Category Archives: Saab 9-3 Sport Combi

Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Aftonbladet on the future Saab 9-3

Posted on by
8

Gotta be quick.

Tobias has been kind enough to provide a translation of an article by Robert Collin from Aftonbladet that extends what we’ve heard already about the 9-3 being made on the Delta platform.

——

The new car from Trollhättan is an old classic in new form

The Saab 9-1, 9-2 or 9-3 -what kind of car is to be produced in Trollhättan from 2011? Aftonbladet (Swedish sort of newspaper, tabloid) reveals that the new 9-3 and 9-2 is virtually the same car. The 9-2 is a hatch back and the only thing to differ from the 9-3 is the rear end.

When Trollhättan lost the battle in 2005 for the future 9-3 and 9-5 things were dark in Trollhättan. GM promised that the company would remain as a niche manufactory didn’t give much comfort. Many workers would be unemployed and Saab would be gone from Sweden. But soon Aftonbladet could reveal (yeah right) that Saab developed a new smaller car that was supposed to be manufactured in Trollhättan. The factory was saved and plans were made for 40,000 small Saabs and capacity should be filled with its sibling Opel Astra.

This winter things changed, the talk about global warming gave GM cold feet. The cars consumed too much fuel they were too big and heavy. Downsizing and scale down got important and someone come to the conclusion that the future 9-3 should be smaller and based on the lighter architecture that is found in the future smaller Saab. The 9-3 is moving to Trollhättan and Aftonbladet can reveal that the future 9-3 and the smaller Saab is virtually the same car.
9-3 will be 4-doors sedan, cabriolet and a kombi. The 9-2 will be a hatchback about half meter shorter than the 9-3.

The result is that the 9-3 shrinks a bit and the 9-2 gains a couple of centimetres and would be a bit bigger than Golf and Astra. Production of the 9-2 and Astra begins in 2011 and the 9-3 follows the next year.

A cheer of joy in Trollhättan but things in Rüsselsheim is dark. They were sure of three new models. Two models will disappear from production in Rüsselsheim and about 100 000 cars per year. You can count on big protest from the German union if this is realised. What happens to the 9-1? The name and car will have to wait for a new smaller car.

——

Thanks Tobias!!

Is GM right in downsizing the Saab 9-3?

Posted on by
38

The following is a guest post submitted by WooDz, a man with more than a little Saab experience.

——

IS GM/SAAB RIGHT?

For some reason, the news that the next generation 9-3 is to be built using a smaller architecture conjures up images of inferior quality. I’d imagine the immediate thoughts of many went like this: Physically smaller than its predecessor, second-rate technology, conflicts with a small vehicle that would share the platform. Then you have the market comparisons with Volvo and how bad the V40 and C30 are. These, in reality, bare no relevance to the market perception of Saab, who are still renowned for making quirky mid-size hatchbacks and not mammoth hunks of metal.

Before any of those assumptions can be made, maybe we should concentrate on the current model, where the platform first debuted as the Opel Vectra. If we add 4 years development time then we’re looking at a vehicle that was engineered over a decade ago. The 9-3 has just undergone an enhancement and as previous timelines would suggest, it will remain in this form for around the next 3-4 years. This means it could be as late as 2012 before we get to touch the all-new Saab 9-3.

When you look at the two global architectures Delta and Epsilon and consider that the next generation Delta platform, simply by systematic technological advancement, will be lighter and stronger than either the current 9-3 or the Insignia, you have to wonder where the negatives will be? An extended Delta could quite possibly be larger than the current 9-3 and more advanced, technically. If VAG’s Golf/A3 can carry a V6 engine then why not the next generation Delta? After all, Opel would no doubt like a comparable model to the Golf R32 or what will become the R36.

The 9-1 and 9-3 may end up sharing synergies and components from Epsilon 2 that could be utilised in the same way that BMW use the multi link axle and engines from the 3-series setup for the 1-series. This will greatly reduce development and production costs. Having that translate into more favorable prices will probably be unlikely. However, they will create a buffer zone when dealing with weaker currencies or generate profits for a future projects; a real Saab Sonett, anyone?

Trollhättan is also an issue and the potential to have the plant work at full capacity by producing a high volume of Saabs will show GM that the company can stand their own. Also, being able to bolster that output by building e-flex and other conventional vehicles destined for northern European regions will secure the facility further into the future. Having a strong manufacturing presence in their home country is of inestimable value for Saab.

Another issue is timing. If 2012 was to be the entry date for a new 9-3 using Epsilon 2, that would mean we’d have a new vehicle with a potential life of 10 years starting out on what will be a 4 year old platform. With Delta 2 the scenario is still not perfect, but it’s much better in terms of current engineering design.

