EnG Sitting in the airport snippets

Posted on December 11, 2008 by eggsngrits

A quick gathering of material that I’m posting as I’m in the Columbus, Ohio airport. Inside: a minor 9-3 accolade, wisdom and balance on the state of the car business from a Forbes editorial and a cartoonist that speaks the truth with pictures.

It’s a dreary day in much of the Eastern United States today, and I’m seemingly in the middle of that gloom here in Columbus. At least it stopped snowing around 9 AM. I’m ready to go home.

First up, the 9-3 XWD Wagon has been named one of the 5 best wagons by Nadaguides.com. You may recall that the NADA is the National Automotive Dealers Association here in the United States. They publish quarterly car values that are considered “the” blue book for many — they are preferred over Kelley in most cases.

“When they say engineered from jets, they mean it,” said Don Christy, president and CEO of NADAguides.com. “The 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi is a great looking wagon with a laundry list of standard equipment. In this category, this is something special.”

This is according to a press release from SaabUSA. I think that the actual review is a mixed bag, but a top 5 is a top 5.

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From Forbes writer Jerry Flint comes this little editorial about the promises that the Big 2-and-a-half automakers have to make in order to get government loans and bailout treatments. I think that his thoughts are pretty realistic. I primarily agree with him about the government’s heavy-handed assumption that exotic or semi-exotic fuel efficient technologies are a must for the Big Two-and-a-half to survive. He’s right when he says:

Electric cars and plug-ins are indeed on the way, but it is a long, expensive road to get there, and to be truthful, they just might lead to nowhere. Hybrid cars already are here, but only one hybrid, the Toyota (nyse: TM – news – people ) Prius, is a real success. Several hybrid models, including Honda’s (nyse: HMC – news – people ) first Accord hybrid, were or are commercial failures.

Yes, the automotive world is changing, but for the near future–and that means the next 10 to 20 years at the very least–the internal combustion engine is still going to dominate the automobile world. It is simply unrealistic to think exotic technologies are going to take over that quickly.

Good stuff.

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Finally, from Jeff Darcy, the political cartoonist (read satirist) at Andy Rupert’s hometown paper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer comes this great cartoon.

Djup Strupe and the 2009 Saab 9-3

Posted on July 10, 2008 by swade

Our friend(s) on the inside have been busy. Today we have word that the Turbo X wheels are going to continue, though Turbo X owners will be pleased to note it will be in a different form. We’ve also got some samples of new colors for you to peruse.

Vehicles with Turbo X styled wheels (we need a name for these wheels) have been seen in the proximity of the Trollhattan plant, said to be XWD V6 Aero models, though I have a photo below that suggests it might be a wider release than that. Note that these wheels are a single color, rather than the two tone found on the Turbo X. I’m sure some of the single color versions will find their way into private paint shops pretty quickly

Did I say photos?!! Absolutely. Click away.

And here’s the new Carbon Grey Metallic in a Saab cgi, with another set of very nice rims

And this could well be Glass Grey Metallic.

Thanks to Djup Strupe for keeping the information rolling in!!

That Carbon Metallic color looks pretty darn spectacular i you ask me. I’ll take two of ‘em!

Thursday Snippets

Posted on July 3, 2008 by swade

Still off with the flu. Am in DVD-watching mode. Today it’s Charlie Wilson’s War.

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When I write about it (back on June 19), it’s a rumour. Now Automotive News cover it, it’s a fact.

General Motors, citing the weak U.S. dollar, is ending its 7 percent employee discount on the Saab 9-3 sedan for the 2009 model year…..a Detroit area dealer who asked not to be identified says employee discounts account for nearly 40 percent of his annual sales.

The trials of being just a blogger.

Thanks Los Jalops

——

Time for some Swedish product news for 2009….

Saab 9-3: As some have observed from different photos floating around, there are a new set of roof-rails (from the BLS) in chrome finish that will be available. The black (old-version) rails will only be optional for the Linear-model.

The Aero range for 2009 will consist of the the 2.8 V6 with 280hp, with both XWD and FWD available and the 1.9 TTiD. In addition there will also be an Aero trim available for the 2.0t BioPower! Saab has declared that in the future all high-performance engines in each fuel-class will be available in Aero trim.

Saab 9-5: The Aero-range will consist of the 2.3T 260 HP version, as well as the all new 2.3t 210 HP BioPower Aero.

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Some more 2009 info from Djup Strupe, who’s recently had a brief stint behind the wheel of a 2.0T with XWD.

He said it was a firm test-pilot favourite. Whilst it doesn’t have the full-tilt power or the sweet noise of the V6, it’s got plenty of zip and being a bit lighter, it was a LOT of fun to drive with less understeer and a little more agility than the Turbo X.

I still think making the eLSD unavailable for the 2.0T is a mistake, but I also think there’s going to be a lot to like about this setup. It can’t come soon enough.

