Tell GM About It, part II - Saab 9-1
A very wise person recently told me that GM is a bit like a slightly deaf old man. You really have to yell loud to get your point across but eventually, he’ll hear you. The silly old bugger may not agree, may be pig-headed, stubborn and given to clinging to his youth, but at least you’ll get a hearing.
This may be an exercise in futility and we probably won’t get a direct answer, but there’s one thing I do know: people from GM still read these pages. And that means that if we want a 9-1 and we can spell out why we want a 9-1 in straighforward and sensible terms, then GM have a chance to hear something direct from their customers.
Some perspective for the newbies:
Saab built up a cult following by producing small, nimble cars that acted a lot bigger than they really were. They were brilliantly designed, safe, practical and really rewarding to drive. Modern Saabs share some of that old Saab DNA, but Saab lovers long for that more nimble, practical, turbocharged hatch.
We thought we were going to get it when Saab showed the original Saab 9x concept many years ago. Same again when they showed the 9-3x concept a few years later. Earlier this year they showed the 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle and that really got people’s hopes up……..but the fact remains that Saab is still yet to give this compact car project the green light.
So……
If you’re willing and able, please feel free to communicate your feelings on the matter to the people that make the decisions. Like I said, we may not get a direct response (in fact, I’d say it’s 99% likely that we won’t), but they do read this site and the more convincing and numerous the arguments we get here, the more they’ll know.
I remember last year hearing a GM decision maker say that they didn’t think the lack of Bluetooth in the US Saab range was a problem because they never heard many complaints. Let’s not let the Saab 9-1 go the same way.
The Saab Owner’s Convention in the US is less than two weeks away. Wouldn’t it be great to get a bucketfull of comments here, print them out and present them to Steve Shannon so that he can pass them up the chain?
——
For me, personally, I love the idea of a Saab 9-1 for a number of reasons.
As a lover of the brand, I want to see it thrive and I think we’ve got enough evidence now to say that an iconic reason-for-being is a big help with that. Porsche’s icon is the 911. Mini’s icon is….the Mini. BMW’s icon is the M3. Toyota’s icon is reliability. Hyundai’s icon is perceived value. Saab’s icon is (still) the 900 and I’d love to see a modern Saab that emodies the principals that made that car so great.
The Saab 9-1 should be that car.
I want a Saab with a cutting edge profile. I want a turbocharged Saab that goes where you point it. I want a small Saab that carries a big load. I want the performance version. But I want my young bloke to be able to get a base model, too. And his mates. I want the best seats in the business, because Saab are (or should be) famous for that. I want a combination hot/cold vent setting for my feet and my face. I want it to have heaps of grip. I’d like a hybrid version for my wife, too.
Saab needs this car. Saab customers want this car and non-Saab customers will want to check this car out if it’s done right.
Let the Swedes have their way. Build it and they will come.
——
I’m going to leave this entry at the top of the page for a few days. Please enter your comments below and tell the powers that be why you want this car, and maybe a bit of what you want it to be.
No promises, but I’m sure the old man will hear you - eventually.
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Well said, my Tassie friend.
As much as i yearn for the ‘99-’02 9-3
hatch…..that ‘lil pick of that white beast (9x Concept)
at the end of your post brings on a substantial amount of drool.
That car represents Saab’s best shot at getting
some German car enthusiasts to seriously second guess thier Bimmer/VW/Audi
(for the first time since the mighty Viggen came out).
That 9x concept has some serious head-turning power.
Can you imagine getting passed by this vehicle and not
being amazed???
http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/1002209.jpg
Or this?
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/03/Saab_9X_Hybrid.jpg
I can’t.
FYI: The 9-3x concept is pretty darn cool, too, IMO.
Saab needs to build this mini-fighter, and they needed it yesterday. Just look at how Mini’s sales have skyrocketed in tune with today’s rising gas prices and that should answer any questions that there might have been about the viability of a fun, sporty luxury compact.
Sure, other brands have stumbled with their compact luxury cars, but most of those poor sales have been due to flawed execution (like the too-expensive C30/S40/V50 with it’s stunningly modern interior assembled with stunningly downmarket-looking materials) or poor marketing, like Audi’s criminally under-hyped A3.
GM has in the Astra a surprisingly competitive little package, to the point that the 240 hp Astra VXR (with an engine that should have been offered in the 9-3 first) was mentioned in the same breath as the GTI by the European automotive press. Unfortunately, as the Astra’s poor US sales have proven the car-buying public is still skeptical of the idea of a nice, high-quality compact car from a GM brand (thanks to years of rolling garbage like the Cavalier and Cobalt). Fortunately for GM, Saab is still distanced from the rencen mothership in the eyes of US consumers, and the 9-1 would give GM an excellent opportunity to actually move some units in the high-end compact segment.
The key is in the execution and the marketing. The car needs to be as unique inside and out as the Mini, New Beetle, and TT were, drawing from some of the more unique and distinctive Saab design traits of the past like the upright windshield and grille, wrap-around driver-focused dash, and the fastback shape with it’s cavernous rear cargo space. I can’t stress how important looks would be to a future 9-1, it will have to move beyond the generic “modern” looking styling of Saab’s recent concepts and adopt a design language that’s as iconic as the Mini. Following VW’s lead with the MK V GTI and it’s subtle retro touches would be a great place to start though.
Just as importantly, it needs to drive like a premium compact, and the handling and driver feedback needs to be as good as in the Mini or GTI. It’s a tall order for sure, but it has the potential to really be a cash cow for GM should they choose to actually INVEST in their future with distinctive new products. The market is there, the buyers are there, and with gas prices still climbing there hasn’t been a better time for a car like the 9-1. It’s simply up to GM to decide whether they want to pull the trigger and take the risk.
