Saab 9-1 - what we think we know so far….

Posted by swade on February 24th, 2008 8 Comments Printer-Friendly

I’ve just been scouring back through the Saab 9-1 archives and found that we don’t know much at about it, really.

But here’s what I’ve managed to put together….

Name:

There’s a lot of websites referring to this vehicle as the Saab 9-1x. I’m still referring to is as the Saab 9-1, without the ‘x’ moniker. Whilst I fully expect that a XWD variant could be available come production time, I have a feeling this model won’t use XWD as a feature.

First of all, I took another look at Saab’s trademarks at the database EduSaab hooked me up with. There’s no Saab 9-1x registered there as there was with the 9-4x prior to it’s debut.

Secondly, there is a BioHybrid moniker registered there, and it was registered quite recently. Which brings us to…

Drivetrain:

The Opel/Vauxhall/Saturn Astra currently carries ranging from 1.4 litres to 2 litres. Given that the Saab 9-1 and the next version of the Astra will both share the same Delta platform, it’s reasonable to expect that it’ll be set up to take a similar engine line.

In addition, though, we’ve also heard that the new platform that will underpin these vehicles is being built from the ground up with a hybrid drivetrain in mind. What’s more, Robert Collin from Aftonbladet recently reported that the concept vehicle not only feature a hybrid drivetrain (in theory at least) but that it would also be a plug-in hybrid.

It’s also quite probable that the engine will be BioPower capable in keeping with all of Saab’s recent concept vehicles. Given Saab’s recent emphasis on ‘rightsizing’, I’d expect the concept to come with a small BioPower engine capable of a fair amount of power and torque.

Body Styles:

Again, using the Astra as a guide I’d suggest that Saab will produce 3 and 5 door hatchbacks once the car comes online. I hope they don’t do a sedan or a wagon. If this car is to rekindle the 900 and 99 spark of the past, I think the hatch is best way to go. Screw any markets that don’t like hatches.

I’d definitely look to the concept vehicle being a 3-door, so as to emphasise that sporting appearance and forge a more definite link with Saab’s past.

Much of the initial design work was apparently done by Brian Nesbitt, who called the coolest thing he’s ever drawn. My ears have it that some of the same team who worked on the Aero X have been working on what we’ll see next week, so I’m feeling very good about that.

Build location:

The Saab 9-1 will be built at the Trollhattan plant in Sweden, along with the Astra. This will keep the plant running after the 9-3 and 9-5 move out to Russelsheim.

Vehicles on the Delta platform can also be built in other plants around the world, including in the US, so it’s possible that GM could minimise currency valuation problems by making the less profitable small car in their own backyard. Not likely, but possible.

Date:

Initial prognostications had this vehicle coming no earlier than 2011, but more recently people have been speaking about 2010.

I couldn’t see it coming in production form any earlier than that.

——

It’s too late in the evening for me to go through and find all the links for the information here, but it’s all in the Saab 9-1 archives (except where I’ve used phrases such as “I expect” - that’s just educated guesswork).

One thing for sure, this is a very eagerly anticipated car from Saab.

Bring it on!

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Comments

BrianL said:

If the 9-1 is to be built in Trollhattan, then wouldn’t we be seeing a new 9-3 before the 9-1 starts production? Is there room to build the Delta platform in place of the 9-5 and along side the current 9-3?

All of these new rollouts seem to be timed so closely together which I would guess would cause a huge strain on the engineering department at SAAB. I don’t want to sound negative, but they had such trouble just launching the 9-3SS. I just can’t imagine how they would go about launching an entirely new line up of four 100% new vehicles in such a short time frame.

-February 25th, 2008 at 4:07 am
ctm said:

I think that GM came close to selling Saab between 2000 and 2005. It was probably first in 2005 they decided to keep the brand and invest in it. With all of GM resources behind it now, I don’t think it will be any problem with this schedule. Remember that they share the platforms and drivtrains. That saves a lot of work. I agree on that the new 9-5 must be introduced before the 9-1 to make room for it in Trollhättan. Maybe it closer than we know?

-February 25th, 2008 at 4:59 am
WooDz said:

I think people might under estimate Saab’s parent company here. GM is actually one the of the most proficient producers or ‘assembling’ manufactures in the world. Some may produce better cars, but are hindered far more by delays.
The theory so far is that Saab will have something new to offer every 6 Months whether a production vehicle or concept. This is expected to continue apparently until we see the arrival of the all new 9-3 convertible.
For the 9-1 I can’t see any form of manufacturing being hindered in Trollhättan. When you consider the 9-4x being built in Mexico, The 9-5 in Germany.

