Saab sponsors Reno air show
Nurturing (or exploiting) its aerospace roots, Saab is sponsoring the Reno National Championship Air Races currently underway in the Nevada desert as part of its "Born from Jets" marketing campaign.
The air show features the Thurderbirds (the US Air Force aerobatics squad) along with the Saab Performance Driving Team in from Sweden who will be demonstrating the 9-3 Aero V6 Turbo sport sedan on the runway during the show. Saab will also be on site with a unique trailer that sets up as an aircraft hangar-like exhibit featuring interactive displays of Saab's line-up.
Saab was founded in 1937 as Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company Limited) and branched into cars ten years later. Today the automotive division is owned by GM, while the aircraft company is owned separately. Fortunately you don't need a pilot's license to drive a Saab, or the local country club parking lot would look more like the set of Top Gun.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
.T 7:37PM (9/14/2006)
Where did they get the money to give away? They didnt make a profit to begin with.
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Keith 11:28PM (9/14/2006)
I live in Reno and I see more Exotics on the road than Saab's...or is this everywhere? Hmmmmmm...
Also, a lot of people who go to the Air Races like...airplanes, and usually know cars, and would most likely be offended that Saab was trying to tell them their GM sedans are somehow related to jets.
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Ford Mustang 11:38PM (9/14/2006)
This makes sense since Saab cars are born from jets...LOL
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Dana 12:18AM (9/15/2006)
Is anyone actually buying this "born from jets" crap?
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Ted 12:49AM (9/15/2006)
Yeah Dana, because it makes sense. It's not totally crap. The Night Panel feature in Saabs is an aircraft-inspired thing. While it's true that Saab cars aren't related to planes now, they were when they started out. Contrary to popular belief, GM hasn't taken every aspect out of Saab design.
Everyone who thinks it's bogus is either uninformed or ignorant.
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mark 1:41AM (9/15/2006)
I'm so sick and disgusted with this "born from jets" joke. GM rebadges a Subaru as a Saab, and it's 'born from jets?' Howabout rebadging a crappy GM SUV as a Saab - is that 'born from jets?'
So sad to see a unique brand die a slow and ugly death.
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BigRocket 9:35AM (9/15/2006)
#5: Yeah, Ted, and every VW on the road today is born from Adolf Hitler. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen
Welcome to the year 2006.
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Adam 1:43PM (9/15/2006)
"Saab: Born from Parts Bins"
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Oolon Coluphid 12:51PM (9/15/2006)
I hope Saab recovers. They make some damn fine looking cars.
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Libby 1:39PM (9/17/2006)
Sponsoring an air show will not sell a car that is strange, sometimes wierd, overpriced and of mediocre quality. GM would be well advised to sell it or shut it down.
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Trailer-Man 3:38PM (9/19/2006)
"Born from Jets", meh. Doesn't impress at all. BMW could say the same thing, but instead chooses to market their vehicles performance without hokey gimmicks. The BMW logo is supposed to represent a spinning propeller, but that is about as far as they go in promoting their heritage.
In today's auto marketplace, does anyone really care about a manufacturers' history if their spending less than 100k? I think not.
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John 9:38PM (11/23/2006)
I like the born from jets idea. For those complaining, have you ever owned a Saab? They are very aero designed. Two bolts instead of one, insane prices for parts, very expensive service. Yep, just like a plane. The fact is, they are a specialized car in a mass produced market. They aren't for everyone but they drive great, even the new ones after GM. We have had Saabs for almost 20 years and they are a fun car. Lighten up Francis.........
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