progolf: I think you’re pretty accurate.

The new car from Trollhättan is an old classic in new form
The Saab 9-1, 9-2 or 9-3 what kind of car is to be produced in Trollhättan from 2011. Aftonbladet (Swedish sort of newspaper, tabloid) reveals that the new 9-3 and 9-2 is virtually the same car. The 9-2 is a hatch back and the only thing to differ from the 9-3 is the rear end.

When Trollhättan lost the battle in 2005 for the future 9-3 and 9-5 things were dark in Trollhättan. GM promised that the company would remain as a niche manufactory didn’t give much comfort. Many workers would be unemployed and Saab would be gone from Sweden. But soon Aftonbladet could reveal (yeah right) that Saab developed a new smaller car that was supposed to be manufactured in Trollhättan. The factory was saved and plans were made for 40 000 small Saabs and capacity should be filled with its sibling Opel Astra.

This winter things changed, the talk about global warming gave GM cold feet. The cars consumed too much fuel they were too big and heavy. Downsizing and scale down got important and someone come to the conclusion that the future 9-3 should be smaller and based on the lighter architecture that is found in the future smaller Saab. The 9-3 is moving to Trollhättan and Aftonbladet can reveal that the future 9-3 and the smaller Saab is virtually the same car.
9-3 will be 4-doors sedan, cabriolet and a kombi. The 9-2 will be a hatchback about half meter shorter than the 9-3.

The result is that the 9-3 shrinks a bit and the 9-2 gains a couple of centimetres and would be a bit bigger than Golf and Astra. Production of the 9-2 and Astra begins in 2011 and the 9-3 follows the next year.

A cheer of joy in Trollhättan but things in Rüsselsheim is dark. They were sure of three new models. Two models will disappear from production in Rüsselsheim and about 100 000 cars per year. You can count on big protest from the German union if this is realised. What happens to the 9-1? The name and car will have to wait for a new smaller car.

Automotive News cites a number of vehicles projected to be spawned from Delta II:

Chevrolet Volt
Minivan-like vehicle for Chevrolet in 2009
Seven passenger minivan that will replace the Opel Zafira
All-new Saturn Astra in 2009 or 2010
Daewoo-badged model for South Korea
Chevrolet for Europe
Premium Buick for China
Unnamed models for Africa and South America
Possible Saab model

Chevrolet really doesn’t like the “minivan-like” moniker, describing its future vehicle as being more crossover/sporty in nature. Certainly the minivan sector’s spiral of death has something to due with GM’s sensitivity. As for the Saturn Astra, I really get concerned with quotes such as this one from vehicle line director Peter Mertens

“Regional brands and models will be differentiated by powertrains, safety features, standard equipment and chassis tuning. If you drive them next to each other, you will certainly see there is a difference in chassis performance between an Opel and a Chevy or between a Buick and a Chevy. Each is engineered to compete against very specific competitors.”

Also that we are facing a resources crisis, capital, commodities, water and other resources are limited and the search of the higher efficiency is the key, everything that is unnecessary will be eliminated. The car will be more rational than passion.

And with this decision its a good probe of that. The search of a smaller, lighter architecture to save costs, emissions and so, instead of looking for the best performer in technical matters.

Regards

I just need a nice replacement for my GM900SE.

Well, if you call one of the biggest car in the class “that little one”, you’re right I’m pretty sure the Vectra is bigger than the 9-5, anyway.
(And again, I’m referring to the inside of the car since I seldom ride on the outside of cars)