It is without doubt the Audi A4 would be a larger vehicle but even the motoring media are starting to question whether the A4 has outgrown is market segment. It’s just as big as the current 5-series. We are finally seeing motoring markets, especially the US, turn the corner and accept that a smaller, more efficient car is the car of the future. Saab will still have a larger car, but this move will most likely make them the first to recognise the trend and design accordingly.

With Fuel prices that will only continue to rise and government regulations demanding lower emissions, larger heavier vehicles will no longer become economically viable for most families. In North America trends are already changing and even with the typical SUV no longer being of BOF architecture they will become obsolete as a family commuter. If you have money and want to drive a Caddy, fuel prices won’t stop you. However, the story will most likely be different for the rest of us. For those who want to pay the premium for a quality car where running costs are affordable something a lot smaller than a 9-5 might be the only answer in a global market.

We often feel that the big General seems to step from one blunder to the next, that little thought is ever given to automotive passion and that the whole company is bound by its financial analysts and accountants, who by natural gene-chemistry have zero creativity and the passion of a dormant snail. Yet for a company that has employed a load of dim-witted baboons, they’re still doing OK. GM are still producing nearly 10 million vehicles per annum and are profitable in all markets except North America. Maybe they’re more capable than we give them credit for?

The auto industry is heading for some big changes in the next decade and where most manufactures still want to make their next generation vehicles larger than their predecessors, I think GM are allowing Saab once again to show some of their unique lateral thinking. Consider the BioHybrid console, which has more of a horizontal 99 / 900 layout as opposed to a sweep around 9000 look – you never know the next 9-3 might even be a hatchback?

One can dream.

-

Saab 9-3 to be built on Delta – from the horse’s mouth

Posted on by
66

RE-POSTED

I’ve bumped this back to the top as a) it’s big news, b) it was posted on the weekend so there may be a bunch who missed it, and c) there’ll be a follow up piece later.

——

It takes a big story to interrupt a wedding anniversary, ja?

First, the news:

I’ve received notice from a member of the Djup Strupe collective inside Sweden – and this comes straight from the horse’s mouth – that the next generation of the Saab 9-3 will be built on GM’s global premium compact architecture, presumptively called Delta II.

This architecture will be used for a number of GM vehicles, the highest volume-seller most likely to be the Opel Astra, and the Trollhattan plant in Sweden is one of four European plants recently chosen to build vehicles on this architecture. The other plants are in the UK, Germany and Poland and the production of vehicles on this new architecture is scheduled to commence no earlier than 2010.

There’s been no word on the timing of this new 9-3, but given that this decision could only have been taken quite recently it’d be safe to assume 2011 at the very earliest, more likely 2012.

——

Second, the opinion:

The biggest concept vehicle reportedly based on the Delta II architecture so far is the Opel Flextreme which measured 4550mm. The current Saab 9-3 is 4647mm in length. With the current Saab 9-3 already having compact rear seat legroom, it’s going to pose a challenge for designers to preserve cabin space in the smaller package.

The one thing this will definitely do, however, is separate the 9-3 and the 9-5. With a new Saab 9-5 coming on board late in 2009, it will be positioned as the definite flagship model with this more compact Saab 9-3 beside it in the model range. Importantly, the new smaller 9-3 will also be easier to “rightsize” – Saab’s terminology for getting a smaller engine into the car with more power but reduced emissions.

I think this is a great decision. I feel quite confident that the Saab 9-3′s designers can pull off a great interior layout, which is going to be the only major concern with this architecture. It means the car can be smaller and lighter, more sporty, and leaves the new 9-5 plenty of space to play to the larger-car crowd with a bigger range of models than what we might have previously thought.

The other truly fantastic news in this is that there’s a very good chance that the cars will be built in the Trollhattan plant in Sweden. I can’t stress enough how important it is for Saab to retain a significant manufacturing presence in their home market. It’s not definite, with three other European plants capable of working with Delta II, but it’s quite possible.

——

And a chronology of the reporting, just for the record….

May 6, 2008 – More talk on the next Saab 9-3 was posted here at Trollhattan Saab. It was the first report in English on the subject of the new 9-3 being built on Delta and possibly at Trollhattan.

May 7, 2008 – Next-gen Saab 9-3 to be produced in Sweden was published at Motor Authority and contains basically the same info as I had in mine.

May 8, 2008 – Saab 9-3 Shrinking was reported at Autocar and contained essentially the same central piece of news with some extra fodder for filling.