Just take a look at US car market today. Nuf said?!
No more bulky SUV´s. Give us highly efficient, good handling
enthusiast car. 9-X BHC is a good example. Welcome to sub 2-liter
engines. Why not Twin Turbo Petrol engine?
Saab=Turbo, so…
What product does Saab carry that covers that younger demographic?
None, aside from the 9-2X which accomplished getting me into the brand. So, how can you ensure the future of a brand if you don’t offer something to these potential buyers.
The 9-1 concept was a good demostration of what is possible for a smaller vehicle. The concept has won awards and was well recieved. Why wouldn’t GM want to act on that?
Give us the 2.0T from the Pontiac Solstace GXP in the 9-3!
What’s that, no one would buy the 2.8T then? Well tune that up to what it should be at, 300+ HP!
-Rogan
NineTwoX: Good point about the younger demographic. I was 24 when I bought my first Saab, a 66 2-stroke. If it weren’t small and affordable, I wouldn’t have bought it, and I might never have recognized what Saabs were about, and I might never have owned one to this day. Instead, that small, affordable Saab 96 got me hooked, and 41 years later, I’m still hooked.
The 9-1 needs to be made. It needs:
300+ HP Turbo 4 (Twin if you need to)
XWD
Blue Tooth
Hatch
Safety
Saab drivers need to be able to get the performance of an EVO or an STI but the comfort and safety of a SAAB. Yes, we want our cake and we want to eat it too. But when all is said and done, I would pay for this car in a second! If that is what it takes, shouldn’t it be done?
I’ve recently bought myself a Golf TDI for fuel economy reasons.
Build a 9-1 with a good up to date TDI engine, or maybe even a TDI-Hybrid or E85 hybrid, Saab needs a car in the Golf segment. A versatile hatch with a really good fwd chassis and optional XWD would steal sales from the Golf and other brands….
GM, all I want from a 9-1 is a GTI with brakes that provide good feedback, lively steering, an engine that wants to rev high (the GTI will do it, but reluctantly), suspension that can handle bumps, better seats and a better interior (esp. the cargo capacity). Oh yeah, and give it some torque steer (but no bump steer) and make sure the traction control doesn’t cut-in all the time.
I think I’ve described my 9-3 hatch, but in a smaller size and with a flat load floor.
I know that such a car could easily be built on a Corsa or Astra platform, so where is it? My 9-3’s only good for another 10 years or so…
I am what GM/SAAB covets a former BMW owner (6 of ‘em in a row). I am now a SAAB owner because they still have character, I do not see them everywhere & they are very good cars. I’m honestly tired of BMW’s way too many of them.
After years of SUV’s and Crossover’s gaining market share, cars are “in” again. Especially small, fuel efficient cars with character, safety and performance (sounds like an old SAAB eh?). I want a SAAB that years from now will be a collector car. I love my 9-5 ARC combi but it will never be a collector car. The 9-1 would. It has it all.
Think of it, great looks, safety, high performance & great fuel efficiency which is a hallmark of turbo-charged fours.
GM/SAAB has this window of opportunity but they have to act fast. Build the 9-1 it has the chance to be the Mini or Fiat 500 of the SAAB family it will sell very well (both here and over the pond).
THE 9-1 WILL PUT SAAB BACK ON THE MAP!
Nate 9-3 - A STi is $45K cdn and Evo is almost $50K. I don’t think it’s possible to reach that bar while retaining an entry-level status. Perhaps down the road with a special edition Viggen model?
If Saab built the 9-1 as a direct competitor to the VW GTI, Mini Cooper/Cooper S, and Volvo C30, I would definitely buy one. Because Saab has no such offering, those three cars are squarely in my radar. However, the GTI is a little too boy-racer for my tastes, and the C30 is too expensive for me to afford right now. That leaves the Mini, which I think is a fantastic car, but I want some SAAB ingenuity in there, an interior that’s not all bubbles, and I would prefer to drive something a little less common.
The U.S. car market is perfectly positioned for the 9-1 right now. Currently, GM has no small hatchbacks that interest me. The Saturn Astra looked like it could be good, but the engine is anemic and doesn’t even achieve that great of gas mileage! The Mini Cooper is selling like hotcakes because it isn’t a crappy, cheap econobox. It’s a well designed, quick, nimble, and decently priced car…just like the 9-1 could be.
Considering current market conditions favoring smaller cars, a well-executed 9-1 should allow Saab to capitalize on its traditional combination of performance, practicality, efficiency, and comfort. It should provide a more “mature,” luxurious alternative to cars like the VW GTI, Mini, Subaru WRX, and Honda Civic Si, and yet also surpass those models for style, power, agility and efficiency. Something like the 9x — which I think is one of the most elegant, elemental designs I’ve ever seen — would be perfect. It represents a real opportunity for Saab that should not be missed.
I think Saab needs to figure-out if they can make money selling a “9-1″. Smaller cars mean lesser profit margin. Also, they’d have to price it lower than the 9-3. I mean, Audi doesn’t price the A3 more than the A4, now do they? So already going into it Saab would have a very low price range in which they could price the car. The exchange rate between where GME cars are manufactured and their biggest market (North America) is unfavorable now as well, which takes a large chunk out of the already-slim prospective profit margin of a small car. They sell a 9-5 for USD45K+. There’s quite a bit of a profit margin there, even considering the unfavorable exchange rate. If they sell a Saab for USD25K to 30K (where I’m guessing a smaller-than-9-3-vehicle would slot-in) they’ll have a razor-thin profit margin.
Could they hope for a big volume? Sure. But if you’re losing money on each car sold the more volume you sell the more money you lose. Saab has been “in the red” for how many years straight now? A completely new model is a heck of an investment. Why would GM spend millions upon millions of dollars to give a money-losing brand even more money to develop their own unique model which will likely lose money?
