Saab future model mumblings….
It seems that a good review and video of the Saab Turbo X weren’t the only things to come out of the Motorpasion article I reviewed a few days ago.
The Motorpasion guys emailed me, and along with a translation of their article by EduSaab, it seems there might be a little future model news to come out of this as well.
Motorpasion spoke with Jorgen Nylen, one of the GM vehicle line directors who was present at the Marseille event. EduSaab passes on the following:
The first product for 2009 will be the new 9-5, that will have similar design language as the 9-3Aero MY2008. And a big part of the engine lineup will be the 4 cylinder turbo, also Biopower with more power.
About the TTID engine it seems that is an advanced development of the 1.9TID that comes from Alfa Romeo, we know that, but the interesting thing is that this development it was done exclusively by the Swedish engineers. Also that the new 9-5 will have a high performance v6 diesel (I think it will be the new GM diesel 2.9 that was shown in the new CTS).
A short time after the new 9-5 will come the 9-4x.
This is very encouraging news, at least in the timing. The common talk about the Saab 9-4x is that it would come late in 2009 as a MY2010 vehicle. This places the Saab 9-5 earlier in the year.
Can I place bets now on an unveiling at the 2009 Saab Festival?
One point of concern, though, is no mention of a V6 gasoline engine. There would have to be one in a new 9-5. People who have seen the model comment that it’s definitely a bigger vehicle. The most common comparison I’ve heard is with the Audi A6. I’m not a likely client in that class given the cost here in Australia, but I could well imagine that people looking in that market expect something more than a four cylinder engine to be available.
Saab have kept very quiet about the timing of this vehicle, happy to let all the attention be focused on the 9-4x and the coming 9-1 concept. As someone mentioned in comments, a quiet build up and a late debut on the motor show circuit would suit Saab totally as once the word gets out to the general public that it’s on its way, sales of the current model will tank even further. Markets where there’s not a lot of 9-5’s sold might wonder “what’s the big deal?” but in Saab’s home market, the 9-5 is still doing well, so Saab have got to keep it floating as long as possible.
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There was also a short snippet in there about the coming Saab 9-1 concept vehicle. Again, from EduSaab:
….the 9-1 concept will be a BioPower and it’s Saab’s answer to the A3, C30, 1 series and so on.
I think it could be a BioHybrid concept. Last week I had a look at the trademark database and Saab registered this name in the last year
Indeed they did. There’s no graphics there for BioHybrid, but the trademark registration is indeed in place and has been since November last year.
Interestingly, there’s also trademarks for the following:
I know we keep crowing about how there’s nothing in the showrooms yet, but the next 12-18 months is going to be very exciting for Saab enthusiasts.
Not so much for dealers, though. Their time will come later.
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I remember reading that the Porsche 911 was going to be called the 901, except for the fact that Peugeot has already registered all three digit numbers with a zero as the middle digit (for automotive uses only). I guess the list did not include numbers that had a zero in other positions, or else the 900 would have been called something else.
That was almost 50 years ago, and Peugeot still hasn’t used-up all of those numbers…
I am surprised that you didn’t also find Saab trademarks for 90, 94 and 99.
While I know there is a segment of the market that “requires” a 6 cylinder engine (so I think the 9-5 needs that option), I am encouraged by the inclusion of 4. They are getting 260 hp out of the current engine. I would think a next generation direct injection 4 cylinder could provide at least that much power with even better fuel economy and better overall performance (torque curve, turbo lag, smoothness). The Saab market has always included an “efficiency mindset” and this engine would help address that segment (particularly if the fuel economy is compelling). I would think there are those of us who don’t feel the need to follow BMW et al but rather to have something that is different (finding our own road).
It’s interesting to compare the (US spec) current four banger in the 9-5 to the six in the Aero 9-3. The 9-5 four makes 260 hp but the 9-3 six makes only 255 - advantage 9-5. While they both make 258 lb ft of torque, the 9-5 hits it at 1900 RPM but it takes 2000 RPM for the 9-3 - advantage 9-5. The Aero manual get 15 MPG in City and 24 MPG Highway but the 9-5 gets almost 20% better with 18 and 28 (on a larger vehicle) - again advantage 9-5. I’m looking for the next generation four to improve on those specs. Other advantages of such an engine should include better weight distribution and lower maintenance costs not to mention appealing to Saab traditionalists.