(Speculation):
There is also news that Saab would also like the ability to produce vehicles residing on Delta for the Scandinavian Countries including the responsibility of all e-flex variant production. As demand increases throughout the globe and exchange rates fluctuate, it could well be that other plants may produce the 9-1.
Having the ability to produce any vehicle on any Continent to beat exchange rates, will also reduce elements of shipping and transport costs not to mention delivery times. With shorter lead-times this gives way to greater customer choice as the shortened supply time means that customers can wait to have a vehicle individually built to their needs. This could be Bluetooth instead of OnStar, or just parking sensors, without all other features that you have to order with the premium pack. The whole process makes for a more unique vehicle for the customer, make the buying experience more enjoyable and makes the wait all the more worth while.
As mentioned above by others, optimized production facilities and platforms will give GM a distinct advantage over their competitors and put them in a petty much win win situation.

-February 25th, 2008 at 5:57 am
riku1100s said:

BrianL, I think you made a point. They cannot start building facilities for Delta before the old 9-5 production is stopped. After that it will take minimum 6 to 12 months to produce cars.

9-1 will supposedly be at least as much of a concept car as the 9-4X was (probably more) while the 9-5, whenever it will be shown, MUST be very close to the production car.

I assume that to some volume the 9-3 and 9-1 could be built parallel with separate welding shops, a common paint shop and possibly a common assembly line(?) so they might not need to wait until 9-3 will be built in Germany.

ctm, WooDz, while I agree that GM has plenty of R&D resources, you seem to forget the fact that GM has just made a record loss and things like that tend to postpone and delay projects. It happens all the time and has happened to Saab, in particular.

Being able to build 9-1 in other Delta factories would be a very good option indeed as long as the USD exchange rate stays as it is.

-February 25th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Kroum said:

Riku, let us not forget the record loss GM posted was almost exclusively due to a massive write-off of deferred tax assets. It is neither an operational loss, nor will it affect GM’s liquidity.

-February 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
1985 Gripen said:

I thought I’d remembered a few years back that the plan was that first 9-3 production would move to Germany, followed later by 9-5 production, and then Trollhattan would begin producing the 9-1 (possibly at the same time as the 9-5).

Did this change when the order of releases changed?

Trollhattan would be converted to produce Delta II cars (Astra, 9-1, E-Flex) and the 9-5 and 9-3 would move to Russelsheim because that’s where they were setting up to produce Epsilon II.

I’m guessing (with no real info here, so correct me if I’m wrong) Trollhattan will produce the current Epsilon-based 9-3 and the current 9-5 until 2009 when 9-5 production is moved to Russelsheim. The next-gen 9-5 to hit dealer lots in late 2009 as MY2010 cars will have been produced in Russelsheim while Trollhattan continues to put-out the current-gen 9-3.

In 2010 Trollhattan will cease production of the current-gen 9-3 and the next-gen one will begin production in Russelsheim as a 2011 model.

At the same time the 9-3 moves-out of Trollhattan they’ll begin re-tooling the factory to produce the 9-1 and the next-gen Astra to debut also as a 2011 model.

Though we’ll see the 9-1 CONCEPT next month, there’s nothing yet to say that the original release speculation date of 2011 has changed yet, is there? Maybe we heard it moved up to 2010?

MY2009 current-gen 9-5 and “special edition” produced in Trollhattan

MY2010 next-gen 9-5 produced in Russelsheim
MY2010 9-4X produced in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
MY2010 current-gen 9-3X produced in Trollhattan?

MY2011 next-gen 9-3 produced in Russelsheim
MY2011 9-1 produced in Trollhattan

MY2012 next-gen 9-3 convertible produced ?

Beyond MY2011 possibly a medium-size SUV as rumored?

Wishful thinking: small ‘vert (Sonett?)

-February 25th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Markac said:

!985 Gripen: I would suggest that the 9-1 will be released before the new 9-3. At this stage it is more important. The 9-3 has been given a new lease of life and emphasis can be taken off it to some extent.

When the new 9-5 is moved out to Russelheim for the MY 2010 model, Saab can start gearing up for the 9-1 which could appear early/mid 2010. When production of the 9-3 moves out, production of the new Astra can also begin. Much of the tooling for the Astra will already be in place as it is similar to the 9-1.

I think that is the most logical sequence of events. The next Astra is scheduled for 2010/2011 and this would tie in. Very little in Saab’s planning for new models seems to mention a replacement 9-3 at the moment. I think they are anxious to see how the 9-5, 9-4x and 9-1 all debut before they think about that.

I would expect current 9-5 production to cease by mid 2009 at the very latest.

-February 25th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Joel said:

I really hope the 9-1 will be XWD compatible. It’s certainly leaning that direction, but you never know when Saab can get gypped.

-February 25th, 2008 at 3:03 pm