If a smaller car like you describe is what customers really want, why not simply make the 9-3 into what people want in a 9-1? Keep the 9-5 for those customers who want a larger, more luxurious car. Does Saab really need a 9-1, 9-3, AND 9-5?!?!
I know this is a fight between the idealists (we Saab aficionados) and the pragmatists (General Motors) and it doesn’t hurt to dream, but I think it’s more likely GM will turn the 9-3 into more like what we want rather than to slot-in yet another model. That’s just my opinion.
There should be a coupé Saab on the market now but there isn’t.
So build that 9-1 or make the 9-3 convertible with a steel roof. And start doing it now, don’t show up with dozens of concepts, in 2012 my 9-3 coupé will probably need replacement.
This article seems relevant to my comment above about how car companies need to start figuring-out how to actually make money selling smaller cars.
An issue to keep in mind is that a lot of the small cars sold in North America are actually built in North America, so there aren’t the same currency exchange issues Saab would have. Also, Saab would have to price the potential 9-1 to be competitive with its competition. But what would be the 9-1’s competition? Wouldn’t the 9-1 be a luxury small hatch? I think most small hatches are targeted to younger folks as mentioned above and younger folks typically don’t have the cash to spend on a luxury car.
I don’t think that the GTI, Ovlov C30, and MINI would really be the 9-1’s competition as they’re not luxury automobiles. The Saab would have to be priced higher than those, even in base trim. People are already shunning the C30 due to the price. Audi has decided to not even sell the A1 in North America. BMW’s got the 1-series on sale in N.A. now, but I don’t know how much of a market there is for a small car which starts at USD28.5K (roughly the same price the 9-3 starts at). I guess if you put a BMW roundel on anything it’ll sell though. Saab doesn’t have that same luxury, unfortunately.
Oh GM, if you’re listening …
It’s pretty simple: I want everything good about my 9-3:
High MPGs
Loads of features and amenities
Excellent stereo
Premium repuation
Turbo rush
… and none of the bad:
Cheap interior (or parts-bin interior), with flaky plastic and off-set parking brake, etc.
Excessive road noise and tire “thwack” over expansion joints
Sunroof that’s nearly useless at highway speeds due to noise
Fussy electronics
OnStar over Bluetooth
and so on …
In short, I want a VW … but one that makes me feel a step ahead of the pack. I want safety and solidity, and I want up-to-date gadgetry–not gimmicks. I want a premium car with a buttoned-down feel that makes it worth the price. I don’t want my $35k car to ever make me think of a Malibu, because if that’s the kind of car I wanted, then that’s the kind of car I would buy. I want to think my car is better than the competition not just because it’s different, but because it’s actually better.
Call me a snob, or a Snaab. But I believe I am a solid example of your core customer: educated, urban, relatively modern in my tastes, and desiring and capable of purchasing something better than average. I’m also ecologically aware and still want to keep my right foot on the heavy side. It’s not as thin a demographic as you might think, and if you make the cars well enough, you’ll initiate more into the fold. Badge-engineering, corner-cutting, and moving the brand away from its (fuel) economical roots has been, as you’ve seen, a bad idea.
It would have to be priced above a VW GTI and Volvo C30 but below the 9-3. In Canada, the 5dr GTI starts at $29K , the Volvo C30 starts at $28K and a 9-3 is $36K. The 9-1 would have to be somewhere inbetween that.
well i dont see much of Volvo’s little car so……
I’ll agree with the above that the 9-2X wasn’t that far off the mark. I think if they’d have taken an extra year to give it a Saab dashboard and seat they’d have had a big hit and wouldn’t have had to discount so much.
In fact, I bought a new 2008 Impreza and I think Subaru has built what a new 9-2 could have been. It has the upright dash, simple instruments, good handling, nice ride, a hatch, and it’s a great value. It could really use a Saab seat though. (Swade, having reviewed the WRX, can go ahead an disagree with me on this paragraph)
If Saab is going to start fresh, I don’t think I have much more to say than the above. Hatch utility, dash, seats, turbo, a 2-dor version would be nice. I don’t think it has to be too luxurious or have more than 200hp. One thing I will say is if you look at the market segment, I think you’ll agree that they can probably get away with being a little more quirky than they can in the higher priced segments.
-hatch
-strong passenger compartment with good visibility and good driver positioning
-seats on par with the 9000 Aero or Viggen
-fun to drive, nimble handling, with competent, effortless power
-fuel efficient
-unique, clean, sleek, aerodynamic, understated design
-no squeaks/rattles
-no silver plastic dash surround that reflects off the windshield (do not like this in new 9-3)
-rear seats that fold down FLAT
-warm foot vents w/ cool face vents (love that in my 900)
-bluetooth
-bonus - dual ability to open only hatch window or whole hatch — no barn doors like the mini clubman!!!
NineTwoX: but that’s exactly my point. It would have to be priced above the C30, which some people cite the high price as a reason for its poor sales. That prices it out of the range of the young buyers demographic you were targeting the car for.
However, the 9-3 does not start at $36K as you state. Is that U.S. dollars? The 9-3 starts at USD28,445. And that’s the MSRP Saab asks for but rarely gets. You add-in the discounts and incentives and they typically sell for quite a bit less (Saab offers the biggest discounts in the entire industry). According to Edmunds the 9-3 Sport Sedan with no options typically sells for $25,970, significantly under invoice.
The C30 has been a sales flop, as far as I can tell. Part of the reason for that is its starting MSRP of USD23,695. That’s doesn’t seem bad, but adding from the long list of options adds-up the price very quickly, and even incurs a $300 “customization” charge! They’ve been typically selling for $22,281 with no options, which is just under invoice.
