It’s with some sadness that I have to announce that Trollhattan Saab is quite likely to go unrepresented at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
This is particularly sad given the importance of the showing that Saab will have there – a premium compact concept vehicle, referred to here and elsewhere as the Saab 9-1.
Saab Sweden have let me know that a representative would be welcome. They can help us with getting a media pass to get into the press events and provide interview opportunities etc. But due to space constraints they will not be providing accommodation in Geneva for the show. Whilst there was nothing mentioned expressly, I assume they will not assist with travel costs, either.
I can’t provide assistance with this either given the current costs/revenue of the site and I wouldn’t expect someone to attend at their own cost unless they lived nearby and the cost was minimal and offset by the opportunity to be there on press day.
I was never a candidate for attending personally. I have a full-time job and the recent trip to Detroit used up as much time as I can give. I was hoping, however, to send someone that GM could accommodate as has been done for previous events. Unfortunately, this is not to be.
So, we’re going to have to get news on the Saab 9-1 concept the old fashioned way – through Djup Strupes* (should they decide to surface) and waiting for someone to break the press embargo.
It feels like I’m starting this whole blogging thing all over again 
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Djup Strupe, for those who are new around here, is Swedish for ‘Deep Throat’ – a multi-headed inside source responsible for many a Saab story here over the years.
I’ll be there but I’m not a journalist .
I can only make some pictures of the Saab stand .
I guess it won’t be enough ….
Sorry Steven . I’ll go there with some Saab enthusiasts friends
Maybe that Etienne will come .I try to convince him to come to join us . But it’s also time and money for him . So I don’t
I am aiming to go to the Geneva show, but nothing is concrete yet. I’ll be in between contracts at the time and it all depends on if I manage to secure a new one before the show.
Everybody speaks about a 9-1 concept car. Are there any chances to see also a 9-5 future generation concept car in Geneva ? I understood that the new 9-5 will be sold together with the 9-4 X in the second semester of 2009.
Klod, according to Robert Collin of Aftonbladet, we’re a good chance to see a 9-5 pre-production vehicle later this year. Possibly at Paris?
Swade, thank you for the quick answer. Maybe I’lll be in Paris. Have a good night.
Why don’t Saab just show us a production 9-1? Look what happened to the 9X and AeroX concepts.
zippy: I’m guessing that the production version of the 9-1 is still a couple of years off and they’re stalling for time. Dealers are shutting-down due to lack of compelling product so Saab has been showing things very early and then stalling.
For example: the XWD system was first demonstrated and announced for the MY2008 9-3 way back at the Saab Festival in July(?). It’s not due on dealer lots now until around April or May it looks like (after the Turbo-X is debuted).
The Turbo-X was first shown at Frankfurt back in what, September? It now looks like you can’t go to your dealer and pick one up until April or May at the earliest.
I was told back in August 2007 that we can expect to buy a BioPower Saab in the U.S. sometime in “early 2009″.
The 9-4X Concept debuted in January 2008, but the production version is said to be 18 months away, putting it on dealer lots around July 2009 (I’m assuming as a MY2009.5).
I have not yet seen concrete confirmation that a 9-3X (ruggedized jacked-up XWD-equipped 9-3 combi) is even in the works. However, even if it is I wouldn’t expect to see it on dealer lots until May 2008 at the earliest (the XWD system still has to debut in the Turbo-X), but considering we still haven’t seen a concept of it yet I’m guessing it’s more like a MY2010 if it’s coming at all, considering we’ve already seen a vehicle to debut mid-year in 2009 (the 9-4X). At this point what’s the point of the 9-3X? It’ll be competing with the 9-4X directly and the current 9-3, based on Epsilon is planned to be phased-out in favor of Epsilon 2 come the next-gen 9-3 in 2010 or 2011 anyway, right?
I highly doubt Saab would distract attention away from the 9-1 by introducing the next-gen 9-5 at the same show. Is Paris a suitably prestigious auto show to debut the hugely-important 9-5? Maybe they’ll hold-off and show the next-gen 9-5 at Frankfurt toward the end of the year?
Is there a rule saying someone, say, Golfhunter, can’t get a press pass and report for TS, even though he isn’t really part of TS?
I mean, if he’s going to be there already, maybe Swade could ask GM to give him a press pass so he can get into the 9-1 press event at least. I can see why this would be an imposition, but…I mean…is it safe to assume that he’d like to go to that event anyway? I’m not trying to speak for Golfhunter, I have no idea how he’d feel about being asked to do that. I don’t think it could hurt to ask, though.
Though, given Swade’s (completely fair and justified) negative attitude towards unpaid correspondence for this site, I doubt he’d go for something like that.
Yes why not , it could be fun . But Etienne (Saabhuy) , a good friend has the press card already .I should maybe ask him .
Anyway , I’ll make pictures of the mysterious 9.1 concept car .I swear !
I don’t know , tell us Steve please . I’ll do my best whatever happens !
OK ok ok, everyone stop!!!
I’ll put my hand up to go for TS. I have the equipment, hardware, and the talent to do the job.
Swade, just get GM to pay for the flights and I’ll do the rest.
Happy days, problem solved.
Thank you. The end.
ps – i think they “miss you Steve!!”
Anyway i hope to be be in geneva ,mostly for had fun with friends
There you go, 2.5 volunteers (Etienne didn’t actually “volunteer,” but close enough, he’s got a press pass).
TS HAS to have a presence at Geneva. The 9-1 is too important to miss.