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Whilst I’m loathe to keep the conversation going (it’s been a tough day…) I feel it’s appropriate to shed a bit more light on this image, which featured here last night and was the subject of much speculation.
It turns out that the image was the cover of an invitation sent out by Saab to various customers. The package included some tickets to the Geneva show to see the unveiling.
I’ve got no idea if this would have been organised by Saab Sweden or Switzerland, but I’d assume it’d be Saab Switzerland seeing the show’s in their back yard.
So there you have it.
22 responses so far ↓
1 Martin N // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Think about it this way:
What is the difference between the 9x and 9-1 concepts?
“Die Differenz heißt Zukunft!”
The difference is called the future.
9-1 is the future of 9x.
Long shot?
2 Swade // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Sounds good to me, Martin!
3 Markac // Feb 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I hate to be flippant, but did Djup Strupe get duped?
4 Joe Lobo // Feb 19, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Are we now set to see the beginning of a new ture era finally ??? The concept cars must make it in to the production line otherwise we have vaporware, nothing else. Once this is underway a good well planned marketing and good press and promotions plan must be made. Cope that A+B, it seems that all these years in the wilderness are coming to an end and we’ll make sure that both go in to obscurity where you belong. You had it too long in stardom as this is our turn !!! Nothing more will give me pleasure than to see the re-emergence of Saab and the demise of the A+B twits. I am jubilant !!!
5 Mag-X // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Why not make the 9X the base for the 9-1?
It’s basically what we’ve been wanting all along isn’t it?
6 wilfried // Feb 19, 2008 at 8:36 pm
As I can cycle but I’m not a skier, apart from the design-Differenz, I prefer the 9-1 looking like a 9X above the 9-4X.
If the 9-1 finally looks different, so be it, at least it should be as versatile in 2008 as promised in 2001!
7 MarkS // Feb 20, 2008 at 1:03 am
Well, whatever happens, I’m certainly looking forward to March! Remember, the word “iconic” was used in reference to the 9-1′s styling, so that leads me to believe it won’t be proportioned like the Astra, as some have speculated (which would be a good thing). A car that looks like a bashed Volkswagen GTI couldn’t serve as an “iconic” model for Saab. After years of empty promises, we Saabistas are ready for something great!! Bring it!!!!
8 Martin N // Feb 20, 2008 at 1:48 am
Bashed VW GTI? Don’t force me defend Astra (and other Opel designs) by saying that they are at least more iconic than anything that Saab has produced for the last 20 years. Which would, sadly, be true…
But “shared platform” doesn’t have to mean “shared looks”. Not even in GM brands…
But I have high hopes! I really really would like to see a new Saab that doesn’t feel 5 years old from the start.
9 MarkS // Feb 20, 2008 at 2:17 am
Sorry Martin, I didn’t mean to offend you – we’re all friends here even if we disagree!
The Astra has good points and perhaps I was being too harsh. I’m just hoping Saab will return to something more like this, that’s all, and its been a long wait-
http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/saab_900_talladega_600.jpg
Cheers my friend, and long live the classic 900!
10 NineTwoX // Feb 20, 2008 at 2:48 am
TBH, if this is part of Saab’s marketing than I am quite impressed. What a great way to build anticipation and speculation!
In terms of that image, I am glad that it turned out not to be the 9-1. Not because of looks or design but solely because of how unfinished it appears. I hope that Saab reveals a 9-1 concept that is well on it’s way to being a productions vehicle.
11 Martin // Feb 20, 2008 at 4:02 am
MarkS,
)
I wasn’t offended (maybe I should have added one of these:
Just like you, I really hope Saab will make this (and even more important: the new 9-5) a comeback to a more progressive exterior design.
12 MarkS // Feb 20, 2008 at 4:09 am
Martin-Amen to that!
13 Dan9-1 // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:06 am
just thinking back on that image…. it may be that that came from inside saab, but it may not actually be a picture of the 9-1 anyway. It doesn’t say anywhere on that that it is the 9-1, it just says its the unveiling of a concept car. It could be that saab are using the image of the 9x to promote it as it is going to be alot like it. I know this defies the norm or what we think should be happening, bu it is possible, saab may be trying (after the 9-4x embargo situation from january) to keep the 9-1′s pictures underwraps but play the media game using teaser pictures, more discreet than the one above. This wouldn’t seem logical, but there you go, it just a thought which i just had
. Its probably wrong……?
