Turbo X pricing announced for Canada. Saab Canada crazier than ever!
We heard it a little while ago on the grapevine, and now it’s confirmed - the Saab Turbo X will indeed be priced around $11K higher than it’s counterpart in the United States.
Despite the strength of the Canadian Loonie, Saab Canada decided to forego the opportunity that a new model launch would have afforded to adjust it’s pricing. Instead, it will offer the Saab 9-3 Turbo X for sale with prices at $54,995 for the Sport Sedan version and $56,305 for the SportCombi.
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Despite the fact that a Saab should spell a good sales pitch in a country with a climate like Canada’s, Saab has hardly any presence there and sales have been dropping like lead balloons for some time now.
The Turbo X still hasn’t been lauched there. The pricing press release is almost the first official acknowledgement of the car’s existence.
Some of the dealers have been particularly slack in following up enquiries for the Turbo X. We highlighted one a month or so ago: Kroum was quite keen to pick one up and couldn’t get a call back from the dealer at all about the car. Kroum is exactly the demographic that Saab should want to tap into in Canada and despite his keen interest he couldn’t get a call. He got a call after I publicised his story but that was then, this is now. BMW are still calling him weekly to offer 335xi test drives and from his Saab dealer he only gets the gentle sound of tumbleweeds passing by.
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Now seems as good a time as any to note that Canadian Saab sales for March 2008 numbered just 79 units. That’s against a figure of 196 last year, a fall of around 60%.
Management schmanagement!
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Here’s the press release for the Canadian Turbo X
Saab’s Turbo X and Innovative New Cross Wheel Drive Technology Take Vehicle Handling and Control To New Levels
Oshawa, Ontario (April 9, 2008) - General Motors of Canada today announced pricing on the new, limited edition 2008 Saab Turbo X 9-3 variant. The all-black Turbo X takes Saab “back to the future,” evoking the iconic appeal of the first black 99 and 900 Turbos while introducing Saab’s cutting-edge “cross wheel drive” (XWD) technology, with pricing starting at $54,995 for the Sport Sedan version and $56,305 for the SportCombi. Saab’s advanced new XWD system is also available as an option on 2008 9-3 Aero models, in both body styles, for $2,340.
Turbo X
Saab celebrates three decades of leadership in turbocharging by launching the 2008 Saab Turbo X, a driver-focused performance car that sets new standards of performance and capability for the brand. The Saab Turbo X has enhanced aerodynamic performance and a distinctive appearance, including specially designed 18-inch alloy wheels that have a grey, titanium-like finish and draw on Saab’s classic three-spoke design. The “black turbo” theme is continued in the uniquely equipped interior which includes premium leather.
The Turbo X is the ultimate performance expression of the new Saab 9-3 range. It delivers levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never experienced before from Saab. To exploit the full benefits of Saab XWD technology, the chassis of the Turbo X has been lowered 10 mm and the springs and dampers optimized to minimize body movement. To maintain a constant ride height, self-leveling dampers are fitted at the rear.
Stopping power is also increased with larger brake discs fitted: internally ventilated, 345 mm-diameter (13.6-inch) at the front; and externally ventilated, 292 mm (11.5-inch) at the rear. Standard 235/45 R18 tires ensure excellent grip for the 18-inch alloy wheels.
XWD driving experience
Developed in Sweden with Haldex of Stockholm, the Saab XWD “Cross Wheel Drive” system is designed to optimize vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions. It is offered in the 2008 Saab Turbo X and Aero versions of the 9-3 Sport Sedan and SportCombi, in combination with an uprated 280hp, 2.8L V6 turbo which now delivers almost 15% more maximum torque (295 lbs./ft.) to exploit the greater traction available. Engine design features include a lightweight, all-aluminum construction, with a 60-degree angle between the cylinder banks for perfect balance; variable-inlet valve timing and twin-scroll turbocharging. XWD is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
The state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system on the Turbo X includes two innovative features: pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels to optimize traction at take-off; and an active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), allowing variable torque transfer between the rear wheels.