These reports all cover the story out of Germany in the last week that the production of the Saab 9-3 had NOT been confirmed for Russelsheim as was previously assumed. That added fuel to the growing story that the 9-3 was being considered for something other than the Epsilon II platform.

What we have here in this story is the first confirmation from inside Saab that this is indeed going to happen – that the next generation 9-3 is going to be built on the compact architecture.

-

More talk of the next Saab 9-3

Posted on by
31

UPDATED – new translation of the original article, with thanks to Albert!

——

There’s been mumblings here previously about the possibility of the next Saab 9-3 being built on the compact Delta platform instead of the next generation Epsilon II. See the following links for the background:

In short, those articles cover the possible decision to make the next Saab 9-3 on a compact vehicle platform, the same as will be used for the next Opel Astra. Currently, the Saab 9-3 is built on the larger Epsilon platform and it was assumed that it would be produced on the new Epsilon II platform eventually, in Russelsheim, Germany. The new Saab 9-5 will be produced on this platform starting in 2009.

In the article noted above as “the Saab response”, Saab’s PR manager in Sweden, Eric Geers, confirmed that they were looking at the compact Delta platform for the 9-3 as a means to reduce weight and better meet emission requirements. He pointed out that the vehicle architecture is just a modular basis for the vehicle and that vehicles of varying sizes and specifications can all be made from the one architecture.

That’s the history.

Today there’s been another article appear in Hendelsblatt, in Germany, that all but confirms that the Saab 9-3 will be built on this smaller architecture. The report states that the next Saab 9-3 will be built in Trollhattan rather than in Russelsheim.

The Trollhattan factory is soon to be re-tooled for the Delta platform in the near term and will be producing the current Epsilon 9-3 and the new Delta vehicles concurrently. It seems this will continue until the current 9-3 is phased out and the new version moves to Delta as well. New Epsilon II vehicles such as the Saab 9-5 will be produced in Russelsheim and the withdrawal of the Saab 9-3 from those plans will leave Russelsheim with a fair amount of excess capacity.

An updated translation from the original artical in German is as follows:

GM draws back production job from Opel.

The Opel-mother company General Motors (GM) has made a course correction with the production plans for Europe. The company plans apparently to give the production job for the next generation Saab 9-3 to the family plant of the Swedes instead of to Rüsselsheim.

FRANKFURT. According to information from business circles, the GM Board is expected to deal with the issue in June. With that the automobile manufacturere is giving the precedence to a badly filled aout Trollhättan Saab plant in preference to the Opel family plant in Rüsselsheim, that was originally planned to build the car.

To compensate the GM management around GM-Europe’s boss Carl-Peter Forster considers to give build jobs based on the Astra platform or the Chevrolet Epica to Rüsselsheim, it is said in the company.

A spokesman for GM Europe (GME) would not comment on the plans: “Our management cannot comment to the production site of the future Saab 9-3 at the moment.” The management although has just made clear commitments to order volumes to the works. To this the manufacturer will keep itself, said the spokesman.

In 2005, the Rüsselsheim factory promised that the future Saab middle class car would be made there. According to information from business circles the car company is planning now, however, to build the successor to the Saab 9-3, which is expected on the market in 2012, no longer on the old Vectra platform, but on the basis of a new compact car platform.

The works council chairman of the plant in Bochum, Rainer Einenkel, had already announced in the specialist magazine Auto, Motor und Sport “,that its location would apply to the model. Bochum is one of four future GM Astra plants in Europe and would be able to build the next Saab 9-3 also on this basis. But the U.S. company seems to prefer to fill the capacity at the plant in Trollhättan with the model, where in the future – according to business circles – the planned Saab 9-1 small car is expected to be built.

One year after the decision where to build the most important for GM model in Europe, the Astra compact car, the race for the manufacturing site for the current smallest model Saab is internally as good as decided. Open, on the other hand, is still with which cars GM management will ensure the production capacity and models in the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim.

Opel company works council chairman Klaus Franz said recently that he assumes that GM will keep to its assurances. “We have a signed contract with the management, capacity and the volume is definitely ensured,” he said. GM had promised the works council in an agreement in the autumn of last year to produce up to six GM models in Rüsselsheim by 2012. Currently in Rüsselsheim only the middle class models Vectra and Signum are produced, that will be replaced by the Insignia from November,

GM restructures further with this its production plans for its European operations after the reassignment of the important Astra production in the works Bochum, Gliwice and Ellesmere Port.
Only last week the company, that writes its books deep in the red on the home market, had announced investments in a total of 9 billion Euros in its core brand Opel until 2012 and announced a guarantee for the Astra plants, including Bochum until the year 2016.

