That business-related stuff is important as it relates to Saab’s future. But it’s also important to remember why sites like TS exist – because driving is fun, and a Saab is one of the most rewarding vehicles to drive.

Saab sales are way down this year, like with most brands, and whilst I get it on one level, it absolutely perplexes me on another. Why? Because the 2008 Saab 9-3 is the best 9-3 anyone’s been able to buy. That should mean increased interest, but it hasn’t. We could theorise about that all day long, but auto123 in Canada have been driving the car and have some things to say that’ll remind you why you’ve got (or want) a Saab in your driveway.

Our reviewer is a guy named Justin Pritchard and he’s spent some time in a 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero with XWD. The full review is here, but I’ve clipped a few snippets as an entree.

A Canadian testing in the early winter? It’s good to read this, then….

This generates a more planted and stable handling dynamic free of annoying early intervention from stability aids. End result is a sure footed grip on any surface and a delightfully lively and agile feel. It’s very tidy in most any handling situation, and very much an all-season driver’s car.

And contrary to the masses…. me included:

Some don’t see the price-tag in the car’s exterior styling, but the interior of the loaded tester was packed with everything Saab has to offer. Included was automatic everything, power everything, navigation, Bose audio, a sunroof and memory seats. Leather wraps the steering wheel, seats and door panels, and aluminum trim combines with rubberized controls for an exciting yet reserved atmosphere.

And he finishes thus:

There are better ways to look like you spent big bucks on a premium sedan, though 9-3 is tops if you’d rather fly under the radar and not lose your ride in the Longo’s parking lot.

Yes, I’ve only picked out good bits, but that’s because the not-so-good bit only comprise one paragraph and this is an overwhelgmingly positive piece.

The 2008 Saab 9-3 IS a great car. I’m sure the 2009 is even better.

Let’s hope the world gets to hear it.

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The main point of criticism with the car is that it’s not “Saaby” enough to some. It doesn’t have a hatch and has a comparatively generic GM-based engine. A few described it as being a future candidate for the label as “the worst Saab ever” with the disclaimer that the 9-7x and 9-2x don’t count as they weren’t ground-up Saab designed vehicles.

So what’s the story?

Well, from my point of view, I think the 9-3 is compromised somewhat but I don’t hold the car, nor the designers at fault for that.

The Saab 9-3 has been described as missing that certain panache that made Saab’s so distinct in earlier years and I can certainly see whare that comment comes from. Saab’s iconic designs are the hatches of the late 20th century. The sporting looks, combined with the comfort, space and versatility offered by the hatch layout were an outstanding success for Saab and they built a very loyal following on the back of it.

The decision to release the 9-3 with only a sedan version and bring the Combi version much later wasn’t great a great one, especially as Swedes love their wagons so much. I’m sure the home market suffered much lower sales than it could have if the wagon had emerged at the same time as the sedan instead of coming some two-and-a-bit years later.

But let’s be certain of one thing: the fault there lay with Saab, and Saab alone.

I’ve spoken to people who were working there at the time and they assure me that when the 9-3 model range was conceived, it was a full range. This included the sedan, combi, convertible, as well as either a coupe or a hatch version of the car.

If you’re fairly new to Saab, you may not know that Saabs expenditure got way out of control around this time. The corporate owner, GM, had laid off Saab to a large extent but when they finally noticed the degree to which their Swedish subsidiary was bleeding money, they went hands-on in a big way. An added complication was the fact that Saab engineered the 9-3 in such a way that the car couldn’t be built anywhere other than Saab’s factory in Trollhattan, an much of technology that Saab employed in this car could only be used in the 9-3 (the fibre-optic system, for example).

As a consequence, GM called a halt to model development and suspended all variations of the Saab 9-3 other than the existing sedan and convertible and soon-tom-come SportCombi version.

It’s not the outcome we would have liked, but it’s how it played out. Saab’s head honcho in Sweden at the time, Peter Augustsson, resigned his position as a result and weve Jan-Ake Jonsson in charge ever since. Saab have reduced their costs by around 33% since 2005 and it’s only because of this that they’ll continue to have a presence in vehicle manufacturing into the future.

So if you like the prospects of a Saab being built in Sweden in years to come, you’ve got the restraint of the 9-3 program to thank for it.

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In objective terms, some could make the argument for the current Saab 9-3 being described as the best Saab ever.

* It’s definitely the safest Saab ever, having earned multiple top safety awards all around the world. The 9-3 range employ more passive and active safety features than any Saab that’s come before it.

* It’ll probably prove to be one of the most reliable Saabs ever. Whilst there were early problems with interior parts and electronics, these were ironed out eventually and I think that once the data plays out, it’ll show 2004 or 2005-onwards model years were pretty solid.

