this course." GM will get a Honda ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) V-6 whose displacement is yet to be re-vealed. Honda will get Isuzu's 2L turbodiesels produced in Poland for its Civic models and a 2.2L turbodiesel version built in Germany for Accord models. GM will install the Honda V-6 in vehicles for the North American market, while the Isuzu diesels will be used in European markets. GM is cagey about where the Honda V-6s will be used. A source says "four or five vehicles" are being considered for '02 and '03 model years. Likely candidates include the new Cadillac Catera coming in '02.

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and here's the Car and Driver article when the Honda engine was rolled out in the Vue Redline.

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/6803/the-shock-of-a-hondafied-vue.html

Trust me. I know all about this b/c I was pretty furious with Honda for allowing GM to sell a Honda V-6 in a vehicle that is a competator to the CR-V.