They'd probably do pretty well by simply making the 9-3 and 9-5 more competitive; they're both in potentially hugely profitable segments, and just need some polishing (and new engines, and AWD).

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And not cobble together Saabs from other companies. The Trailblazer is horrible looking. Nothing Swedish about it. Even though I love my 9-2X (it was SO cheap), it really isn't a Saab at all. I loved older Saabs were they were quirky, unique-looking and fun to drive... none of which really applies anymore to their core 9-3 or 9-5s.

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The history of dead and gone car makes is riddled with stories of plans to go upscale or downscale from the deceased make's traditional place in the market.
I think Saab is in danger of making themselves extinct.

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Right on Steve....quirky, unique looking and fun to drive. Even my old 9000 turbo fit that bill. Let's hope Mal Fuller isn't right about Saab, but that all depends on GM now.

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Gawd, I hope the SUV looks nothing like the Tribeca!!! I agree, better engines and more options on the drivetrain would help. Actually Saabs are still unique, I mean there's no mistaking the 9-3 Aero for any other car. And have you guys seen the SportCombi?? Maybe if GM narrows their focus like they did with Cadillac, they can really get Saab off the ground.

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7 passenger SUV. I didn't realize the market for school busses was this big. Seriously, are people having that many kids?? Or is it just a situation where the average kid is so fat now that they actually take up two spaces? Like with airline seats...

SAAB probably could increase its share if it actually advertised something besides the 9-3. And maybe make the 9-5 into something worth considering. I remember when the 9000 was a highly desirable car, competitive with BMW, Audi and the others.

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I've seen a couple 9-2X's lately, and despite their cobbled-together nature I actually like the way they look.

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There is one way to understand the SAAB situation and that is GM purchased SAAB to make money, but did little with the company to make their purpose for buying it a reality. Now, there is all this talk about SAAB has to be profitable or else. Also, GM will expand the SAAB line-up by adding Chevy's and other GM vehicles that look exactly like american GM cars, but have a SAAB grill and emblem. What other company does things like this? The problem is GM and not SAAB!

Lets see the following in all-SAAB and all-wheel drive:
1. Sonnett
2. Real 9-2 and not 9-2x
3. AWD 9-3 with better reliability and more hp
4. Real redsigned 9-5 with AWD, more HP, more reliability, and more luxurious
5. Real 9-7 and not 9-7x made from the 9-5 platform with AWD
6. Real 9-4 and not 9-4x made from the 9-3 platform with AWD
7. Real 9-9 and not 9-9x with AWD to compete against 7 Series and S Class
8. Copy BMW, Benz, Audi, Acura. Inifinity, and Lexus to start. The world's largest auto maker must learn from the smaller ones! Learn from Ford and Volvo!

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Matt, please take over Bob Lutz's job.
I dont mind the 9-2x, but the next car should look and feel more Sweedish if they still want to use Subaru as a partner.

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Ebm14, I think the 9-2x is a swell car, but its not a SAAB. SAAB will get more credibility and respect if it makes its own 9-2 without much influence from GM. Honestly, I think, if possible, SAAB should step up to the plate and make it the way it knows how to make it with or without GM and lets see what company out there that'll back'm. I bet then Renault will snatch SAAB so fast and they'll be another company that'll show GM how its done. We all have SAABs for a reason, but I don't know why GM has SAAB at all. Although, I think if Jay could do what he wants and he listens to us he can help make SAAB a champ again. What do you think?

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I'm going to agree with Mal and disagree with Matt. SAAB needs to NOT take on the established leaders in the segments presented if it wants to survive, nor should it jump on the AWD bandwagon. This will be a disaster. With so many chasing such an elusive target (the niche occupied by the 3-series), there will be no incentive to buy a SAAB over a Lexus, an Infiniti, an Audi, a Mercedes, a Volvo, a Jaguar... Saab's refusal to pigeon-hole itself into the established category will be the key to its salvation and rescue. No one will ever buy a SAAB because it's a better BMW. They'll buy it because it gives them something a BMW never can.
As for the AWD argument, AWD makes a lot of sense on its own, but it would be a huge mistake for SAAB to get overexcited about this fad and become obsessed with AWD, a huge departure from its heritage. If fwd is good enough for Swedes in winter, it's probably good enough for yuppie New Englanders.
The 9-3 is a great car right now, but SAAB should try to position it away from the 3-series.
The idea of a real, genuinely Saab 9-2 is a tantalizing one, especially because Saab could take on the A3 and 1-series on its own turf. (Cheap sporty European hatchbacks...are you thinking the old 900 turbo?)
The 9-5 is currently a good alternative to the 3-series and Co.; it's roomier and quirkier.
The 9-7X is offensive to everything SAAB stands for. I don't think I would be so angry over a crossover SUV, however. Especially a compact one. Right on with the school bus comment above; why are they all so damn big?
On a side note: I think GM has been doing a lot of this backwards. Ford uses Volvo's P2 platform (designed for the S80) to underpin its cars, thereby saving money and improving the quality of the Fords it builds on the platform. (Like the Five Hundred.) Why does GM insist on using its crappy Trailblazer platform to save money on the SAAB SUV, thereby degrading the quality of a premium European brand?

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whats with all the lines like :

"Real 9-_ not 9-_x"

then go and say all those should have AWD... so... wtf? you realize the "X" in Saabland means all four wheels are powered right?

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"If fwd is good enough for Swedes in winter, it's probably good enough for yuppie New Englanders."

yeah... like the Swedish people are government-mandated to ONLY purchase FWD Saabs. last time i checked Volvo made a ton of AWD cars... i suppose Sweden refuses to import or sell Audi or Subaru as well. rrrright. Saab doesn't have AWD not because they think it's a "fad" but because they were cheap and poor and on the brink of going out of business and simply didn't have the $ to bother making an AWD car. even under GM they don't have the resources to do it only because GM doesn't really care. the NG900/9-3 was running off an Opel Cavalier platform for how long again? the current 9-5 platform is how many years old?

the Viggen was a v v v v v good example of an decently good car ruined by an ancient chassis and putting too much power through not enough wheels (and/or the wrong wheels).

when the current 9-3 was released i thought it was gorgeous. and still do... but FWD only? give me a break. it's been how many years now...? and it's *still* not AWD! even the SportCombi isn't AWD. ridiculous. i could have swore Epsilon was supposedly able to be adapted for AWD use. but i guess not. (i think the Maxx / SS and BTS would be best served as AWD as well.) they would sell so many more cars going AWD only. "fad" or not.

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It makes good marketing sense for AWD. Why are more Volvos sold in Sweeden and elsewhere than SAABs? This is not about who is right or wrong, but rather what has been happening to SAAB. GM did not keep SAAB the same and grow the company market wise, broaden character and break new grounds, and they can actually go head to head against BMW and others. Here is a hint to GM, put the engine from the vette in the 9-3 and 9-5 with different turbo tweaks, share the big cad with SAAB and let SAAB make the 9-9 with turbo, and so on. Now, thats how GM should share and help SAAB, but GM for years and years shows that they are not smart enough.

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