Saab 9-1 - the ‘news’
Whilst I was sleeping (and doesn’t it always happen at the times when I decide to get an early night) there was an article published over at Automotive News that’s been the subject of plenty of discussion elsewhere on the tubes.
The news is that if the Saab 9-1 is built, it’s likely to be on GM’s Gamma architecture, rather than the Delta architecture as originally conceived. This comes from Carl-Peter Forster, head of GM Europe and more importantly, head of Saab Sweden (yes, he’s Jan-Ake Jonsson’s boss in more ways than one).
The Automotive News article runs as follows:
….Unlike earlier plans to use GM’s global upper-medium Ypsilon-2 architecture (or Epsilon 2 as we’re used to calling it around here) for the next generation of the Saab 9-3, GM Europe decided last March to use the more compact lower-medium Delta architecture for the next version of the medium premium car…..
….As a consequence to this downsizing strategy, the future small Saab 9-1, planned for 2012, needs a more compact architecture as well. “We don’t want Saabs to grow in size but rather keep them more compact,” Carl-Peter Forster, president of GM Europe and chairman of Saab Automobiles, told Automotive News Europe during the London auto show.
Jan-Ake Jonsson, managing director of Saab, said the Swedish brand wants to break the industry trend that successors to existing models automatically get bigger. For that reason, GM Europe wants to redefine the 9-1 concept, which originally was supposed to get the lower-medium architecture.
One option for the 9-1 is the use of GM’s global small Gamma architecture, which underpins today’s Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. “Using that architecture is imaginable,” Forster said.
Such a move would allow GM Europe to build the new 9-1 model either in its Opel Corsa-dedicated Zaragoza plant in Spain, or in its Eisenach facility in Germany. The new Saab 9-3 will be built in Trollhättan, Sweden.
Forster also said that future small and medium Saabs will get highly efficient four-cylinder turbo engines.
Of course, all this is only news if they actually decide to build it. And that still hasn’t happened yet.
That being said, the whole notion is still being discussed, which is encouraging to see.
Coming soon: Saab 9-1 - the opinion.
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I have a feeling the 9-1 may not even make it to the US if it gets the green light. I was reading a story from Automobilwoche the other day where they mentioned the Saturn (Opel) Astra was a big flop in the USA because Americans can’t get past the idea of a hatchback. The Chevy Cobalt sedan sold much better than the Astra 5-door hatchback..
Can you imagine how a 9-1 the size of a Corsa would do over here? And sold as a premium automobile for $25K or more?
If it’s a great car, then yes, it will sell. I.e., Mini cooper
I think downsizing the 9-1 to a is a terrific idea! We recently drove a 4-door Renault Clio (about the same size as the Corsa) in Mallorca for a week and it was roomy (I’m nearly 6-2), quiet on the highway, nimble, reasonably frugal (even with AC) and quick enough for just 1.1 or 1.2 liters. With a Turbo, a car that size would be a perfect first car, a treat as a second, and North Americans might be ready for a “pocket rocket” MINI-beater, and hot cars this size are all over Europe. Start with a wagon/brake/hatch! This would allow the SAAB range to be differentiated even better from the Saturn/Opel/Vauxhall line. GM can make good profits on a premium small car with exceptional operating economy and a high fun factor.
the astra is a bad example of how European cars do in the states. I’ve never driven one, but on paper it’s not very appealing. Nothing screams at consumers on the astra like the highly lovable and customizable mini.
If the 9-1 is as great of a car as the mini, it’ll sell very well in the states!
2012?
That’s about 3 years too late. Could that be a misprint?
The Astra is just too expensive for what it is - I drove a loaner and apart from the dismal 4-speed auto transmission, it was a very good entry-level car. I understand assembling in Belgium is expensive, but if they should reduce the price it would do much better.
The MINI, on the other hand, is a shooting brake, but it’s also a very likable car to the North American urbanisti. In my opinion, a 9-1 of similar size and slightly cheaper - with the proper marketing campaign to launch - would sell quite well over here.
A 2 litre turbocharged DI pocket rocket with 250 horses and green credentials will steal some sales from MINI, parent company BMW’s 1 series, and even the Audi A3.
Kroum - “with the proper marketing campaign to launch - would sell quite well over here.”
Translation: If Hell freezes over, it will sell quite well over here.
The new 9-5 must have escaped this policy change. If it’s over 5 metres long as predicted, it’s certainly bloody grown in size!
@Joemama - 2012?
That’s about 3 years too late. Could that be a misprint?
Unfortunately no, If they haven’t started the development work yet then 2012 is a realistic date. I work for a tier 1 automotive supplier and we are working on components to be supplied for 2010 and 2011 models.
The Astra has failed due to it’s underwhelming engine. And honestly, not a very big advertising push. The Saturn ads you see mostly hype up the Vue.
Small cars are doing rather well in the US these days, I think. A 9-1 that competes with the other premium small cars (A3, C30) and even other small cars (GTI, Speed3, WRX, etc) with a turbo 4, great gas mpg, it sure sounds like a winner to me.
I read an article that said that the Opel Astra is not selling well in the US because it is rated at 32mpg highway. The Ford Focus is rated at 35mpg for $2000 less and they can’t build enough.
The difference between 32 and 35 is almost 10%. The current US market is not readjusting, it is in a panic. Last year gas at this time gas was under $3 and people thought that it would come back down. It is now over $4 and people think that it will continue to rise. There are a lot of people that commute 40 or 50 miles to work each way.
“Forster also said that future small and medium Saabs will get highly efficient four-cylinder turbo engines.”
What is the meaning of this? Did Forster add this to say that the future small and medium Saabs (I’m assuming he’s referring to everything but the 9-5, which we’d consider “medium” in the States but is considered “large” in Europe) will not have a V6 option? Or is it to say that even the 9-3 will be equipped with an I4, or is it to say that the next gen four-cylinder engines will be more efficient than the current four-bangers?
Will the future small and medium Saabs have “rightsized” (i.e. 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter) four-cylinders? Or is he pointing out that they’ll use technology to become more efficient (such as direct injection, VVT&L, and possibly mild hybrid features)?
I’m astounded that I’m still interested in a car that will likely not see the light of day, if at all, until 2012. Jeez, by then the Los Angeles Kings could have won the Stanley Cup. Nah, now I’m talking crazy!!!
The Saturn Astra (Delta) is rated at 32mpg highway and so is the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ “Four-Cylinder Spring Package” (Epsilon). The Astra has a 138HP 1.8L w/5 speed manual while the Malibu has a 169HP 2.4L w/6 speed auto. (The Saturn Aura (Epsilon) gets 30mpg with the 2.4L and a 4 speed auto.)
My point is simply that a hatch will sell in the US, if it is done right. The 9000 sold much better as a hatch in the US. I think the Saturn/Chevy comparison just underscores how in the car business, you can justify sales results almost anyway you want. The Focus is sedan only, but that may not be the reason it and the Malibu are selling.
For me, I need a big hatch, for my couch, TV, lawnmower, dining chairs, like the old 900.
Oh and they should do a retro model, but based on the 93. It has style.
With all the “Green” and MPG hype going on in the US now it will sell (Saab sold tons of hatches in the USA; i could show you over 100 saab hatches not to mention sedans/wagons in my tiny little city). Just imagine in 3 years the hypes going to be that much more.