Don’t get me wrong, I can see the enthusiast side of things. I want the same things in a Saab you guys do. I also would love a smaller Saab. But I also see why it doesn’t make business sense for GM/Saab to make one. There just is no profitable market out there for such a model. If Saab is to produce this car to slot in-between the $22K C30 and the $29K 9-3, they’re not going to make much if any profit, especially considering exchange rate issues.
I would rather see Saab turn the next-gen 9-3 into what we’re wishing for in a 9-1. The 9-3 was after all the successor to the 900 line, which was the successor to the 99 line, which was the successor to the 96, 93, and 92 before it. The 9000 begot the 9-5. Let that be the larger car line and let the 9-3 be the smaller car line.
NineTwoX: Sorry, just re-read your post and I see you were quoting Canadian prices (which are higher than they should be).
Gripen - No worries, just working with what I know. IMO, the GTI is actually decently priced(for what you get) and I know quite a few people whose purchased one as a first vehicle. Now, if the 9-3 was priced at $29K cdn, I would have purchased a SC instead of the 9-2X. It seems our price disparities are most apparent in luxury vehicles than normal vehicles.
On thing I’ve always found funny is that I’ve seen more 9-2X’s on the street than I have C30s (I can only recall ever seeing 2).
Adam - The 9-2X did come with better seats than the Impreza since they included Saab’s active head restraints. However, the bolsters in my 9-2X are almost uncomfortable for long drives (they improved this in the 08 Impreza). In addition, the cloth seat material in the 9-2X is prone to quick wear, I don’t know how much longer my seat will last. This is where Saab could have improved on the seats.
I agree with you on the interior though, changing the dash lighting to green and adding a Saab logo on the steering wheel wasn’t enough.
pricepoint will be the key to the 9-1 in the US market. the audi a-3, volvo c30 and bmw 1-series all make no sense to me b/c they are all priced only a few 1000 under the bigger, better equipped a-4, s-40 and 3-series. the 9-1 must have all/most the items everyone stated above and have a price point significantly under the 9-3. as Gripen stated, a 9-3 starts at 28k USD on the sticker for a base model and sell for much less. As I see it, the 9-1 would have a sticker price of 20k to separate it enough from the 9-3 and compete with the mini, which starts around 19k in the US. Can Saab really make a car with everything that we want and make a profit with a car starting no more than 20k? if so, sign me up. if not, focus on an a new 9-3 with better fit and finish for the interior (un-GM the radio and climate controls, less cheap plastic, better gear box)
1985 Gripen said: “Smaller cars mean lesser profit margin.”
Which is why, to the frustration of some Saabists, the 9-5 and 9-4x are getting priority over the 9-3, 9-2 and 9-1 now. Having these two flagships built in shared factories with ‘like’ models ensures maximum profit margin which will be what keeps Saab alive and able to make the smaller vehicles.
Question: How compact were the Saabs of the past considering their contemporaries?
Dear GM,
Please invest more money in Saab. Begin first by green-lighting the 9-1, then by fast-tracking the 9-3.
Thank you.
NineTwoX - I would buy the special edition model that you speak of. I would have to save up for some time, but I would find a way. Eyes on the prize.
-fun to drive, nimble handling, with competent, effortless power
-fuel efficient
-unique, clean, sleek, aerodynamic, understated design
-no squeaks/rattles
That is the Elise, Jeff k, if you make abstraction of the understated design and the squeaking and rattling, that is.
Make the 9-1 more than a MiTo/Mini/ovlov c30-killer.
It should beat the bmw 135i ! The real nowadays sportscar disguised as a yuppie-mobile.
So at least it has to have twin turbo, has to be extremely light and so on.
In fact why don’t GM/saab talks with the Hethel-guys, not that the 9-1 should have a smelling twin-stroke, but some eco-crossover-rigidity would be nice (no Astra/Corsa-badge engineering, please).
9-1 = a bright future for SAAB. It would be a definite buy as I know Saab would make the right choices developing it. And….Leave it in the hands of the Swedes…They’ll get it right!
Mini seems to be making a profit selling $20k small cars. SAAB should be able to do that also. Obviously not nearly as many would be sold - until they caught on - but it would bring customers in to the brand to look at other offerings from SAAB as well.
It is hard to get a sense of size of the car. Perhaps some photoshopping magic is due. It would be great to see this car next to a 9-3 in true size proportions.
If its the size of a GTI then I don’t think you need 300 HP or anywhere close. The GTI VR6 at 210HP has so much power you cannot really use it. All you do is burn rubber. I would rather see things like double-clutches and twin turbos with a smaller engine.
But hey - I’m no car engineer…my gig is computer software.
I owned a 2003 GTI VR6 - great car - but my Saab makes that thing seem like a pile of junk. I’d never go back.
I liked the 9-1X BH concept, but it’s just a concept and that’s that. In fact I think it’s more of a concept car than the 9X and the 9-3x because we have no dimensions and they won’t open the hatch to see what the damned thing will carry! I guess it’s dimensions are pretty much what the next generation Astra will grow to and that’s why they haven’t been revealed. That’s mostly because any 9-1 will now most likely be Corsa sized and the 9-1X BH will only be a very rough guide as to what kind of car that will be.
I want another iconic Saab, but I think that should come from Saab’s next 9-3 range and it should be a latter day 99 with all that car embodied, sucessfully brought into the 21st Century. It should incorporate all the best features of the 99/C900 but in wider more modern and space efficient package. It should also be about the length of the 99 hatch.
So let the new 9-5 be Saab’s luxury image maker. Let the 9-1 be a Corsa/Polo/Mini competitor, but let the next 9-3 be the ‘real’ Saab and made in Trollhattan!
