Here’s a TS-tip: if your Saab 9000 is quite low on fuel you can do either one of two things.
- 1) fill it up (that’s the best bet), or
2) park facing uphill so that the fuel pump still has something to drink when you go to start it up a few hours later.
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We have a black BioPower 9-3 on the roads here in Hobart now and I’ve got to say, the 2008 styling, in black, is absolutely stunning.
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Somewhere along the line, the excellent Winding Road magazine changed their name to Next Autos. A terrible, terrible outcome. Nevertheless…..
They have an article up at the moment about the Saab Turbo X and it’s receiving some mixed opinion. Kroum has jumped in to fly the flag and if you’ve got a Turbo X then I’d encourage you to follow suit and share your impressions of the car.
Even if you don’t have a Turbo X (that’s the vast majority of us), I’m sure you might still have a perspective to share. Feel free.
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Our unofficial Saab Ambassador in the UK, Robin M, is dominating the pages of the most recent Saab Driver magazine.
He’s got the cover, seen here on the right, as well as a two-page spread about his six weeks in charge of a Saab 9-3 TTiD. In case you’d forgotten, he had the task of getting as many people as possible to test drive the car in six weeks. For his Herculean effort he won himself a trip to Sweden, another Ice Hotel trip IIRC.
That’s not all……there’s also a two-page article on the Swedish Day he hosted a few months ago.
Congratulations, mate! More pics of the Saab Driver features available here.
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Saab South Africa have reconsidered their X-ness and are now going to sell the Turbo X there. I’m not sure who’s losing a few in order to create an allocation there, but it’s happening.
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The Turbo X has also just been launched in South Korea. More pictures here.
They only do Mercedes Benz in the north, I hear.
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If you’re interested in developments in vehicle production, then this article on a new method for roll forming of steel might be of interest to you. It’s cheaper than using gigantic steel presses and they’ve just developed a new method that’ll increase the strength of the steel, meaning that the cars will end up safer in a crash.
I’m not very familiar with such things. My curiosity was piqued because one of the part-owners of the operation is Peter Augustsson. He’s the former General Manager of Saab Sweden who pulled the pin once GM cut Saab’s budget back around 2005. He was replaced by Jan-Ake Jonsson.
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Willing to be it’s us, unless they drive on the other side of the road in SA. To date only 4 TX’s have been sold here to date??? If everyone just held off the TX would sell for about 70k I bet.
A bit off topic, but the Saab in this picture from Robin’s feed looks absolutely stunning!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trollpowersaab/2522733012/in/set-72157600856855692/
That’s a great shade of blue! Plus the lighter tones compliment it so well!
I’ve been told they’re now up to 5 TX’s sold.
Compared to what the united states are paying we in oz are getting ripped off.
Turbo X Sport Sedan – MSRP* $42,510
How much to convert to RHD?
Way to go Kroum! I just read his comments on the Next Autos and wanted to be supportive!
Swade, have you missed the Classic LeMans results ? Do they have news for you (us) !!?
Riku, I’ve been waiting to hear more from Bo via email, but I can tell you in short that they have very, very good news.
I actually have a tear in my eye as I’m writing this. Will post more later, but they had a very successful weekend.
BTW, press briefeing at 15.00 CEST (9 PM EDT or 11 PM AEST) by GMs Rick Wagoner about “company actions to better align business to the current market conditions”…
Eh, 9 AM EDT of course…
Robbin: Good work! Very impressive, and a trip to Sweden to boot. Noice.
North Korean Mercedes? What, the market size must be at least 2 vehicles — one for Kim Jong-Il and one for his favorite mistress?
If the Turbo X would go for South African 487K, that would make it nigh unattainable apart from a true afficionado who is willing to shed that kind of money for the power-crazed average South African petrol head. That is BMW 335i territory, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the various iterations of Audi and Mercedes. Would be an interesting development to watch, for sure. And where will GM Southern Africa pitch the 9-5 Aero when it makes its debut here 2 years from now?
Robin has managed successfully the challenge asked by Saab .
And this cover could be a kind of award