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It’d be somewhat akin to Nero fiddling if I were to carry on blogging about Saabs and didn’t mention the drop in GM’s stock price today.

Merryll Lynch made some negative remarks about GM and as a result, GM stock fell below $10 for the first time in a bazillion years as the market got nervous. The sharks are circling. Farago’s now reminding me of the Darkseeker leader at the end of I Am Legend, such is his single-mindedness towards GM’s destruction.

Yep, there’s trouble out there, all right. But I don’t think it’s the end right now. Not at all. Not for GM, at least. If something’s going to give, it’s going to be Chrysler. They have no money, no real and vested management interest and most importantly – no product at all.

GM have to get smarter and get tough to ride this one out and they’ve GOT to put aside the crap culture that saw them relying on an unsustainable model mix all these years. They’ve had their own butts handed to them by their competition from Asia and if they don’t take heed then they really do deserve to go down.

But I think there’s enough brain cells in the board room to realise this and I’m sure they already do. It’s a big ship they’re trying to turn around here. It isn’t going to be done in one short period.

The good, the bad and the unknown for Saab in the US today

Posted on July 2, 2008 by swade

The good: XWD

The first bit of good news for Saab purveyors in the US today is – in case you missed it – that XWD is officially available for the 2.0T, for the 2009 model year. Do not underestimate how good this news is – it’s fantastic!

This is news that I brought to you some time ago, but it’s always nice to see the official confirmation.

The bad: XWD

The bad news is that the 2.0T with XWD will apparently not be available with the eLSD (the part of the XWD system that splits power between the rear wheels). The eLSD will not even be an option for the 2.0T. Given that that engine’s got so much character and is a favourite with buyers, I can’t help but think that SaabUSA are shooting themselves in the foot here.

The unknown: A smaller engine for Saab 9-3?

The headline of that 2009 Saab 9-3 article listed a “2.0t sPort” model as well as the Aero and 2.0T versions. The large ‘T’ denotes a high output turbo engine whereas the lower-case ‘t’ – in Australia at least – means a 175hp (or 129kW) version of Saab’s four-pot. Given the fuel-conscious times we live in, the addition of the 2.0t would be a great idea for the US market.

However, whilst it was mentioned in the headline, it was left out of the rest of the press release. As was BioPower.

Questions have been asked and I’ll let you know what I find out.

The bad: another dealer lost?

According to Dan, in comments, Lehman Saab has been changed from a stand-alone Saab dealer (alongside a franchise Volvo dealership as well) to become a Cadillac-Hummer dealership. Not a Saab-Cadillac-Hummer dealership, but C-H only.

And this was apparently at GM’s request. And they’re in PA, which is not quite MA but it’s in the NEUS and I’d assume hasn’t been completely FUBAR recently.

A click on the Lehman URL diverts to SutliffeSaab, which times-out and doesn’t load. Not good.

Another one bites the dust? Let’s hope not.

The bad: Aero Academy gone

True to their word, SaabUSA have indeed removed all references to the Aero Academy from their website. That whole program has gone from existing to wiped-from-the-face-of-SaabUSA’s-existence within a week. Remarkable.

but…..

The unknown: Euro Delivery

….references still exist to the European Delivery Program:

Thanks for your interest in the Saab European Delivery Program. The program will be up and running in the near future.* Please submit your contact information below and we will be sure to send you updates as they become available.

If you’re feeling cynical like me, you probably think that asterisk links to a footnate saying the near future could be as far as 2015 or something . I’m pleased to say it doesn’t, though. It just says it’s for the 9-3 and 9-5 only.

So there’s hope for this essential program. If Saab want to position themselves against the Euro premium players then this is the sort of thing they need to maintain.

2009 Saab 9-3 – US model details

Posted on July 1, 2008 by swade

New for 2009

2009 SAAB 9-3 RANGE expands XWD CROSS-WHEEL-DRIVE TECHNOLOGY to 2.0T Sedan AND SPORTCOMBI, MORE POWERFUL V-6 Engine on AERO MODELS AND NEW 2.0t ‘sPort’ MODEL

Fresh from the major exterior redesign it received for the 2008 model year, the Saab 9-3 range broadens its customer appeal for 2009 with available XWD cross-wheel-drive technology on 2.0T Sport Sedan and SportCombi models, a more powerful, 280-horsepower (209 kW) engine on all V-6 Aero models, and a new, available Aero-look exterior appearance package for 2.0T Sport models.

Other enhancements include interior trim, roof rail and wheel changes, as well as new, standard OnStar 8.0 hardware that enables Turn-by-Turn Navigation (available in late 2008) and Bluetooth hands-free calling capabilities.

For 2009, the Saab 9-3 range includes the 9-3 Sport Sedan, 9-3 SportCombi and 9-3 Convertible in 2.0T and Aero models. XWD technology is standard on Aero Sport Sedan and
SportCombi models.