The 9-1 must be a hatch, not a sedan, period. It must have great versatility like the 900 did with four seats that when the back seat is folded down it offers a large cargo storage area. It should have excellent seats as Swade states and a powerful, yet frugal turbo charged four banger. An optional turbo six would be nice, but that could be a special edition, like what BMW does with the M series. It should have a better shifter than current Saabs, less clunky and more smooth. It should maintain it’s always stellar crash test ratings and offer innovative technology features. It should have impressive handling characteristics and maintain that driver centric cockpit, like Saab is known for…. Lastly, it should be offered in front wheel and XWD versions.
I currently have a 98 900 Turbo SE two door coupe and I absolutely love the car. I have test driven the new Turbo X and really like the drive, but really miss the look and versatility of the hatchback body style…. Please, please build the 9-1 and quite frankly, the next 9-3 as a two and four door hatchback. Keep Saab what it was and there are a lot of us faithful followers that will comeback or renew… I’m cresting 175K miles and I really want another Saab. Please don’t disappoint!
Also, Thanks Swade for giving us a forum for expressing our views and interest in a vehicle that truly has a cult following. You are a marketing rep for Saab without the paycheck…..
If they built it and it had a proper interior with soft touch plastics and a turbocharged engine and a manual gearbox I would buy one. Seems simple.
Saab needs a Mini Fighter… I love the 9-1 body style! It’s an Aero X in a smaller package… GM NEEDS to let SAAB Build this car very soon!!! My Family has been waiting too long!!
In light of todays economy in the US and given the price of fuel in the US, I believe SAAB needs the 9-1. They also need new product…a lot of it…fast. Bad timing for the 9-4X however the 9-1 would be perfect under these circumstances.
The price of a new car has raised appreciably in the last 5 years. More and more people are looking twords more affordable, fuel efficient small cars that offer features, amenaties and luxury appointments. Saab’s fit the bill and would be a runaway success (the 9-2X Saabaru did not fair well because it was not “done right”).
The 9X concept appears to have the styling, packaging, and fuel efficiency needed in todays market. From what I see this car would compete well against the Golf/Scirocco, A3, BMW 1, C-30 and bring more people into the SAAB fold. After all that is the goal. Bring in younger buyers, get them hooked on the brand then they move up in size and prices as their needs afford them to.
The line up I see in SAAB’s future would be: (size in para)
9-1 (Golf/C-30)
9-3 (Jetta/S-60)
9-5 (Passatt/S-80)
http://www.geocities.com/chrisschoemann/Saab91.htm
Saab needs the 9-1 to draw attention back to “born from jets” and away from “born from… well every other GM car” The new 9-3 is a good first step, but it cant turn everything around on its own.
Saab needs a whole line up of crazy fun turbos!
The 9-1 needs to:
be more fun than a JCW Mini
out perform an Mazdaspeed 3
and sell for less than a 1 series
People will DEFINITELY notice a car like that
In the world of ever increasing fossil fuel prices, one needs to have smaller car models. GM can either try to convince potential buyers to buy Opel Corsa or Astra, or then they can try to sell you that “genuine” Chevrolet (which is made in Korea by the way)
Well, I dislike both of them so die-hard Saabists as well other potential newbies to Saab need definitely a smaller car model and that car model could be 9-1 or 9-2, what ever they wanna call it. Now GM’s trying to get new customers with the entry level of Saab 9-3 1.8i, a car which is equipped with an Opel transmission and 1796 cm3 injection engine w/o turbo. Well, I have this kind of car and despite being quite satisfied with the car and its fuel consumption, it really ain’t a rocket you know. I’d rather have a bit smaller car with a proper turbo engine which can give me enough torque for overtaking the big trucks on the highways.
So I’d never ever sell my old trusty NG900 Turbo which can give me at least two pleasures at the same time: a turbo and a hatch. Well, at least until Saab has a similar car in their model range. But I think they’re never gonna “outperform” a Trionic 5 car which can take 300-400 hp without changing any internal parts to its engine.
Hi!
I’m currently owner of a 9000 cs and a og 9-3 convertible and are planning to change the 9000 (which I love but it’s getting old) but right now saab doesn’t have the car I want.
I want a small fuel efficiant (biohybrid maybe) turbo hatch with all saab attributes there are and have been. So bring out the 9-1
Swade,
How come none of my posts make it into the threads ?
Never mind, I was having a major senior’s moment !
SaabKen: I’m guessing you’re doing the same thing I catch myself doing: hitting “Preview” instead of “Post”. It takes some getting used-to. The first button under the text box is “Preview” so it’s the first thing you go for.
GM - Put your money in SAAB, it’s your unpolished diamond… Build the 9-1..
Oh, there are TWO buttons there ! [blush]
To me the 9-1 would be our family’s no. 2 car. A small nimble combi to take us around the city , to the golf course, to and from work (3,5 km) etc. A diesel hybrid or plug-in to recharge batteries would be perfect. Most of the time it’s only me in the car, so size is not so important, but it needs spac in the back for 2 sets of golf clubs. Saab modern design, wrap-around wind screen, hugging and comfi seats, lots of modern technology, XWD etc.
SAAB Line-up
*Note - Europeans will not buy Cadillacs - they represent everything they hate about Americans - too fat, too loud, and lacking cache. Spend money on SAAB Europe to get market share. Trying to launch Cadillac in Europe is foolish.
Branding -
Make the SAAB a GM an alternative premiere brand in Europe
Make the SAAB a niche European brand in N. America - not a Chevy Malibu re-badged (consumers aren’t that dumb)
The brand should be the thinking man’s European car - not trying to say status like BMW or AUDI and a step above VW - but rather clean, smart individualism.