Once again, I’m going to write to Saab Sweden and seek a response to what appears to be a measure of progress on this issue.

——

The possible threat here is that the Saab 9-3 could be too close to the proposed Saab 9-1 idf they are both built on the same architecture. The move to Delta would definitely make a marked difference between the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5, however, something that hasn’t been around since 2002.

Eric Geers remained confident when I last heard from him (again, the link above) that the Saab 9-1 would see production. I guess the challenge here is to make sure the 9-1 and the 9-3 are remarkably different vehicles.

——

Thanks very much to LML for the article

Saab 9-5 and 9-3 future model news

Posted on by
22

Behold the second GM vehicle to be shown that will use the Epsilon II platform – The Buick Invicta concept.

This was revealed in Beijing overnight. Bear in mind that it’s a concept vehicle, but it is said to be pretty close to the final product. One would suggest that the rear roofline might be a tad higher and slightly less glassy on the road-going version.

This Buick is for China only at this stage, though I can well imagine some in the US saying why don’t you sell it here?

This comes hot on the heels of the official pictures of the Opel Insignia being let loose late last week. Again, the Insignia will be built on the new Epsilon II platform, the same architecture that will be used for the Saab 9-5 next year.

The big question is whether or not either of these can tell us anything about what’s coming in the next Saab 9-5. I guess they can hint at proportions and sizing. GM’s penchant for sharing parts (check out the similar grille openings on those two, for example) might suggest that the Saab could be similar in some areas, though hopefully the sheetmetal is completely different and the only common touches are hidden away.

——

I heard from one Saab dealer over the weekend that the 9-5 could be due for a September 2009 release – and that’s here in Australia! If so, that would indicate a sooner-than expected arrival in other parts of the world.

——

Albert has sent through a translation of an AutomobileWoche article, once again talking about the uncertainty surrounding the next Saab 9-3.

I’ve written about this before and it seems this story just won’t go away. I think some questions for Saab are in order here.

Exclusive: OPEL plant worries over utilization

The OPEL plant in Rüsselsheim worries over its utilization. The until 2018 contract (wherein GM assures the existence of the factory) has not been ratified. Among other things the GM management has not committed itself whether the next SAAB 9-3 will use the architecture of the Insignia.

Contrary to earlier statements of the works council, the utilization of the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim has not been secured yet. There is still no definite decision whether the Saab 9-3 will be built in Rüsselsheim, so say GM-sources to “Automobilwoche”.

With that it is just before the ratification of the “Standortsicherungsvertrages” uncertain whether the 6.000 employees can keep their jobs in the long run. “Some details are still open” a manager from GM Europe confirmed to the newspaper.

The 9-3, the best sold Saab-model, could be built on the Global Compact Architecture from GM. The Rüsselsheim plant is not laid out for this architecture. Because of this could not only the Saab entry-level model 9-1, but also the originally planned for Rüsselsheim 9-3, been built in the Swedish Trolhättan. With that, about 80.000 units would lack to the full utilization of the German mother-plant. Until now only the production of three variants of the Insignia, of which about 140.000 a year are planned, is sure. The maximum capacity in Rüsselsheim of 275.000 cars cannot be reached by that.

Long decision process.

Another battle point is the outsourcing-possibilities in areas that are not directly linked to car production, said a GM-employee. In the German facilities there are about a 1.000 jobs in danger by this. It is discussed for instance to outsource the security service ore the works fire brigade.

The long taking decision process around the 9-3 could also mean that the Swedish middle class limousine will come late to the market. Originally the production start was determined for 2010. “By now it will nearly be 2012” a GM employee said. The chairman of the works council, Klaus Franz, told already in November 2007 that the future of the plant was secure until 2018 but took this back later on. According to Franz the successors to the 9-3 and 9-5 as well as a crossover as a substitute for the wagons of the Swedes would be built alongside of the Insignia – all on the basis of the new Global Midsize Platform.

The 9-3 could well be headed for a 9-5-like timeframe, a decision that would surely hurt the brand in the next five years.

Australia’s Courier-Mail gets it right, for the most part

Posted on by
7

Given that this is Swade’s blog, I feel a little funny posting about a 9-3 Sport Combi review in an Australian newspaper like the Courier-Mail, which apparently serves the Brisbane area. However, Swade’s in transit, so here goes:

Mr. Hinchliffe endears himself to me right from the start:

What a ridiculous name for a vehicle – SportCombi. To me it conjures images of hippies in a VW Kombi with mag wheels and wide tyres.