Intelligent all-wheel drive

Originally available in the 2008 model year only on the V-6-equipped Turbo X or Aero Sport Sedan and SportCombi models, Haldex Gen 4 XWD cross-wheel-drive technology brings additional functionality to four-cylinder 2.0T models while preserving the fun-to-drive attributes and Scandinavian sensibilities that characterize Saab vehicles.

Continue reading →

GM United Kingdom launches Fleet Sales Site

Posted on June 6, 2008 by eggsngrits

Another quickie here. It seems the GM marketing staffers in the UK were sick and tired of their fleet sales site ranking near the bottom of the heap (BusinessCar.co.uk has the former site ranked 17th of 20). The new site has some great pictures of Saabs (I especially like the ones of the 9-5. Who says that car is ugly?), and it has a disturbing picture of the Chevrolet Epica racing around a corner without a driver at the wheel. Yikes!

As Business Car says, the new site is “snappily titled” gmukfleethub.co.uk.

Techie Time 2.8 Liter Turbo V6 Style

Posted on May 24, 2008 by eggsngrits

Once again, armed with photographs from the Saab TurboX Media Drive, I’m coming to you via the internet with information that you must, at all costs, absorb and hold dear because it’s going to be on the final exam.

Today’s topic: the GM 2.8 liter V6 in turbocharged form as in the upcoming Saab TurboX.

Oy, this is one smooth engine. After all, it’s won awards from people who really know a thing or two about engines, so you expect some refinement. This engine, as I’ve said before, has power and torque available from the minute that you stomp on the gas pedal. So, you really want to know how that power is made so quickly and smoothly, don’t you? Of course you do!

Well, here’s the secret: it has six cylinders.
And here’s the other secret: the turbocharger has two scrolls.

Now, I’m not advocating a wholesale change, and I’m not saying that everyone needs a 2.8 liter turbocharged V6, but I am saying that it’s nice to have in your product line because some people, myself included, will want the performance that it offers.

While at the Saab TurboX Media Drive, I studied the display V6 for a few minutes. After orienting myself and studying the airflow and the layout, the first thing that struck me was the additional piping and routing required to make a V arrangement work. On the four-cylinder Saabs, everything is easily routed from the same side of the inline bank of cylinders, while the V6 has to route exhaust to and inlet air from a single point on one side of the engine: the turbocharger. The well-sculpted inlets of the Saab V6 are a testament to both design and manufacturing prowess, but what a tangle it appears to be.

While we’re on the subject of metals, take a good look at the engine block and the cylinder heads. Casting technology has come a long way in just the past ten or twenty years. The detail and specialized shaping of each component is truly amazing and most certainly adds efficiency and performance.

The two-scroll turbocharger by Mitsubishi enhances the driver experience by allowing a workable variable inlet arrangment that gets the turbocharger impeller spinning at operating speeds with even a small change in exhaust flow. That is, turbo “lag” is greatly reduced. I can tell you first-hand that it works. With thirty years of turbocharging experience, Saab certainly made good choices with this one.

Not only is it easy to see the air and exhaust routing with this cutaway, it’s also to easy to see the 60 degree angle that helps to balance the engine and make the whole assembly a little shorter from top to bottom.

Notice that the exhaust manifolds are lined with stainless steel to keep the aluminum alloy from being heat worked over the life of the engine. That’s reliability, folks. Kudos to Trollhattan.

Saab 9-3 SportCombi XWD test

Posted on May 14, 2008 by swade

My thanks to Edonis for translating highlights of this test from the original Norwegian for us. Firstly because it’s a great read, and secondly, because I find Norwegian to be even more confusing than my childish attempts at Swedish!!!

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Regarding the design of the 9-3, they feel it should have gotten a makeover by German designers, as the exterior has a very distinctive feeling of being – cheap – , as they say.

But although they aren’t convinced by the design, they applaud the handling. “It NEVER looses grip”, and “This is one of the safest cars on the road today, because in addition to this, it always has an enormous power-reserve, a sportsbutton for active gearshifts, and roadholding which keeps you on the road in rain, snow, sleet or on a gravel road. It invites you to jump into corners, and you will, if you own a Saab 9-3 Aero Sportcombi with 280hp”

“There isn’t much new inside the Saab. The touchscreen which cost 19,000 NOK (including a 300W Bose sound system, voice recognition and navigation) is fabulous. It is as responsive as an iPhone, and the interface is very easy to live with.

“I like the interior of the Saab. It isn’t entirely new, but it is a really good enviroment to be in. And Saab has without a doubt the best cupholders in the market”

“This car makes every driver grin and makes the passenger nauseous. It is pretty simply a fantastic car to drive on twisty roads, while passengers may become a little car sick of the same reason.

“The car sits like a toad on the road, with it’s low point of gravity, and is a really good car.” They pitch it up against the 330i Touring, A4 Avant 3.2 quattro, Volvo V50 T5 amongst others.

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High praise, that. Now all we have to do is sell more of the little blighters……

Thanks again, Edonis!

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