No VW, Audi, or BMW owner is going to buy a Chevy or Saturn - give them a European choice.
Bring back “State of Independence” campaign in the US - or - hire a good branding firm - you have the money GM.
LINE-UP
9-1 3-door hatch
9-1 4 door hatch
Sonnet - 2 Door Convertible Roadster
9-3 Convertible - get the hard top - a la Volvo and BMW
9-3 Viggen -2 - door coupe - got to be 300 hp
9-3 4-door entry level
9-3 4-door Aero
9-3 SportCombi entry level
9-3 SportCombi Aero
9-4 to please the Americans - mini SUV
9-5 4 door entry level
9-5 Aero
OK - you’ve got 12 products to work with - price points from $23k to $40k US - you have the platforms - now build them and they will buy. VW’s bringing in the clean Diesels to the US - get ahead of the curve - do the same. And for G—’s sake - spend some money on the dash and instrument panel.
THANK YOU
People have been throwing a quote around here a lot that I find alarming. That Saab is luxury! they aren’t luxury never have been and never will be while they continue to platform share with cars of lesser standard. Saab is Premium and they should be priced as such. I don’t want a luxury car. Luxury means you spend $200 just to change your air filter. Why would we ever do that on a car that shares most of it’s parts from an econo bin. That said, I love Saab the brand and hope they can make a come back. They do need an entry car that will sway the prospective buyer away from other dealers. People say small cars don’t sell, that’s Bull! The Civic sells like hot cakes for $20k or better depending on it’s equip level, this car use to cost 12 & 13 thousand just a few years ago. Now I’m not saying that Saab has to compete on Honda’s level, but they should be looking at what Honda has done and why their small cars sell. They can be widely customized, reliable, fuel efficient, sporty and great brand perception. It will take longer for Saab to change the later but the other things are well in their reach. They need variations in their line-up also, Audi with their base models and then their S line is a perfect example of this. Why Saab hasn’t been able to update what they do best is beyond me. They specialize in Turbo charging and they aren’t throwing it around half as much as the competitions been. One question left where’s Saab’s twin turbo engines at? They should be a Responsible Sport enthusiast brand, that’s a better direction for them. Every-body’s doing safety that’s not enough anymore, we expect it for the price we pay for cars today..
With today’s focus on emissions and oil prices, there will surely be a higher demand for smaller cars. That alone should be good reason for Saab to produce a smaller car. But there is a slight worry, the competition in the compact market is insanely tough. Anything less than outstanding will not do. And having seen the story of 9-3SS this should be a big worry. Maybe GM knows this, and leaves it to Opel to operate in this segment?
If GM can’t make the right decisions regarding the Saab line-up soon then what Saab really need, and fast, is a new owner. If GM is going to continue to let Chevrolet and Cadillac take all the resources to the beheft of all the other brands then I wish them good luck.
Build it and they will come ……
Downsizing 9-5 Aero driver. Seeks sleek sassy classy toy. GSOH and must be up for fun fun fun. Must be able to carry my sizable load on occasions without complaint. Looking to enjoy good time trips to the country and the seaside as well as making the daily grind an appealing task. Not looking for no gold digger and must be reliable honest with a spirited outlook. Must be dependable as I hate being left out in the rain…. Looking to tie up around 2010.
I don’t care what GM calls it. All I know is if they build a new, smaller SAAB, it must have a wrap around windshield, seats that sit upright, turbo and for Godsake… 4wd, I live where it snows alot!
I have a 9-3 3 door coupe. It is not long for this world. Its done 210k and the economics are working against it now. It has been everything I could have wished for. Quirky style, performance, practicality AND a coupe that seats 5. It will be missed. More importantly nothing in SAAB’s inventory fits the bill for me now. Now a hatchback in the mould of the A3 but with all the zest that SAAB can bring… I would buy that new. I really would. I will buy something else in the meantime but build this, please build this and I will return
I second JWD’s line-up. We have an 07 9-3 convertible, an 04 Forester and would LOVE to add a fun little SAAB to replace the Forester as a daily driver (it is still needed to chauffer the dogs,) but that little Sonnet with 30+ MPG would just be the ticket. Otherwise, we may have to look forward to the MiTo from Alfa Romeo when they return to the US.
GM, I bet you and SAAB would rather have more of our money than Alfa Romeo. Make it happen!
Way to go JWD ! Couldn’t agree more.
To GM :
DON’t give us Europeans Cadillacs : they’re ugly ! All of them !
DON’t give us the saab(aru) 9-2 : It’s ugly too ! (My apollogies to the drivers)
DON’t loose all the fun on the 9-1 (spoiler, dashboard , materials , etc.)
DO give us a distinguished medium sized vehicle that will turn heads. Don’t forget a convertible version !
DO give us the fuel economy of a BMW 120d (5.1 L/100km on average) AND the fun to drive it (8,1 sec from 0 to 100 km/h)
and pleeeeaaaase : DO IT NOW. Don’t wait , don’t hesitate. You build a good and beautiful car and we will buy it. Don’t worry , we have the cash. Definately ! Really ! Don’t you make me buy the bimmer ! I love Saab.
And finally : 10 years is a way too long lifespan for a modern car. I really love my 9.3SS but it is aging fast when I look around me.
For a daily commuter, I would get a 9-1 if:
- It maintained its good looks.
- Came with XWD & a 4cyc turbo engine
- Adequate headroom (39″+)
- And all the fixings of a premium vehicle (aside from a sunroof, I hate sunroofs).
I am a saab owner. I bought the 07 9-5 here in the DC Metro Area.
As an owner, I say: Build the 9-1….and please, hurry up with the new 9-5!?