* It’s got the most dynamic chassis ever in a Saab. 9-5 owners might want to disagree here, but I’ve spoken to several engineers and test drivers about this over the last few years. The 9-5 is a great driver’s car, but the 9-3 has a significantly higher potential for development. In many ways, the 9-3 has been held back by the 9-5′s need to be the top of the tree, a position which only changed in 2008 when the Turbo X topped the 9-5 for horsepower.

* It’s got the best interior in a Saab. Ok, it hasn’t.

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And that leads us to those subjective things, which are probably the building blocks for any arguments against the 9-3.

The lack of Saabiness – This is an argument based mostly around the body style. As explained above, the restriction of body styles is a problem that Saab largely brought upon themselves. The sedan was the hot sector of the market at the time the car was being developed, so it was a no-brainer to bring that first. The fact that it wasn’t accompanied straight away by cars that purists might consider more Saaby is something we’ll have to live with in the hope that it’ll be remedied in future models.

This certainly doesn’t render the 9-3 as unSaaby, however. The car is still a great looking machine and I think future Saab museum-like timelines will show the design fits very well in historical context. The 2008 iteration of the car is suffering not from a lack of design ethos, quality or appeal (it’s subjective, I know) but more from a lack of support in terms of pricing and marketing structures.

This is a great car. I’d love one.

The lack of Swedishness – I think GM are still finding their feet with Saab. Where Saab used to design cars for the Swedish market and then find niches and success elsewhere in the world, the 9-3 was largely built with the US and Western European markets in mind. I think this will still be GM’s future mindset when it comes to Saab development, but I think they’ve learned a lesson from the 9-3 that they won’t soon forget.

The 9-3 sedan is certainly the most generic of the ground-up Saabs, but it’s still a very sophisticated car that doesn’t show it’s full colors until you drive one for a while. It still has the Saab-ish virtues of driver comfort, safety, ergonomics and power-when-you-need-it, it’s just that these virtues aren’t wrapped in as much of a distinctive package as some earlier cars.

The other thing to note about Swedishness is that Saabs are going to be designed and built in places other than Sweden from now on. That’s just a fact. The input of Swedish-trained and inspired people is going to be somewhat limited as time goes on. Engines will no longer be designed and built exclusively in Sweden. This is also a fact. There will still be input from Saab-trained designers and engineers, but it’s a fact of business today that Saab is part of a global company and will receive input from various sources around the world.

We, the people, have to press GM on the fact that Saab are a unique brand with a unique identity and hold them to that in the best interests of keeping the Saab identity alive. We, the market, will keep GM accountable for that and Saab, the brand, will suffer if the corporates don’t recognise this.

The interior – If I’ve got one major bugaboo with this car, it’s the interior. A car’s interior is really important to me as it’s where you spend the most time. The 2008 Saab 9-3 interior is vastly improved in NVH terms, but still lacks some of the ‘feel’ of a Saab interior.

The seats are still magnificent. The controls are still in the right places (with the exception of the power window switches, which should be centered instead of on the doors). The visibility is still good and the road feel is still fantastic.

But there’s still something missing. Maybe it’s the dark/light room theming? Maybe it’s the lack of luxurious materials in the dashboard area?

I think a certain amount of it has to do with the dashboard layout: the button dash vs the more generic 2007-onwards dash. The button dash lended a degree of visual richness and sophistaction that’s been lost since it was cast aside at the end of 2006.

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Conclusion

I think we’re all looking for better things to come from Saab in the future. There’s no doubt that Saab has suffered from a lack of a clear identity in the last few years. Slow model development might have been OK prior to the rise of the internet, but nowadays people expect things to move faster than that. GM have let Saab get caught napping to a large extent.

But don’t let that derail your thinking, especially when it comes to the quality of the Saab 9-3. The design polarises people to some degree, as great designs should. It has great powerplants, great dynamics and great owner amenity.

Are Saab positioning and pricing it correctly? Maybe, but I suspect the current positioning has more to do with next year’s new 9-5.

But make no mistake: this is a great car to drive and I’m sure owners will suggest that it’s a great car to live with.

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I’ve had a bit more correspondence with our source and at face value, he seems well placed to learn the information that he’s passed on.

In order clear up any confusion from the last Djup Strupe post, he’s passed on the following:

As I understood the current 9-3 won’t get a facelift as previously planned. And it is the current 9-3 that you wont be able to get with a V6 in 2010. I asked and was told that this was the final year with the V6 in the 9-3. It was planned that the Insignia V6 would go into the 9-3, but that plan has been cancelled due to low demand, and probably due to the cost of getting it certified in the 9-3. And as I understand it, the current V6 is being made in too few numbers.

