2007 Saturn Aura Green Line

General Motors says the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line will improve on the standard car's fuel economy by as much as 25 percent.

The new Green Line Aura hybrid was shown at the 2006 Los Angeles auto show and goes on sale early in 2007.

The Aura Green Line is also expected to carry a base price of less than $23,000, making it competitive with current hybrids like Toyota 's Prius. The premium over a gas-engine-only Aura should be less than $2500, Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak told auto show audiences.

The hybrid system in the Aura melds a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a four-speed automatic and an electric motor/generator. Essentially it's the same powertrain as that found in the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line. In the Aura it will be rated at 164 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque.

Standard features on the hybrid will include dual front, side, and curtain airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes, and OnStar.