Am I the only commenter that noticed that right beneath the picture of the Saab prototype is an ad for a Chevy Cobalt? I think that GM is trying to tell us something. The 9/2x was a Saabified Subaru, the 9/7x is a Saabified Chevy Trailblazer, so the 9/1 will be a Saabified Cobalt.
Excuse me while I change into some flame-proofed clothing . . .
The Cobalt ad it gone now. It must change whenever the page is reloaded.
Amen to JWD. GM hire that man!
GM, please build the 9-1! I’m currently the proud owner of a 1995 900 Turbo Coupé, and it was my first car at 16 years old. As time goes on it becomes clearer to me that America will soon be moving to smaller cars. The Saab demographic is made up of some very smart people who realize the peak oil situation and seek to become the next trendsetters in downsizing but do not want to sacrifice on quality. I don’t want an econobox, I want a turbo, nice seats, and a HATCH. The 9-1 has the potential to be the professional’s car of the future, smart, efficient, practical, small, and powerful. Move your mind, build the 9-1.
1. Take the 9-1 concept, shorten it by pushing the nose back so the overhang is like that of a Mini Cooper.
2. Insert the 2.0T direct injection engine from the Solstice GXP/Sky Red Line.
3. Add XWD with eLSD and the Turbo X brake package (or some nice flashy Brembos).
4. Set interior target to Audi and press the fire button. If you get anywhere near it, you will succeed.
5. Provide an Eco button that limits turbo boost (until you floor it for safety) to help with fuel economy.
6. Make all technology options available - Bluetooth, iPod integration, Nav, etc.
7. Dress up the car with Xenon and LEDs to let people know its premium, high-tech, and distinctive.
8. Price the car to top out at about $32K for the top-of-the-line high performance model to undercut the Audi A3/VW R32 and BMW 1 Series.
Better equipped, competitive if not better performance, better fuel economy, and better value. Thats what I want and what I would buy. With all of those features, you can work the price backwards by taking things off my wish list and end up with a car that would probably start at about $22K with a 150hp engine and FWD.
Saab defintly need a smaller sporty and real Saab. To get the young buyers, smallfamylis and to take buyers from compeditors. But I think the car most be better for example then A3 or mini, but Saab has that possibility. But as a owner of the brand, you has to invest hard to get out a really gain and I think that would be the 9-1 or 9-2. Let us hope it will be soon…..
Just a short note to add that my father-in-law would love a Saab but finds the 9-3 too big for his life style at the moment. He often says that he wishes Saab did a smaller car. He travels alot in our car and knows how good they are.
I agree with JWD!! Great Line-up!!
I sell Saab i Norway and I would very much like to have a bigger range to sell. Right now we have only one leg to stand on - 9-3. And the 9-3 is beginning to get old too…. dangerous!!
There are two cars here that people want.
1) The SWADE hatch in the manner of the 900. That’s the one for me. Enough room for a sofa in the back, a fantastic suspension, nice acceleration, high mpg and something special about the whole feel. Maybe this is the 9-3 3-door that was canceled. I had a 9-3 5-door and while it was less practical than the 900 I would love to have that hatch on my 9-5. This car would sell hugely in the US to fill the pent up demand from SAABisti and it would allow downsizing SUVers to keep some of that practicality that they will miss if they get a Camry, Accord or 528i
2) The GTI fighter. That’s what the 9-X Biohybrid can be. This car is smaller and trimmer and best for 2 people or 4 with no luggage. The magic of Mini is that while you can in theory buy a Mini One, no one does. BMW figured out how to make big profits on a tiny car, by selling an optioned up car that costs more than a 9-3. I say build the trim GTI fighter. With that deploying rear wing-body thing, everyone else on the highway will instantly know that you have something special. It’s brilliant for attracting attention with the gadget-driven youths that you want to buy it. “Sure Hunter has an EVO X with a giant towel bar on the trunk, but did you see Taylor’s SAAB when he gets up to speed. And he has dashboards on the door.” The 9-X Concept is brilliant. I don’t know about the low price model. You could make two versions. One without the wing and extra dashboards for way less and it might by buoyed by the deluxe model so as not to cheapen SAAB.
3) How about an eventual retro 92 inspired model as the base entry level iconic car.
4) Bluetooth. Steve Shannon, you need to get out more. My mid-thirties brother just bought a brand new Infiniti, he wouldn’t consider a SAAB because it doesn’t have Bluetooth. All his friends and his co-workers agreed. No Bluetooth, no buy. I hate using my headset in the 9-5. If I cared, I would feel self-conscious. “Oh look at Taylor, what a dork, he bought a new car, but he is using his headset.” Our 530i is wonderful and safe to use with the cell phone. Handsfree kits are mandatory in CA and the trend is spreading. Bluetooth was invented in Sweden.
I think a 9-1 based on the 9-X BioHybrid is a brilliant idea. The market is ready for more compacts with style and personality. SAAB was known for its practical size and strong character and the 9-X embodies that. I’m in the US and actually work for a record label, I remember when they had 900s in rap videos in the 80s and ealy 90s. I know many of you might not care about that but it shows SAAB can reach a very broad spectrum if they bring out proper products. The current 9-3 is amazing but wasn’t promoted right apon it’s release. I know or atleast hope SAAB does better next time around.
I know alot of people that would be intersted in a vehicle like the 9-X. It makes too much sense business wise as well. I know many feel it should be based on the Corsa GMs B-Segment platform but I don’t see why it can’t be based on the Delta II platform with the next 9-3. BMW manages to build the 1-series on a modified 3-series platform and I don’t see why SAAB can’t do the same. It wouldn’t be more to develop and SAABs would be more reliable as they would share more, better service and repair as well. Plus, the last thing you want to do is make it too small. Its main competitors would be the 1-series, C30, and Audi A3 and it would be available in 3dr and 5dr. To further distinguish it from the 9-3, the next 9-3 should be offered in 4dr sedan, 2dr coupe, and 5dr stationwagon. So in turn they couldn’t directly compete with each other either way. Also, I hope GM is taking advantage of using the Delta II platform and will continue to undercut their competitors in price.
