Comments on: So Confused Pt II

By: sam

sam — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:28:05 +0000

I don’t like the looks of the backend of the Opel. It looks too much like a Ford Focus. I hope they change that before it becomes a Saab

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 06:11:22 +0000

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet just released the news that the factory in Trollhättan will start producing a new 9-2 in 2010. The model will be based upon the new Opel Astra.

For all you swedish speaking, here’s the url:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/telegram/0,1082,66077799_854__,00.html

By: Dave. T

Dave. T — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 06:06:50 +0000

At least it has that bubble butt all the Saabies love. It’s something to start with anyway. I’m just sad Saab can’t build its own cars anymore.

By: Jalopnik

Jalopnik — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:48:26 +0000

Rumor Mill: Saab’s New Sportster to Share Platform with Opel OPC

Reports of Saab’s upcoming new sports car (coupe? roadster?) have so far been wide off the mark. While an executive of the GM division recently denied rumors Saab would get a version of the Solstice / Sky roadster franchise…

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:48:13 +0000

Swade: That’s too bad. I guess the best I can hope for is a Pontiac Solstice Redline then, huh?

By: Swade

Swade — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:16:13 +0000

Gripen, see So Confused Pt I.

This seems to be the primary source article and in it the guy speaks specifically of the Sonnet that they sold in the 1960’s, being the Sonnet II, hardtop. They never sold any Sonnet 1’s.

Perhaps a retractable roof might be in the offing, but I’d suspect that it’d be roofed.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:07:02 +0000

The Opel Astra is based on GM’s compact FWD car platform formerly known as “Delta”. Independent suspension in front, “torsion bar” type in the rear. Platform is said to have had Volkswagen Jetta in mind when designed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Delta_platform

According to the link above, the 9-2 was originally going to be based on the Delta platform before GM decided on the rebadged Subaru WRX. Under “cancelled vehicles” they also have: “Opel was to use the platform for the Astra, but they decided to use an updated chassis from the old Astra.”

“The Saab sportster…”? Whenever I’ve heard the suffix “…ster” before it’s typically used in reference to a convertible (Porsche SpeedSTER, Porsche BoxSTER). I really wish Spenchian or the SAAB Marketing people, (or whomever) would specify whether the proposed concept would be a rebirth of the Sonett I from the ’50s (SAAB 94) or the Sonett II from the 60’s (SAAB 97). That would pretty much tell us whether to expect a hard top or convertible.