News from the 2008 Saab Owners Convention
The 2008 Saab Owners Convention has been taking place this weekend in Devens, Mass, and whilst I couldn’t be there and didn’t ask anyone to do anything on TS’s behalf, Alexandre was kind enough to take some notes and pass them on.
This are notes made from conversations with several Saab staffers on site, as well as from the roundtable Q&A session.
If you attended the event and have something to add, please do so in comments.
Thanks, Alexandre!!
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About the potential for a Saab 9-1:
- My Question: what would it take to officially put the 9-1 on the table? Need money. Only enough development dollars to go around and there isn’t money for this at the moment. (this was the main answer from both John and Steve in separate conversations)
- The answer isn’t “no” just yet. Even on the Delta platform, (this from Steve). Delta is flexible enough with long and short wheelbase versions to accommodate both the 9-1 and 9-3. They deliberately did the showcar to use existing platform components to shorten development time if/when there’s a green light.
- Another question: with current sales strength and future growth areas consisting of markets that typically go for smaller cars (Europe and Asia), wouldn’t this play to the strengths of Saab and help the case for the 9-1? (smirks from Steve and another PR gentleman who’s name I forgot to write down (possibly Jan-Willem Vester?)) Answer: Yes, and the case for it is getting stronger every day.
About the potential for TTiD in USA:
There’s great interest in bringing it over. With EU diesel standards getting closer to US diesel cleanliness standards, the likelihood is getting stronger. Technical differences will thus narrow between a European version and a US version. The main issue is (again) cost. The TTiD price premium in the US might be too high with diesel pricing trends the way they are (~20% higher than gas). A related problem is that Saab buyers are more likely to run the numbers than most car buyers. If they don’t see a personal justification for the engine, it makes the economic justification for GM making it available more difficult.
About a 2.0T engine in US 9-4X:
No clear answer given, “looking at lots of engine options with nothing ruled out yet”. Steve kind of fudged the answer so he might not be really on top of it.
Bringing back the hatch:
Current 9-3 concept drawings are closer to the hatch shape than a station wagon/current shape. 2 door is likely.
9-5 sedan vs. combi:
The future 9-5 combi is much more sporty looking, almost looks like a different car.
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And for those who’d like to see a few of the Saabs that gathered for the event, there’s a few photos here at Flickr, and I’m sure more will show up in the coming week.
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“2 door is likely.”
“Current 9-3 concept drawings are closer to the hatch shape than a station wagon/current shape.”
Does he know that “hatch” refers to the format of the boot and not the shape of the car?
A clarification/correction on the hatch:
The question specifically dealt with the future combi version of the 9-3 and whether it would have the more traditional 900 shape. While it was confirmed that the current designs are moving in this direction, no mention was made as to whether the combi would be the standard version of the car.
A follow up question was asked on the number of doors on the combi. The 2 door does better in Europe while the US likes 4 doors so while designs for both will be made, the 4 door is more likely to come first.
Other snippets/ items that may or may not be news:
-Apparently, seemingly all the GM executive wives drive 9-3 convertibles.
-With more integration into GM architectures and moving production to other plants dealing with only one architecture, design life-cycles should shorten.
-Trollhattan is the GM headquarters for engineering fwd cars to awd.
-A couple SPGs from the museum have been at the GM sound lab for a few months.
“-A couple SPGs from the museum have been at the GM sound lab for a few months.”
This is the one thing that is missing in the present cars - there is nothing that beats the sound of a 99 Turbo or classic 900T exhaust. Additionally, there was also the whine of the transmission (manual cars) when the car accelerated on even non-turbo 99s and C900s made them almost sound like a turbo. It is a very exciting sound that adds to the personality of the Saab.
Some crappy pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pollorey/SOC08
The 9-4X engines have no clear answer?
I have an answer. Use the 2.3t engine in the 9-4X with optional hybrid boost and then offer the Cadillac/SAAB direct injection V6 turbo as an option. SAABs aren’t V6’s. Never were (save the monster twin 3 2-stroke.) The TTiD should also work. We also need a manual transmission.
The engine is a really big deal. Sure styling is nice, but until we are all driving fuel cell electrics, the motor matters a lot.
Today one thing that makes a SAAB special is its engine. Those 2.0 and 2.3 turbos are smooth, reliable and feel different from anything else. With some exhaust tuning we can even recapture that delicious 900 Turbo sound. This is a big part of the SAAB personality. It might be more complicated, but shipping SAAB motors down to Mexico would make the 9-4X much more of a SAAB than the 9-7X is. If the Solstice motor is better (IF IT IS), then that should become the SAAB motor, SAABifiied and used on all the cars.
The 9-4X is also the perfect place to revive the Twin4 (V8) made once in Finland, first offered in the Triumph Stag, but now including 40 years of SAAB experience with new Trionic and direct injection. A 4.0 TwinTurbo for the EU and a 4.6 TwinTurbo for US would be great for towing my little trailer. The TwinFourTwinTurbo’s (4.6T4TT?) next stop would be the 9-9.
Link to my photos I took at this years SOC in MA….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avalynii_sab/sets/72157606935113449/
enjoy!
steve
here is a link to the photos I took at this years SOC at Devens, MA…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avalynii_sab/sets/72157606935113449/
enjoy
sab
I’m not home yet, so I’m relying on a surprisingly slow WiFi connection at the Philadelphia airport. More and better pictures when I get home and have a chance to really look at what I’ve got.
But here are pictures of personalized license plates I took while at the convention:
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd119/saab99turbo/soc2008-vanity/
Great idea, Greg. Love ‘em.
will check sabby’s out later.
“here is a link to the photos I took at this years SOC at Devens, MA…”
Beautiful pics Steve!
Must say I deffinitely agree with Gordon. I have two Saabs with 2.3l engines, a 1998 900s Talladega which is naturally aspirated with a modified exhaust and a Viggen with a stock standard exhaust. The 900 has a really deep growling sound that makes it sound a lot quicker than the Viggen. I might be biased, but not many four cylinder cars sound that big.
great pix
Available powerplants will play a very big role in my continued (consumer) interest in saab. While I did enjoy the 2.0T, the power of the turbo 6 cylinder pushed me over the fence. However, its obvious there needs to be some economy mills in the mix as well. It’s great to have diesels and hybrids, but I think its important for saab to have more powerful options available. A beautiful, well engineered car should have options to appeal to not only a more ecologically minded consumer, but also a driver interested more about performance. Given the opportunity for integration with other GM parts/engines, it doesnt seem all that hard to accomplish.
Perhaps they could make use of the 300+ hp direct injected 6 mill found in the CTS and “slap” a turbo on? (Of course its never THAT easy =P )
One more thing I forgot to add: Bluetooth will be standard on the 2009 models as part of the OnStar system although you won’t need a subscription to use it.