Saab to build 9-1?
The next Saab
model won't be a Sonnet redux as rumored. Instead, Inside Line reports, buyers should
expect a compact designed to compete among the growing class of small premium hatchbacks - BMW's 1-Series,
Audi's A3, the MINI Cooper and Volvo's coming S30.
The smallest of the Swedes will fill the gap created by the departure of the "Saabaru" 9-2x in 2007 (pictured), and will more than likely share its platform with the Opel Astra platform and the Saturn Ion. Look for hints of the Saab Aero-X in the Trollhattan-assembled design.
[Sources: Inside Line; Saab]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JH 1:49PM (4/28/2006)
The car I want:
-5 door hatch
-AWD
-Very fast (STI / Evo fast)
-$30k price tag
-Premium interior (VW/Audi level)
-Stylish exterior (Understated and modern)
I'll buy it from whichever manufacturer brings it here first. Subaru, you're close, but too ugly. Audi, you're close but too expensive. VW, maybe if you bring a new R32 over. Saab, you've got a good chance to capitalize here. So does Volvo.
Is it too much to ask? I've got my fingers crossed that someone is going to make this car.
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Gunnar Heinrich 2:27PM (4/28/2006)
Good riddens to the "Saabaru." Badge engineering at some of GM's worst. The absolute worst is the 9-7X.
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/04/bizarre-car-of-month-saab-9-7x.html
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Aero 2:28PM (4/28/2006)
How long has this rumor been around, two, three years? I am the biggest SAAB fan out there, but the company has been two slow to develop such a vehicle. Even if they were to begin development on this vehicle today it would not arrive until 2009 or 2010 at the earliest, unless they simply re-badge an Opel Astra. Knowing the decision making ability of management at GM this is probably the direction they will go (hence the 9-2x, 9-7x). They they will then scratch their heads and wonder why the product is not successful.
Luxury car buyers in general, but SAAB buyers specifically, are very sophisticated and they will not purchase as Astra with a SAAB griffin slapped on it. GM has already seen how badly the 9-2x experiment went, but obviously they did not learn from it (trailblazer/9-7x). Please GM stop killing a once proud and innovative brand.
P.S. And stop putting a stereo head unit from a Chevy HHR in my 9-5! We are not stupid!
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Jason Gill 2:39PM (4/28/2006)
Don't hate the Saabaru -- some of us actually own and enjoy them! http://saab92x.com
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Bill 2:47PM (4/28/2006)
I had my Saabaru for 8 months. I'm sure GM can come up with something better.
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MisterMister 5:29PM (4/28/2006)
I don't believe that Saab is headed in the right direction. Read the article and you'll find that the replacement will be built from GM's delta platform. Saab will be nothing more than Pontiac or Saturn, just another GM nameplate building similar cars from one of few platforms.
As for the Saaburu, IMO, I believe it was one of the most underrated cars on the road. After all of the rebates being offered last year, you could buy a rebadged WRX with classier styling for about the same price as the Subaru. The wagon styling would probably never appeal to the masses, but I believe it was a great car.
I don't know why GM needs Pontiac, Saab, Chev, Hummer, GMC, Buick and Cadillac to sell the same cars.
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Hugo 6:01PM (4/28/2006)
I HATE these little hatchbacks. They're ugly. Why are BMW and Saab aspiring to imitate the Hyundai Excel, Ford Fiesta, and Geo Metro? Where has the prestige gone?
Hugo
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iQuack 6:07PM (4/28/2006)
GM should put Saab out of its misery. Saab was a good car but is now no more than an Opel variant (or Subaru or Chevy SUV with a Saab snout on it). Saab offers nothing but a memory for loyal buyers.
It would cost money GM doesn't have to make Saab a profitable brand if that's even possible now. Better to concentrate on building brands with a wider following.
GM should kill Saab which is moribund anyway. There are enough brands in GM's car and truck lines to satisfy more market share than they can hope to reach.
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Ted 11:32PM (4/28/2006)
I'm gonna go against the grain here and say this is a great idea. GM already has all the parts to make this thing great lying around, now they just need to come up with a good looking interior and exterior. Put that on the Delta platform, pop the turbo 2.0 under the hood, and let the Saab boys tune the ride, and they'll have a great GTI/C30/BMW 1 Series fighter on their hands.
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Howard Kerr 5:38AM (4/29/2006)
Actually, I think this "rumor" has been floating around for more than 10 years. Part of the problem Saab has inside GM when it comes to new models is "can it be done at a reasonable price...given the possible market share?". That, and GM can't seem to make up it's mind where Saab is, market-wise, and where it's going. Is it a true luxury brand (several of it's models are powered by 4 cylinder engines) or is it a near-luxury brand?
Remember, it wasn't all that long ago that Volvo and Saab were independents. At the time both had only one or two models and one engine, with and without a turbo. Volvo has moved from building JUST 4 cylinder powered cars to 4, 5, 6 and 8 cylinder powered cars. Saab? 4 cylinder and V6 engines in two models.
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Mabrowne 6:44PM (4/29/2006)
Get rid of the top execs and see the car and the Aero X come and sooner.
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Andy Rupert 9:18AM (5/02/2006)
I've owned four pre-1994 Saabs so far and have enjoyed them all. The turbo charged ones have been the best. But since GM took over, things have changed quite a bit. Sharing platforms makes sense financially, but only if they make the rest of the car unique.
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