14 ck1x // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:00 am
I know this isn’t directly involved with the article of choice but I just came across the article on eGMcarTech.com. And it seems that per comments made by Steve Shannon to Saab dealers. That we have a little longer wait to actually see the new 9-4, 9-1 and 9-5 in showrooms for purchase. This might effect my decision in getting a new car if it’s true. I was hoping to be in the new 9-4 at the latest spring of next year, but it seems we won’t see anything new untill 2010, yikes!!
15 swade // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:08 am
Yeah, off topic, but I think that’s the old model-year-calendar-year thing playing tricks. The 9-4x and 9-5, from what we’ve heard, will be released late 2009, but they’ll be MY2010 cars. Saab generally start their new model year around August.
16 N // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:31 am
regarding 9-4X and 9-5 you´re right. No vehicles until MY10.
17 SaabLance // Feb 20, 2008 at 7:39 am
As a 14 year veteran of Saab sales let me tell ‘ya…if I hear the word’s “concept car”, “delay in production”,or “possibly by Fall of “09″ ONE FRIGGIN’ MORE TIME I’m going to drive to Detroit and throttle some one!!!!!!9-3 sales are wayyyyy down(on a significantly better car),lease prices are not competitive (and don’t talk to me about exchange rates.Last time I checked Volvo was a Swedish car …and their leasing deals are blowing ours away).The 9-5 is almost a total non-entity as far as demand or availability is concerned.I can’t even remember how many times I’ve heard how the client loved their 2000 9-5,and their ’03…even their ’06,then try and lease them what in their eyes is the same car they leased 27 months ago AND ask them to pay anywhere from $100 to $150 per month more!!!!!That’s not salesmanship,thats Alchemy.I don’t really expect to still be with Saab to enjoy the “Feast” scheduled for late fall of 2009 if it entails enduring 18 months of famine!!!!!!!
18 turbin // Feb 20, 2008 at 8:38 am
SaabLance,
You guys are the meat in the sandwich, what a hell of a job you have. I yesterday read through the 9x megapost and 2008 is like history repeating. Reading all the claims and promises from 2001 and I may as well be reading the latest press releases, they are that similar. I hope that GM are so in deep with new Saab development that they’re beyond the point of no return ( and I don’t mean in the financial sense although ironically that’s been true for several years). I would hate to see GM pull the plug on Saab after abusing the brand for so long. If Caddy and some of the others are any example I think they’re on the right track to lifting the game ( even if we can’t see the development work in progress).
Whatever you do SaabLance, look after yourself.
Cheers,
turbin
19 Neil // Feb 20, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I really hope it looks more 93x concept than 9x. The 9x always looked a little homely in the rear to me.
20 Markac // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Neil: I think the 9-3X is a more logical choice as the 9X is difficult to adapt to a 5 door. Both the 9X and the 9-3X gave me great hope for Saab, but I was dissapointed when the 9-3SS was released. Perhaps if the planned Coupe version had been released I would’ve changed my opinion? I don’t mind the 9-3 Sport Combi, but it’s not the kind of vehicle I’d like to own. In many ways it was just another wagon and a somewhat overdue one at that! The whole wagon/hatch idea wasn’t new, Audi did it a long time ago with the 100.
Whilst the 9-3 range is much improved for the MY2008, it still isn’t my cup of tea. I sincerely hope the 9-1 will be?
21 Neil // Feb 21, 2008 at 5:37 am
Markac: Great point. I hadn’t thought of a 5 door 93x. Though I’d prefer a coupe, the 5 would be a brilliant addition. Taking a second look I also think the 93x is also more in step with the 9-4x that we’ve seen.
The 9-3 wasn’t anything special for me either. (vert excluded) Here’s hoping.
22 SaabKen // Feb 22, 2008 at 4:35 pm
This came up in Autoblog, from a story originating in the German site “Auto Motor und Sport”
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/21/rumormill-gm-could-rebadge-the-saab-9-1-as-a-saturn-pontiac/
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/auto_-_produkte/design/hxcms_article_510325_13987.hbs
Talk about irony !! Could happen, so GM could maximize returns on R&D costs.
I have no problem with it as long as the 9-1 is the “parent” car and the Pontiac and Saturn variants are distinct enough that consumers would not otherwise detect.