The next 9-3 wont, as some people wrote, fit a V6. The global compact (delta) has no V6.

So there you go. Take it as it’s come to me – in an anonymous fashion – but the 2009 model year might be the final year where you can obtain that 2.8T V6 engine in a Saab 9-3.

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The 9-5 bonus:

I’ve had another Djup Strupe mention recently that the reason there’s no spy pictures of the next Saab 9-5 surfacing as yet is that it’s being tested in disguise. The car’s dressed up to appear as being a Buick.

That’s global architectures for ya!

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I got an email today from a person who created an email account under the name Djup Strupe. When I get other Saab insider information, I generally have an idea of that person’s position and therefore their credibility as a source. I generally write my article in a way that describes my level of caution about the material.

In this instance, with the email coming in the name of Djup Strupe, I have no idea who it is. It could be a genuine Djup Strupe or it could be someone knowing that I use the name Djup Strupe for inside sources and trying to fool me.

That’s the first piece of intrigue. Djup Strupe, who are you?

Now, on to the contents of the email. Here’s what Djup Strupe had to say:

Heard from some reliable sources that there is talk, (or already even determined?) that there will be no v6 in the 9-3. Low volume and emissions being the reason. Originaly planed to be updated to the v6 today in the insignia. Now, its scratched. Is this the last year you can order a v6 in the small Saab?

So that’s it.

Low volume: Around 70% of Saab’s sales in the US are 9-3s and of these, around 70% or more are 2.0Ts. That’s low volume for you.

Emissions: This is something I don’t know so much about, but naturally, it’s a concern in this ever greening world.

The bigger picture for me is what impact that might have on Saab’s image.

Saab only got the V6 in 2006 and it’s something that people had been asking for for some time. Bob Sinclair himsled said it was something they were clamouring for since the late 1980s. Now that Saab have got a (superb) V6, it’s regarded more as being underpowered (mostly by people who don’t have one or haven’t driven it) than it is as one of Wards’ top 10 engines of 2006.

Can they afford to lose that option in what is their best and biggest selling vehicle right now?

Well, maybe in 2009 they can.

The new Saab 9-5 will come eventually, and it’ll be bigger and I’d donate a kidney to my neighbors cat if it didn’t come with a V6 option. With the majority of Saab sales being turbocharged fours, would they still need the V6 in that line, or would they be better off concentrating that option in the 9-5?

It’s an intriguing thought.

Unfortunately, given that I don’t know this Djup Strupe at all, I can’t give you any idea as to the credence you can place on this info.

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So what’s all this got to do with Saab? Plenty, especially if you’re after an initial glimpse of the next Saab 9-3.

We’ve heard several important things about the next Saab 9-3 in recent months. the most important of them is that the next generation Saab 9-3 is going to be built on the latest generation of GM’s Delta compact car architecture. The most recent thing we heard about the 9-3 was in an update to the recent timeline info from Djup Strupe, i.e. that the 2011 car won’t be just a facelift, but according to our updating insider, it should be the new, Delta-based car.

So again, what’s the Chevy Cruze got to do with the next Saab 9-3?

Well, the Cruze is the first car based on this all-new Delta architecture. This is the first impression we’re able to get of the new underpinnings and it provides an important glimpse as to what Saab might be able to do.

Size matters

If my memory serves me correctly, the public reaction to the news that the Saab 9-3 would move to a smaller architecture for its next generation was positive over all. I think people saw Saab bucking the trend of bigger-is-better as a typically Saab thing to do. The notion of a smaller, whippier Saab 9-3 is certainly an attractive one and in line with a fair chunk of Saab’s heritage. And if they can manage a little more than just a sedan and a wagon this time around, more the better.

For all that positivity, though, there’s also some concern about the fact that Saab’s volume seller, which already has a cramped back seat, might be even more compact. For every guy who likes the idea of a smaller car, there’ll be another who like his space.

From what I’ve just heard, it looks like the 9-3 will have both bases covered.

What GM haven’t told people about the Cruze just yet is the actual size. The press releases contain information about the engines, etc, but there’s not tech specs sheet as yet.

I heard from another Djup Strupe yesterday, one who’s familiar with the Cruze project, and he had what I consider to be good news for most. The Chevrolet Cruze, GM’s first “Delta II” vehicle, is only 4cm shorter than the current Saab 9-3 and it has the same wheelbase. So whilst Delta II is a compact car platform, it’s still sizeable enough to be serviceable and I’m sure that Saab’s engineers and designers will be able to make all that space useable.