And bring out special editions like the Viggen and Aero. Customers love feeling like they have something special or unique. I really hope the people at GM are reading these as they need to know the potential the SAAB brand has and that we will BUY if they PRODUCE.
Hallo Saab friends, 9-1 good idea but, (for saab designers) plese stop copy BMW mannerism its bad way for example turbine wheels, sharp edges on thesplash-board, plastic parts on the new stearig wheel its catastrofa, led palstic cover on gear lever its very. Cheap silver CHOROMATO PLASTIC ON INTERIOR, NOR!!!!! Index hand on board panel, why silver? Please the young Saab designers thik a little.
Hallo, Richard Kalmár 900 black
Make it…..or break it…. Opps I forgot they already broke it….18 years of GM involvement=no good.
Being a huge 900 fan myself I would LOVE to see it brought back as well, but that’s not very progressive, and I do admire how progressive Saab is. I think the philosophy of the earlier Saabs (like the 900 and SPG/Aero) has been continued through their later cars, like the 9-3 (and Viggen) and 9-5 (and Aero).
In recent years however, I’ve noticed a reduction of that philosophy and style. The current lineup consists largely of V-6 sedans and wagons? That doesn’t sound very “Saab” to me, especially if GM decides to slap turbos on some of Saab’s step siblings and cousins. As far as I’m concerned, the closest they’ve come to hitting that “Saab” mark is with the 9-5 2.3T—and even then it seems like it’s just a beefed up Viggen engine in a borderline bland car that’s meant for the middle-aged. For about half the price of the 9-5 2.3T I could get a Mazdaspeed 3, which is certainly styled and marketed for a younger demographic, and I could still get the 2.3T I-4 engine in a hatchback. What confounds me the most is that Saab offers no option for a 2-door hatchback—and the “Sport Combi” is a wagon and there’s no getting around it. The Turbo X could’ve been the one to get the 2.3T engine and a hatchback; I think that was a missed opportunity. I’m just afraid Saab is becoming disconnected from its hatch heritage.
Of course being a Saab loyalist, I blame the current shortcomings on GM. They acquired something special and instead of nurturing it and continuing its legacy, they clipped its wings and bastardized it. Since I’m sure many feel the same way I’ll leave it at that.
It always seemed like Saab had a lot of different models out at one time, but really they’ve only had a couple with several variants of those models. That’s still basically true today, aside from the superfluous 9-7X. So no, I don’t think they need a new model, unless they want to reinvent their current models like when the 900 turned into the 9-3 & 9000 into the 9-5. The 9-3 to 9-3SS change reminds me a lot of when the c900 was evolving into the 9-3 and went through that whole awkward NG900 phase. Then the Viggen came out! Hopefully this is just another one of those transition periods for Saab and the wow-stuff is just around the corner.
I think people are going off in the wrong direction here.
The 9-1 will have to be cheap and easy if they’re going to build it, so forget R32 fighters in three bodystyles. It’s going to have to be one bodystyle with existing mechanicals (which would help with the reliability as well).
Therefore, I suggest something Astra-sized, 2.0T 210hp, fastback hatchback. My preference would be for a modern 900 3-door style.
I just have two things to say:
1) Mini, XC30 or whatever that little volvo hatch is, 1-series…
2) I’d take the Saab, even with real mirrors.
At the end of the day, if GM does not allow Saab to build the 9-1/9-XBH, it just solidifies that they are living in a dream world where gas prices don’t increase and they don’t have to listen to their customers.
The company I started working for two years ago finished last year with a profit… How ’bout you, GM?
Before I found Swade’s blog, I think I’ve always been a closet Saab fan. Years ago I saw the concepts 9-X & 9-3X and was excited for what possibly could be a fun & nimble coupe/hatchback. And again, earlier this year, another teaser concept, the 9-X BioHybrid.
C’mon stop the teasing & start the producing. GM, you have surely done worse for Saab. Give them a fighting chance with an up to date coupe/hatchback, powertrain be damned!
Thanks for listening/reading!
I dont understand the fascination with a smaller car. Saab kinda tried that with the 92x. It wasnt smaller, cheaper or mileagier.
Smaller engines with more turbos, or rear-drive hybrids, or TTiDs…now youre talking. GMEurope needs to take charge, cuz GMNA aint gotta clue.
And why is 30-something Tiger Woods(and by extension, his Swedish wife) trying to sell Buicks to old guys? He seems like hed be the perfect Saab pitchman. If, of course Saabusa was capable.
After three conventions in a row and talking to “Wheres Debbie?”, Jay, and Steve, and John L, sadly me and the Saab turbodiesel are skipping Boston this year. But somebody will surely impress upon the SaabPTB, the beauty of 40+ mpg TTiDs no?.
The “30-something Tiger Woods (and by extension, his Swedish wife)”, raises the quiestion how much do the Swedes like their one car brands or saab in particular ?
It looks - if we don’t count the people that posted here more than once - when 9-1 comes out ever, at least about 60 will be sold to hardcore saabist.
I’m not sure that will convice GM strategists but it is a start.
Saab has been for me always a brand for individuals, people who have an own opinion and know what they want (or what not) but the product line was (and still is) to narrow, this vehicle with hybrid- and biopower could definitely convince many more to buy one. And I hope that they finally are brave enough to build it like the concept!