Let’s call a spade a spade. The Saab 9-3 SportCombi is a station wagon. But that’s not a popular word any more.

The English language is a great tool that we take for granted. Mucking it up with phrases that are “Born from Marketing” :wink: has always been on my list of peeves.

Once Mr. Hinchliffe gets past the name, it’s smooth sailing. He points up the bright spots of the new 9-3 SportCombi quite nicely. From a utility standpoint, he praises the lightweight tailgate (“won’t put muscles on your mum”), the wide opening and the usable, flat cargo space. Obviously, he’s an outdoor sport enthusiast because he states that the interior is great for even the longest of surfboards with the optional folding passenger seat.

His treatment of the performance enhancements are no different: Mr. Hinchliffe raves about the “amazing” advancements in suspension components, revealing that both the ride and the handling have improved, and that the 2.0 High-output turbocharged engine is “refined” and “boots from the line with no hint of turbo lag”.

His sole criticism of the car (except the name, which isn’t the car’s fault after all) is the aircraft-inspired dashboard, which he finds a bit dated. I’ll accept that, but I dont really agree — I think that Saab has always designed very well-executed, easily read dashboards.

Good stuff from the Aussies. Swade’s sphere of influence is growing…

Saab Subaru comparison test

Posted on by
15

Many have opined that Subaru is the new Saab.

They do things a little different. They had a full AWD range when everyone else had it as an option. They offered turbos long before many others. They use a range of boxer engines, including a new boxer diesel. Somehow they managed to make ugly wagons quite fashionable and they tend to emphasise the practical over the aesthetic. They forged a large part of their success on rally racing.

Does all that innovation, difference and motorsport success sound familiar?

I’m not of the view that Subaru are the new Saab. They’re definitely slightly different from the mainstream, but still fit into the mainstream segment in my eyes. Saab are still different enough to be the real Saab, but they’re definitely closer to the mainstream than what they were.

How close these companies are might be reflected in this recent road test at Auto Express. They run a Saab 9-3 TTiD SportCombi against a Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer, the new one with the diesel boxer engine.

Just the fact that they’re pitting these two against each other is a possible indication that the landscape is changing.

I’ll leave you to read the comparison and the verdict, but in summary the Saab carries the day thanks to a very strong TTiD engine, a better quality interior and better overall driving characteristics.

What’s more interesting to me is that this seems to be where much of Saab’s competition is nowadays. I know Saab consider their competition to be the premium Europeans like Audi and BMW, but the reality right now seems to be different. Entry luxury marques from Europe and Japan seem to be where most of Saab’s comparisons lay nowadays.

Perhaps that’ll change with the new 9-5, but until then…

Fresh Aussie review – Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Posted on by
26

Occasionally a review comes along and you get the distinct impression that this is the first time that reviewer has driven a Saab.

Saab 9-3 VectorThis may or may not be the case here, but what comes through is a fresh enthusiasm for what is a really great car. And what made it even more enjoyable for me is the fact that this is the exact Saab I’d buy if I had the money for a new car – a 2.0T 9-3 SportCombi in Vector trim.

The review comes from Australian Car Advice and here’s a few snippets. I like the start….

Saab buyers are a unique bunch of people, similar to Jaguar buyers (Hey, Andy! – SW). What Saab really needs is to attract new buyers to the brand. Last year Saab sold 1862 vehicles in Australia, which is not bad, but given its competing with the likes of Volvo, Volkswagen and Audi, it can be a lot better- and has been.

The problem the brand faces isn’t so much the cars, as they are mostly brilliant, but the false stigma that people that drive Saabs are weird.

What? Me, a guy who spends 4 to 5 hours a day blogging about an obscure little company from Sweden – wierd?

NEVER!

Sitting in the car for the first time, you can instantly tell you’re in a Saab. The interior design might not be the best looking for the price, but every single bit of detail has been thought out and built with practicality in mind…..

….The leather seats are also designed with comfort in mind. This is the sort of car you can take the whole family from Brisbane to Perth in and it won’t miss a beat…..

….Saab says it will go from 0-100km/h in 9 seconds, but despite repeated testing, the worst I could do was 8.1! Perhaps Saab should consider employing new drivers for their 0-100km/h tests….

….Then there is the looks, if you want to be in yet-another-wagon, buy the Liberty, but if you want a little more class and individuality, Saab is the answer.

Some of the photos are quite annoyingly slanted and some of the writing is a little naive, but overall this gave me a similar feeling to my own first encounters with a Saab.

Well appointed, fast and rediculously practical.