The reason I didn’t show it was that a) it’s everywhere around the web already, and b) those two bulges behind the seats in the roadster lead me to believe it’s a Kappa (Solstice) based illustration, which is not the way Saab are heading with this vehicle. I think it’s a great photoshop job and a lot of effort’s gone into it.

http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images/002/845/962_b9c7cc60bc233b00dc1ced56ecea629f.jpg

It seems that it is the same as in the sketch only it is in the flesh

Olav – nice to hear from you again. It’s been a while. Tests like that one annoy the daylights out of me too. I probably would have screwed up the magazine….

Even if german ain’t my mother language I’ll try to translate this Auto, Motor und Sport (AMS) article.

“SAAB will participate with a two seat concept car at the March 06 Geneva Salon. The concept is meant as a sort of a tribute to the Sonett from the sixties.

The showcar won’t be based on the RWD Kappa-plattform from GM (Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Opel GT) but on a special plattform with a V6 and front wheel drive.

Productionplan for this two seater, which will be like a Coupé or Roadster, is not existing.
If the public response will become positive the Sonett project might be built on a shortened plattform from the next generation Opel Vectra/Saab 9-3 series.”

Well, Swade, AMS isn’t actually the most SAAB friendly magazine out there. I am frequently receiving the norwegian version of that magazine in my snail mail, and in their last issue they have a test of a VW Passat Wagon 1,9 TiD (140 HP) with automatic gear box (DSG), a BMW 320D Estate with manual gearbox (160+ HP), and finally a SAAB 9-3 Sport Combi with 1,9 TiD with 120 HP and a six speed manual gearbox.
The magazine admits that it actually ain’t fair to compare the 120HP SAAB with the other two, stronger candidates, they should have had the 150 HP with automatic gearbox in the test, but they carry on as nothing happened. When I started reading that test it was obvious that AMS had made their decision for the VW Passat as a winner. The BMW came second and the SAAB third. I found AMS more or less laughing of the 9-3 Sport Combi with comments like: extremely lazy engine, noisy, very hard suspension with 17″ wheel on a little bit rough surface, too large steering wheel, not to good sport seats and medium driving capabilities to mention some. On a postive note they “praise” the SAAB for it’s practicality, braking capabilities (braking best of the three) and design. They also “laugh” about SAAB calling this for a Sport Wagon; AMS doesn’t find it sporty at all, rather a little bit old fashioned. In my point of view this test could not be taken seriously. A serious test should compare apples with apples, this test doesn’t do that. Ok, AMS has a short note in the end where they’re saying that 9-3 SC with one of the turbocharged petrol engines is a far better car than the tested 120 HP TiD. The VW won the test, BMW 320D second and SAAB as third.

Other tests I have have read about the 9-3 SC here in Scandinavia have been more or less very positive indeed! Seems like people and journalists in general love the swedish newcomer.

I don’t mind that the boring VW won this AMS test, but what’s bothering me is the lack of seriousness in this test. The cars should off course have been ‘equally’ configured.

I hear the same comments from many of my friends and collegues with a car enthusiasm, so it ain’t only me who is critical to AMS’ way to perform their tests.

Carl