I think the car could easily overcome the execution challenges that the C30 and A3 have faced by being a competitively priced upscale vehicle. The Astra sells reasonably well according to my dealership, but doesn’t appeal to the young professional looking to establish an image. Forget the supercharged Astra, just give me a quick 9-1 in a sharp design form, which is going to undercut the price of the Volvo and the Audi. Once GM starts advertising more power on a bio-hybrid or green platform, GM will see people with a renewed interest in Saab – namely those that long for the versatility that the less-expense 900-type hatches provided.

GM needs to focus on Saab through investment, and better advertising, because in my opinion, the Born from Jets theme hasn’t done them any favours. Saab has a solid green platform, and extensive safety record, why not promote those in North America, where the trend is shifting?

I recently considered bying a Audi A3 to cut down my costs. I really would have wanted to buy a smaller Saab instead, but the current 9-3 offers so much that the A3 doesn´t but to a higher cost.

I finally decided to keep my recent 9-3 SS MY2003, but i really hope for the 9-1 in the near future! Otherwise I do think I´ll leave the GM-family.

Give me a 9-1 with a small four-stroke biopower turbo with 140-160 bhp and a reasonable fuelconsupmtion. I also would like to se all premium accessories such as bluetooth, satnav, XWD, powerfull soundsystems and so on!

Go for it GM, give us the BMW 1-series killer we long for!!!

my current car is a 1991 900 and i love it.

it has character. it is fun to drive. it is small but has all the space i’d ever need. it is 2 door with a hatch. it’s been reliable so far. it’s very well built (17 years and counting). it has all the luxuries i’d want in a car.

what will i upgrade to if it dies in 4 years (which given its record, it probably wont)? i don’t want an opel, i want a saab.

this is what we need:
-2.0t
-2 door hatchback
-light! (0-60 in under 7 seconds)
-small (about the size of the 900 or even a bit smaller)
-fast
-efficient
-affordable
-a true saab with character

it’s all doable… don’t bother with hybrid… if you can, make it GM’s first hydrogen combustion vehicle and the saab brand will singlehandedly bring GM back to the top.

This car will sell well with several segments of the population, but should be used among other things to attract the same city set and younger crowd that it would be poised against, anything from MINI to a GTI and even -gasp- Scion.

I’m only 27 and on my 3rd Saab. I’ve had a NG900 in college (sold when I didn’t need a car for a year), a C900 (and corresponding parts car), and another NG900 is my current daily driver.
A lot of kids in more affluent neighborhoods would get this to be something ‘different’ that isn’t a Scion. A lot of Saab types would pick this up as the commuter car – that’s why I want it. And a lot of others would look at it for it’s great fun-to-fuel ratio that otherwise wouldn’t have gone into a Saab dealership because stickers start near $30k.

I think this could be a great intro vehicle to pull more youth into the brand. There is still a strong following for the fun small car, and a lot of people with just enough money that they want to sneak in somewhere between a used civic and a new Evo.

Bring the 9-1 over starting around 20, bring several drivetrain options (diesel?, low and high output turbos, even hybrid), and you’ll double the traffic through the showroom, and as Saab literature has pointed out before – most people who test-drive a Saab will buy one.

The 9-1 cannot, I repeat, CANNOT max out at $30 or 32k. Once a small car gets into that price range people start to look at larger cars or the competition (see Volvo c30).

We all know it has to have a turbo engine, bluetooth, iPod integration, great MPG, XWD option, (diesel), etc.

The question we should be asking is, “What is Saab going to do DIFFERENTLY that will make this car sell over the competition?”

I’m tired of hearing that small cars don’t make money. It’s called QUANTITY. Give people want they want and they will buy it.

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?.