Saab XWD is a fully automatic, on-demand system capable of sending up to 100 percent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels, whenever necessary. While offering drivers sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, the system’s sophisticated operation also enhances the sporty driving experience in all road conditions. Fine balancing of the drive torque between the front and rear axles raises the threshold at which ESP throttle and braking interventions are triggered, providing more scope for closer driver involvement.
At take-off, a torque transfer device (TTD) is initially activated engaging the rear drive module. This pre-emptive function is a valuable improvement over current technology, which requires the detection of wheel slip before the TTD is activated. For the driver, the enhanced functionality gives maximum traction immediately for smooth, strong acceleration from rest without the possibility of any initial hesitation.
On the open road, drive torque is seamlessly and continuously varied between the axles by the control of a valve in the TTD. When cornering, Saab XWD rewards the driver by providing enhanced, more finely balanced chassis dynamics through the application of rear drive to balance oversteer and understeer characteristics, improving stability and road holding.
In highway cruising conditions, when traction or optimum grip is not an issue, only 5- to 10-percent of engine torque is typically transmitted to the rear wheels providing a greater measure of stability while helping to save fuel.
The Turbo X also features an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential (eLSD), which uses inputs from the rear wheel speed sensors and can transfer up to 40 percent of torque between the drive shafts, to whichever wheel has more grip. It represents the first application of an electronically controlled, rear limited-slip differential in the segment.
The eLSD also gives the driver enhanced control when cornering hard or completing a high-speed maneuver, such as a lane change, by momentarily applying more or less torque to either of the wheels to help the rear of the car more closely follow the direction of the front wheels. This yaw damping effect can keep the car better balanced and more tightly controlled, without requiring “outside” intervention from electronic stability aides.
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Swade: This is sad, but expected by Saab. They make it so that you don’t want to buy the car. BMW IS at the ready to pick up what Saab can’t keep happy. AND lately that’s just about everyone. What I just can’t understand is why produce better products when you can’t get it to the people in a proper manner. Kroum: I hate to say it,but just go get the BMW,Saab does not care for your business.
Is it possible for Canadians to purchase a car in the US and import it into Canada, or would the import duty be more that the cost savings????
You got it, Spaz. As I understand it, you’ve got reluctant dealers in the US, import paperwork and duties as well as not-quite-hostile dealers back home when you get it serviced. It can be done, I believe, but is more common for used cars.
It still begs the question why the Turbo X will be $90k AUD here in Australia. Why apart from the obvious tax differences are there such disparities in worldwide pricing.
greenmatt: They used to say “the smaller the market, the bigger the markup” but they aren’t selling many Saabs in Canada any more, so that doesn’t hold true does it?
If Saab is ever allowed to make the 9-1, I suspect it will sell better in Canada than the US?
If you import a new Saab int Canada, does it need to have a metric speedometer?
Hmmm, here in BC every car costing CA$55000+ attracts a 15% luxury tax in addition to the 12% sales tax. Saab Canada really is ‘living in la-la land’ if they think they have a chance of selling even one of these overpriced cars. Knock CA$8000 off and you may be in with a chance! Maybe!
IMHO Saab Canada will have just adjust pricing downward for the 2009 model year to reflect Saabs real position in the market ie not with BMW/Audi/MB. If they dont they may as well give up!
Isn´t there people at GM HQ that look at the business in Canada? If there is.. Why is the head of GM Canada still at his/her desk? Is there a saparate manager for Saab Canada? Then both should be fired.. Now
I can concur the pricing seems out of whack but somebody is using thier business heads. IF there are only a limited number of units in Canada, ie) 25 - I think rules of economics of supply and demand can apply. What would the top price be for the product that you could get. 1 of 25 in a country with millions and so large land area plus the XWD platform designed for winter driving in Canada hmm! Bean counters…they are smart at numbers but image is not there thing.
