Comments on: Questions that need answers

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:42:59 +0000

…as I wrote before, I have my doubts if a 91 is being planed on the design of the latest concept car. Is rather an outlook for an 92 or even 93.
I do not know who came up with the idea of an more than 4m long 91.
Recently, the Swedish auto press came up with similar thought.

“Konceptbilen 9-X BioHybrid visades i Genève och ansågs vara en föraning om nya kompaktmodellen 9-1. Men tänk om det istället är en idé om hur nästa generation 9-3 ska se ut? Som kanske ska byggas i Trollhättan istället för Rüsselsheim?!” Source: automotorsport.se

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:02:18 +0000

“I like Steve Shannon and I think he’s grown to have a real appreciation for the brand but I wonder, deep down in that quiet place, whether he thinks Saab is the right place to advance his career.”

If he wanted to advance his career he’d go running away from GM altogether to work for the Germans, the Japanese, or even the Koreans. They seem to have a much better grasp on the concept of “you have to spend money to make money” and it shows in how they actually invest in their products.

GM is improving but it’s going to be a long time before it pulls out of it’s tailspin.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:54:25 +0000

Slightly off topic. A quote from an article on the Fox Business web site about the dollar dropping in relation to the Euro. “In Germany, automaker BMW AG has said it will start producing more cars in South Carolina in a bid to take advantage of the cheaper dollar and Volkswagen AG has said it is likely to build a new production plant in the United States, too.”

Wonder if this will affect Saab’s plans any?

By: zippy

zippy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:20:39 +0000

All this dithering by GM points to one thing to me…and it ain’t pretty! The new 9-5 is at least three years late and is probably the biggest reason Saab sales are down. The new 9-3 needs to arrive by 2010 at the very latest and a 9-1 should have been on the market already.

The whole exercise seems to be running two years behind schedule and Saab sales are headed in the wrong direction.

I am looking forward to seeing the new 9-5!

By: riku1100s

riku1100s — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:44:33 +0000

MY2010 for 9-3 would be unrealistic anyway. I’d guess a minimum of 18 months on from release of 9-5.

I doubt they have enough resources to develop 9-5 and 9-3-families parallelly

By: WooDz

WooDz — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:14:22 +0000

I’d be doubtful if you get an official response to the 9-1 and 9-3.
From what I have heard however the 9-1 is about 3-4 years away. Put conventional door mirrors on it and you’ve pretty much got the car.

By: Richo

Richo — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:10:36 +0000

You left out that love letter to me you promised!!!