Monthly Archives: February 2005

Geneva on the way

Posted on by

The Geneva Motor Show is coming up in March and BBC reports the state of play in the industry (and yes, you-know-who-gets a mention).

Among the winners and momentum-gatherers are Toyota, Renault/Nissan, Porsche & BMW.  Many of the giants are trying to trim the fat of their operations amidst falling sales and lower margins. 

Toyota are riding world’s best profit margins as well as a wave of success for it’s recent car of the year, the hybrid Prius.  Renault/Nissan are proving to be a formidable allance, even if it’s an unlikely one.  Porsche and BMW continue to see rising demand.

As far as Saab is concerned, it’s a case of more speculation about the marque’s future:

Fiat’s former ally, GM, is also overhauling its European strategy.

The US car giant is desperate to move beyond the
troubled industrial relations that characterised its European
operations last year after it announced that a fifth of its workforce
here would have to go.

Instead, GM wants to focus on gaining a foothold in
Europe’s lucrative luxury car market. The automotive group has failed
to make its subsidiary Saab a viable luxury car in Europe, despite the
Swedish marque’s success in the US.

So in a bizarre twist, it will now start making a small
Cadillacs at the Saab factory in Sweden, constructed on the same
platform as the Saab 9-3, in the hope that Europeans will adopt it as a
serious competitor to the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar.

It will be an uphill struggle.

Europeans are sceptical about Saab’s future as a car
making operation, and in Sweden speculation is rife that GM would
ideally like to get rid of the marque – a claim the company feverishly
denies.

9-3 Sport Combi bound for Oz

Posted on by

Although I’d reported it earlier, there’s confirmation in the electronic media now that the 9-3 SportCombi is coming here to Australia.  Our local dealer is pretty pleased with the decision.  "About time" according to him.

I wonder if they’ll import the bodies and assemble them here, seeing the engine will be manufactured in Melbourne.  A Saab put together in Australia, whodathunkit?

Click below for the media report.

Continue reading →

Problems, Problems – Fixed in a jiff.

Posted on by

My brakes on the 99 Turbo started dying last Friday.  Life was peachy one minute and then all of a sudden I’ve got a very stiff pedal but no stopping power.  In a city of hills like Hobart, this can be a real problem.

Turns out it was a stuffed brake booster.  Quotes to recondition: $400. 

Good 2nd hand part at Saabwreck in Melbourne: $77.

I can honestly say that Saabwreck have never, ever, let me down.  If you need some bits here in southern Oz, they are worth a call.

What’s under the hood?

Posted on by

The new Saab 9-3 SportCombi will debut at Geneva very soon.  It’ll make it’s way to Australian shores some time in 2006, though the US, Canada and other markets will see it sooner.

One of the big stories to come out of the announcement of this model is the fact that it will offer a 2.8L turbocharged V6.  And it’s built here in Australia!!!

From GM Media, here’s the lowdown on the engine….

Continue reading →

A 9-2x wish

Posted on by

One of the things that GM got right with the 9-7x was the fact that they crafted a Saab-like interior into the car.  Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the 9-2x.

I love the idea of the 9-2x.  I remember getting very excited when the 9-3x concept vehicle was publicised.  All around the automotive world, having a crossover 4×4 vehicle is now a given.  The thought that Saab might get into it with a great concept like the 9-3x was very exciting.  Hopefully the 9-2x is a bridge vehicle to pave the way.

As a bridge, it’s a pretty good foundation.  The Subaru WRX is a fantastic vehicle and Subaru and Saab share some common elements in their history.  A penchant for innovation and rallying for starters.

One flaw in the 9-2x, however, is the failing to get a Saab interior into the car. 

In case the photos (removed now due to dead links) are too small to take in the steering wheel detail, that’s the Saab on the left and the WRX on the right.

As I mentioned earlier, the fact that GM did manage to put a Saab interior into the 9-7x might be a savings grace for that particular vehicle.  Bob Lutz, yesterday, went to some lengths to explain how they’d gone to great lengths on the interior of the 9-7x, even spending $50 to get the ignition in the right spot, "right where the Golden Retriever can switch it off"  (has that ever happened to anyone?). 

Ed Welburn, GM’s VP for Design, has a post at Fastblog today, stating that GM are working very hard at lifting the standard and finish of the interior for new models.  This is to be applauded.  As I’ve stated in comments there, you spend most of your time in the interior of the car, so it pays to have it how you like it. 

Having said that, I still don’t believe the interior of the 9-7x will save the vehicle from being remembered as the anti-Saab, but at least the punters that pay over their hard-earned will be comfortable.

The 9-2x is a car I see as being much more Saab-like.  A 4 cylinder smaller turbocharged vehicle with flexible space and nimble handling.  Certainly the 9-2x BB at Saabnet has been active and over all, enthusiastic about the model.  This is a good sign for the future.  If Saab can nail the design of the upcoming 9-6x, based on Subaru’s tribeca platform, there might be some real wins coming on.

I hope so. 

And please, GM.  Bring the new model to Australia when it comes.

Augustsson on the Saab sale

Posted on by

Just got this in from a friend in Washington.  I don’t speak Swedish, but these are some interesting observations from someone that does.

They specifically talked about "Shanghai Automotive Industrial Company"

Apparently, all the workers know, but are just waiting and know all "good things come to an end".

Peter Augusttsson responded as well.

….. at the end (of) the clip, Peter responded that (they’re) not selling Saab now which raises questions of the "when".

If you have Real Player, a decently fast connection and a command of the Swedish language, then click here.

Meanwhile…

Posted on by

…at Bob Lutz’s blog, there are the sounds of tumbleweeds passing by on the issue of the possible sale of Saab.

But Bob is defending the Saab-ishness of the 9-7x.

It not only feels like a Saab, but looks like one too. We focused on fits and broke the mold in designing the front-end appearance. An integrated fascia on all-new front end sheet metal gives the truck a clean look with tight gaps and flush fits. A new chrome roof rack accepts existing accessories from the Saab portfolio.

Bob, Scania produces trucks.  Saab produces cars.

UPDATE:  Bob’s blog is mediated, and so far the gatekeepers have been over here 4 times to check out this blog since I left my comments.  As yet, my comments have not appeared on his blog.  From now on, if I post a comment at Bob’s blog, I’ll post a copy of the comments here too.

By the way, Hi Bob!!  If you’re wondering, I am really sceptical about the path Saab is taking.  I understand the 9-2x and 9-7x are bridges (At least I hope they are) and I also understand that at the end of the day, you’ve got to make money.  Saab stayed alive via innovation, not by being the same as everyone else.  That’s my overriding concern.  So if I’m on your back, it’s only because I care.  OK?