GM Canada will honour the warranty of a vehicle purchased in the US after some delay period of 6 months or something like that. Chrysler Canada was not honouring the warranty of sold in the US and brought to Canada - the courts here forced Chrysler Canada to honour it.
The cost advantage to bringing a car here is better the higher the sticker. A coworker purchased a Toyota Tundra in the US. Saved $17,000 up front. After the taxes and import test still saved over $14,000! That’s worth it to me.
The reason I have been given for Canadian automakers not adjusting their prices (by a Honda person) is that they can’t adjust their budgets to the quick change in the dollar values. Basically, everybody still has to pay the employees and the bills and to suddenly slash the prices puts dealers at risk. Believe that or not. At the moment, sales might be down but profit per vehicle is way up…
It’s not so much that Canada’s prices are too high, it’s that the US prices are too low. The currenct valuation is based on a weak US dollar , not a strong Canadian dollar. This is why the US economy is tanking. The prices in the US are being kept low because if the car dealers corrected them then the US economy will crash BIG TIME!!! and there goes there business with it!!! My advice to any Canadains, and I am one, is to buy your car in the US soon because the cheap US car pricing is not a sustainable situation.
Not so sure its so much about the price of Saab cars here in Canada its the fact that Saab cars are not good value compared to a BMW/MB/Audi or Lexus. All of these manufacturers base prices are virtually the same as a base 9-3 and the Lexus I250 is $2000 cheaper. All four have a much better quality interior than the 9-3 and this is the first thing a potential customer notices. Saab needs to improve quality drastically or take 20pc off of the price of their cars here in Canada to reflect their current position in the market with the Hondas, VWs et al.
While the MSRP’s are similar you will find that the “out the door” price is much lower for the Saab, especially if you lease. The lease payment on my Saab 9-5 Aero is 20% less then I could get for similarly equiped Audi A4Q or BMW 325xi at the time. So in reality they are 20pc cheaper! Also, Saab dealer did not try to ding me with extra Prep/PDI charges, Local Audi dealer wanted $1700.00 for this !!!! Rip off!!!
No sure if this discounting is a good approach for selling Saab’s since many buyers assume they are the same price and never bother to look further or ask for an actual quote!! Saab could lower MSRP by 20% and not offer any further deals but this might lower “preceived value” of cars and remove sense that buyer cut a great deal!!! Probably worth trying though, since it should get more people looking closer, test drving, and , hopefully buying!!
Zippy.. That´s what many have been saying. Saab Canada has priced their cars to high. There are few markets that has Saab at the same pricelevel as Lexus.
And Zippy.. The interior quality is not Much better in a Lexus, BMW or MB.. It´s better but not much. And I would say that I can´t see any difference between Saab and Audi in comparable products. Base A4-Base 9-3.
(A little bit ot) Infact in many aspects Saab is the better car of the two. In a recent wintertest the Audi A6 (fwd) was ruled out due to the feel of unsafe handling (The 5-series in the test was better even though it´s rwd), high noicelevel on rough surface and poor cabintemperature (Wow, very premium). Ofcourse the new V70 won the test since the test was done in Sweden and this is Volvo lala land, But the old, old, old 9-5 had the best handling, best cabintemp and very low noice. That´s premium to me. Or as the journalist said :-”This is the no1 car I would take my family to the ski slopes in”.
So when it comes to Value Base Audi vs Base Saab.. What´s the difference? I can´t see it.
I was at the Vancouver Auto Show, talking with Glen, the Saab/GM rep from Toronto who follows the show through various cities. He indicated 5 Turbo-X’s are allocated to the Greater Metro Vancouver area, with 1 confirmed sold. IIRC he also said 2 are allocated to Vancouver Island (Victoria is the capital city with their own Saab dealership). He didn’t say if any of those 2 have been spoken for.
One thing that’s VERY sad is the entire province of BC used to have 5 Saab dealers (not bad for a province with just over 4 million people), 3 of those in the Metro Vancouver area. Since then, 2 of the 3 have closed, and the 4th that was in Kelowna also closed.