Interior Matters

GM claim that the Cruze is wider than it’s competitors, which will be an important consideration for Saab customers when they develop the 9-3 on this architecture. Saab were able to take relatively small car in the Saab 99 and give it heaps of interior space back in the 1960s. They did it again with the medium sized Saab 9000 in the 1980s, so much so that it was classified as a ‘large car’ in the United States. Saab designers will need to repeat the dose when this new 9-3 is drawn up.

Whilst the Cruze interior is interesting, I hope they get different guys working on the Saab 9-3 interior. Give us a proper SID once gain, centrally positioned window controls and no controls around the knees, please.

Ach. I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.

Power Matters

The character of the car is going to come down to one thing – the powerplant. Saab must push for the right engine.

For the Cruze, the choices will center around 1.6 and 1.8 litre, normally aspirated petrol engines and a new 2.0 litre TiD. Autoblog say that when US production commences in 2010, it’ll also get a turbocharged 1.4 litre engine.

Saab, of course, have to go turbocharged, will be laughed off the premium stage if they don’t go direct injected, and should be producing somewhere north of 170hp for the base model vehicle.

The current engine sizes planned for the Cruze show that the car’s big enough to take it, so let it be.

The Bottom Line

The Cruze is but a small glimpse of what might be possible for Saab on this new compact architecture.

To make a great 9-3 happen, they’ll need two things: a green light from the suits, and a Saab load of their own fantastic design flair and ingenuity.

From this glimpse, I’m quite sure they can make a very special vehicle happen on Delta. It won’t be any bigger and it won’t be much smaller. I just hope they get the backing to do it.

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photos from autoblog

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This car gets the full Hirsch treatment and reads like a very desireable model that Saab should be marketing everywhere.

To the enhancements, first:

The base car for the Hirsch Performance model is the 2009 Saab 9-3 with 2.8 V6, XWD (with E-LSD) plus the following Hirsch Performance components:
- Upgrade to 300hp
- Mesh grille
- Front splitter
- Stainless steel dual exhaust
- Rear diffuser
- Bootlid spoiler or roof spoiler (bridge spoiler)
- Lowered Suspension
- 345mm Brake
- 19” wheels (diamond black or satin silver)
- Carbon leather dash board
- Carbon leather interior trim set
- Leather door handles, handbrake handle and smart slot cover
- Aluminium pedals

And here’s an outside picture to get you drooling.

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Hirsch vehicles are not just about the numbers, which are definitely impressive in this instance. They’re about the seamless integration of factory quality parts to create a truly aggressive yet very driveable vehicle. It’s long been an issue on this website that Hirsch isn’t promoted in all Saab markets and this vehicle is further proof that Hirsch are capable of presenting one heck of a great automobile.

I’d urge anyone who hasn’t done so to seek some seat time in a Hirsched Saab. It really is an experience to remember.

To those of you fortunate enough to have access to Hirsch products, I hope you avail yourselves of this opportunity. Some of the aftermarket products out there are pretty good, but I’m yet to drive another vehicle that was as complete a package as Jeff B’s Saab 9-5 Hirsch.

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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!

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Oh, MAMA!

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A little while ago, I wondered out loud about whether the US market was going to get a low-pressure turbo again – a 2.0t engine. This was due to the engine being mentioned in a press release for the 2009 Saab 9-3.

I’ve received confirmation from SaabUSA that the US market will not be getting this engine. It was just a typo and will be corrected.

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A guy on Autoblog this morning learned the value of 1) driving a car before he disses it, and 2) knowing when to shut your piehole.

Autoblog covered Forbes’ list of top 10 family cars. The Saab 9-3 SportCombi Aero V6 was on that list and our Autoblogger, Chris Tutor, wondered why it was there in place of the VW Jetta. He conceded the power advantage held by the Saab as well as the space advantage, but still wondered why it was there given that it had comparatively poor mileage.

Thankfully, there was a number of commenters at Autoblog who set him straight. The 2.0T still enjoys more power and space than the VW, which much better mileage than the Aero.

It was quite pleasing to read comments about Saab on Autoblog that weren’t snarky or derisive. (update: I first read through the comments some 10 hours ago. They’ve since delved into the usual depths that come with anonymity and a keyboard. It was nice while it lasted)

Thanks Loughlin!

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I know I’m not supposed to mention Alfas much here, but there was a record set recently, with 240 Alfas on a track a one time.

Now that would have been nice. Pictures here.

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Time for some Saab awesomeness from Flickr. Click through on the associated links for bigger versions and folders with more stuff:

From Santinet

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From T.Jashari

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From Mehugtree

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From CarMad Economist

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From Mad T

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A Saab quilt from JunieFlickr

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And finally….. Robin M is still doing his set of Saabs for 2008 – a different Saab each day for a whole year. This is #187.

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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

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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.

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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.

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