Thanks to Tim and Mats for sending in some photos taken over the weekend at the Saab Museum at Trollhattan, where the new Aero-X concept made it’s debut.
I’d just about give my lefty to be able to visit there.
All photos are clickable to 800px size. Enjoy!!
click to enlarge. Photo: Tim
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What Car? magazine has recently published it’s top ‘green’ cars and Saab got a double-nod for Best Compact Executive (Saab 9-3 TiD) and Best Executive and Luxury vehicle (Saab 9-5 Biopower).
This Saab has the potential to out-green any of the winners here…..It still emits carbon at the same rate as when it’s running on petrol, but rather than adding to the sum of greenhouse gases, the carbon dioxide released is merely what the plants used to make the fuel soaked up in the first place.
For those that are interested, WhatCar? also has a guide to going green on their site. I’m getting into this, though I must say I prefer going fast. Going fast and green would be a bonus.
And to answer a “green” question asked in comments the other day, they also have a video report about a diesel hybrid drivetrain under development by Peugeot and Citroen. Interesting.
Cheers to Djup Strupe for sending in these rather special Aero-X pics, which I’ve sized up for 1024 x 768 and 800 x 600 wallpapers.
These were shot at a press event for the Aero-X, I assume in the lead up to the Stockholm Motor Show, which starts April 1. Robert Collin, from Aftonbladet, has managed to get a quick report in on the event as well (link in Swedish). My dodgy translator tells me that he seems very pleased with what he saw, going so far as to say that the car is a statement of sorts that Saab doesn’t plan on dying anytime soon, nor that General Motors will let it die soon. Encouraging (if I’ve translated correctly).
Click on the photos to enlarge to 1024 x 768. There’s a link below each photo for the 800 x 600 version.
Enjoy!!
800 x 600 version: View image
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800 x 600 version: View image
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800 x 600 version: View image
A story that’s hopefully an unrequired heads-up for Saab USA and a feel-good story for Fred. Both sourced from Autoblog.
Firstly, news that Audi are preparing a diesel-powered Q7 for release in the US by 2008. Audi are also doing the motorsport prep-work, having recently won the Sebring 12 hour race in a diesel powered R10. Gaining acceptance for diesel engines in the US is going to be a long, rather slow process, but to the winner will be the spoils.
What’s the potential? Well, that’s the story of another Autoblog piece this weekend. They’ve got a post there highlighting five vehicles, all diesel powered, that manage better real-world mileage than the Toyota Prius. Latest figures that I’ve read mention that the darling of the Treehugger set stays on dealer lots for only 8 days. If companies can do the hard yards on selling diesels effectively in the US, the spoils could be considerable.
I’ve been exhorting Saab USA via this site to have a diesel in the pipeline for around a year now. The new low-sulfur fuel regulations come into play in 2007. Here’s hoping they do the right thing, so Fred’s diesel 9-3 isn’t the only one in the country.
I’ve done a few “call yourself hardcore?” entries, focussing on people’s collections of model cars or literature. This entry is a little different. It’s just a guy with two Saabs.
There’s nothing particularly hardcore about owning two Saabs, unless you’ve got to travel 2,000 kilometers to get them serviced!!
Danni owns two Saab 9-5′s and lives in Namibia. He writes:
Some pictures of my two current MY01 9-5 Aero. The red one has been optimized to 184kW / 350Nm and the blue one stock standard Aero 169kW / 350Nm. Both are pristine, red with 118,500km and the blue one 154,000km with a new sub assembly after the turbo calved and broke one of the rings. Out went the old sub assembly and a new one at South African rand 103,000! Eina! (meaning painful)
I bought the blue one new with a maintenance plan up to 50,000km and the red one bought from an American chap who worked for the franchised dealer who closed shop permanently in Windhoek, Namibia. For servicing, I have to drive to Johannesburg, South Africa, a distance of 2,000km one way. You think I am crazy? No, the cars are that good in terms of comfort, quality, performance and are unique in this part of the world. I will NEVER trade them for anything else, irrespective what the GM powers be do to Saab or those myopic narrow-minded journalists who test the cars for 20 minutes and think they can form a sane analysis. Listen, I have mine for 4 years now and believe that I have a better understanding of a 9-5 Aero than a journalist who get his hands dirty on a very bad day on a 9-5 Aero. Pity some folks really.
Now that, my friends, is hardcore.
Here’s a few of the pictures that Danni sent me.
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Not sure about the execution on this one, but an interesting ad for me nonetheless. This ad is from 1999 and ties in with the Saab Vs print ads (which are the single highest hit-getter on this site, bar none).
Another upload from Ryan and Saabvideos.com.
Enjoy.
OK, so which one of you black Saab drivers in California thought it was funny to frock up and get up to some mischief?? An unshaven man wearing a black evening gown, fishnet stockings, calf-high boots and a black wig robbed a USA Gas station earlier this week, police alleged. The armed man stuffed $290 in cash into an ensemble-matching black purse. “I’ve been with the department for 22 years, and this is the first time I’ve heard of this happening anywhere here,” Lt. Phil Penko said. About 35 minutes after Monday’s robbery, Officer Chad Ventimiglia spotted a black Saab with fishnet pantyhose hanging from the front driver’s-side door, dragging on the ground, investigators said.
Bad Boi!!!!!!!
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On a more serious note, how coincidental is it that GM announce an agreement to buy out a bunch of workers at prices varying with years of service….
…..and then announce a day or so later that they’re planning on paring down their engineering staff in Europe.
All you engis in Sweden – here’s to your continued employment.
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The rumour doing the papers today in Sweden is that Saab will make the official announcements about the Hybrid concept on March 30th, birthdate of Eric Clapton, Prince Edward, Warren Beatty, Vincent Van Gogh…..and yours truly.
Presents will be accepted at Po Box……..
Thanks ctm for the rumour
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Saab of Germany are starting up a new sales campaign to welcome in the warmer northern months. It’s to be called the Five Stars of Summer, highlighting Saab’s safety, styling, lifestyle, fun and value. Also ties in nicely with the Euro NCAP 5-star rating.
Germany is the single biggest market on the European continent and Saab has some tremendous potential for growth there.
Here’s hoping my ancestors pick up on the campaign and choose to part with their deutschmarks.
I’m going for Gonzaga.
a) it’s not far from Vancouver, my NA home. Well, closer than any other place that’s still in the NCAA tournament.
b) it’s the college home of one of the gutsiest and most enduring NBA players of all time, John Stockton
c) now that the Buckeyes are out, Dinger won’t get mad at me.
d) now that JJ Reddick and Duke are out, maybe they’re a chance to win (ok, there’s UConn as well, but I have faith).
e) their star has a very questionable moustache
He’s come to cleeeen ze pooool.