I also believe any performance suspension needs to be associated as an option with the four. Saab lost site of that with the current 9-3. As four cylinder engines get stronger (and as fuel prices continue to rise) there should be significant segment who would value the improved handling (and cross-wheel drive) without the cost, weight penalty, mileage penalty etc that come with a six.
“new 9-5, that will have similar design language as the 9-3Aero MY2008″
To quote Han Solo: I have a bad feeling about this.
quick questions…. why is 9-5 on there twice?
have none of the others with x at the end been registered 2?
i’d much rather see the 9-5 with the ‘08, 9-3 design language than the 9-4x’s design languid,,,, eh, i mean, design language. (sorry.)
(disclaimer: as of 2008.02.13, i became the owner of an ‘08, 9-3.)
the new 9-5 for north america should have a v6 as base with a v8 for the top range. both turbos of course! for the rest of the world i4 as base with the v6 the top motor.
“Martin // Feb 24, 2008 at 5:17 am
“new 9-5, that will have similar design language as the 9-3Aero MY2008″
To quote Han Solo: I have a bad feeling about this.”
That quote just leaves me running around like the robot from Lost in Space screaming “DANGER WILL ROBINSON”
Hopefully he’s just generalizing the styles and by “like the 2008 9-3″ he just means “Aero X inspired” but wanted to use a better-known car for people who aren’t Saab-o-philes.
Well, since the Turbo X is the official car of the Sith, no wonder Han Solo has a bad feeling about using the new 9-3 design language for the next 9-5.
Another advantage of putting a 4-banger into the 9-5 is in markets where the vehicle is taxed depending upon engine displacement or CO2 emissions.
I almost think they shouldn’t even bother bringing the 4-cylinder 9-5 to the States (like how we don’t even have the 1.8t or 1.8i here). The six-cylinder should be the only option here. A car in that price range and segment will not be taken seriously here with a four-cylinder, unfortunately, no matter how much you try to convince potential customers.
I sure hope the 9-5 comes-out looking more like some of those sleek renderings we’ve seen and less like the 2008 9-3 (no offense to ‘08 9-3 owners).
Yes, all I can hope for is that he really ment “the design language of some of the small changes that we made to that old design that we all know felt as fresh as a 5 year old Opel Vectra even when it was brand new”
Hey guys I don’t think this is the all new next-gen 9-5 they are talking about! Remember they were talking about one more refresh for the 9-5 before they put it to bed. A limited edition of sorts. That would be the only reason I can see them taking design cues from the MY08 9-3, just to spur more sells. Plus the powerplants don’t resemble what the next-gen Saab’s should be for their top tier car… Just my thoughts!
ck1x: I see your point, and it’s a good one, but I don’t see Saab investing in all the tooling required for a 9-5 refresh for a single model year. We know from many sources that the next-gen 9-5 will be on dealer lots in late 2009 as a 2010 model. They still haven’t shown the design yet, so unless they plan to show it at an auto show in 2009, I think this will be it.
Someone else pointed-out though that it’ll be rough for Saab to sell an already poorly-selling 9-5 for another year while everyone knows what’s coming the following year. The 2009 9-5 will look even more archaic when the 2010 concept hits Paris later this year. Who wouldn’t hold-out for the 2010 model, unless they are basically giving-away the ‘09 models? Even with the special edition, I don’t know how much that’ll spur sales. I mean, how well did the 60th Anniversary Edition of the 9-5 help 9-5 sales? Not much, if at all.
I know that dealers saw a “new” 9-5 … and they saw the 9-4x … I don’t seem to remember my local guy saying he saw the 9-1, but even if they did, it seems unusual that we haven’t seen any “spy photos” of the 9-5 or the 9-1 … especially if the 9-5 will possibly beat either of the other 2 into production.
We saw spy photos of the 9-4x … so how are they keeping the other 2 under such wraps? Especially when I keep hearing that the 9-5 is COMPLETELY new, and VERY distinctive.
It is certainly a heady time to be a Saabisti … let’s hope the excitement translates to showroom floors very soon.