Is GM's Henderson 'afraid' to let Saab go because the next 9-5 is so good?
According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Fritz Henderson, General Motors' recently appointed CEO, doesn't want to see Saab leave the American automaker's portfolio. Why? Apparently, because the upcoming Saab 9-5 sport sedan is just that good. The paper goes on to suggest that the new Saab 9-5 Aero was tested and compared against the Opel Insignia OPC, which shares a similar platform, with the Swedish automobile emerging as "a clear winner."
We really do hope the next-gen Saab 9-5 is a brilliant car. Still, we have a suspicious feeling that these reports are a bit embellished. All things considered, it's more likely that Henderson hopes the new 9-5 is good enough to help attract a reasonable offer from its new owner, be it Geely, Fiat or some other bidder, which may in fact turn out to be a better scenario for the Saab's future that staying under the GM umbrella.
[Source: Saabs United]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RG 9:10AM (5/13/2009)
I expect a Saab to beat an Opel.
How it does against an Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus or Infiniti is another story entirely.
Also, it makes poor business sense to hold onto a brand for what amounts to a 30-40k/yr vehicle.
Reply
dudleyville12345 9:55AM (5/13/2009)
How it does against an Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus or Infiniti is another story entirely.
How it does against a Volvo is another story entirely.*
Fixed. :)
Clay Garland 12:33PM (5/13/2009)
The only way I see to make the next 9-5 brilliant is to base it on the Zeta platform.
Yikes 9:12AM (5/13/2009)
Is this new 9-5 going to be as good as the "born from jets" Saab Trailblazer?
Reply
Jared 9:13AM (5/13/2009)
Wishful thinking from the Saab faithful.
Reply
mapoftazifosho 9:25AM (5/13/2009)
The Saab 9-3 is classed with the Lexus IS250, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class and BMW 3-series...and the only thing the Saab 9-3 matches those vehicles in, is price...
I was just cross shopping these vehicles...
Reply
sk 9:35AM (5/13/2009)
Yeas, if you compare retail prices. But at the moment you can get into a brand new SAAB 9-3 Aero for $24,399. That deal was advertised by my local SAAB dealer last week.
UH2L 1:13PM (5/13/2009)
Yes, in addition to being cheaper with real world prices, the Saab is lighter, has more standard equipment, is safer, and has turbo torque standard. Sure, the interior isn't as great as some of the competitors, but it's good enough and has a cleaner, less cluttered design. The REAXs rear steering suspension makes it handle very well too. If you want power, you get the Aero 2.8 L V6 turbo, if you want great fuel economy, get the 2.0 T. Drive one first and then discuss how competitive it is.
Steve Lopez 9:28AM (5/13/2009)
Does GM know what it's doing?
Keeping Saab, getting rid of Saab. Keeping Saab...
Get organized already.
Reply
twonius 9:30AM (5/13/2009)
So any other parts of GM Fiat is interested in?
Its beginning to look like they're just planning on taking all the european operations. I guess that would make sense though, with all the shared platforms.
Reply
sk 9:31AM (5/13/2009)
GM is more likely afraid of turning the new Epsilon II platform over to the competition. It seems to be one of best mid- and full size platform on the market today.
Reply
k.w.a 9:45AM (5/13/2009)
well they had like what, 12 years to work on it? yeah.. it better be good!
and they need to compare it with something in the class that the 9-5 is hoping to be in; i'd say the 2010 E-Class. Yes, that's a long shot, but if they aim to beat the best, then they'll probably end up being a competitive with the other second tier alternatives.For example, infiniti aimed to beat bmw and now they're strong players against second tiers like acura, jaguar, and even lexus in some ways. Same thing with hyundai with the genesis.
The problem with Saab (and Volvo up until now) is that they aim to be mediocre, and therefore end up getting placed below the second tiers, almost out of the luxury segment altogether. My advice for both is to aim high, really high, and if they end up being capable BMW/Mercedes alternatives then they'll probably be strong competitors for Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, and the rest.
Reply
Adam 9:53AM (5/13/2009)
A $40,000 luxury car beating a midsize Opel sedan? Gosh, I hope so. What a stupid bit of speculation on the part of Expressen. If they had said Fritz was worried the 9-5 was better than the CTS, that might have a little more validity.
Reply
ca6 10:41AM (5/13/2009)
The Insignia OPC is not just any Opel sedan. If the 9-5 can beat it's driving dynamics, Saab has something very good going :-)
Cmicasa the GREAT 10:40AM (5/13/2009)
It often amazes me the blatantly stupid and moronic comments made on this website by many of U GM haters.
The Epsilon platform has been licensed to Fiat for many yeas now. Fiat's Croma is sitting on the Ep1 platform in fact right now.
The current Insignia has been celebrated since it's debut.. and is stand tall against everything the other German makers have to throw at it. FWD or not.. it is competing with the A6, 5series, and Eclass. That being said.. the new Buick Lacrosse will be doing the same here in the States.. until many of your AUTOMATIC anti-domestic banter kicks in and ultimately dismiss the car because it continental origin
The 9-5 will be possibly better than the Lacrosse, at least in terms of performance due to Saabs general ideology. The advancement of the car, IMO, would serve to give a good demonstration of what an EP2 based Cadillac with XWD (only) would be in the Premium Luxo segment as a smaller alternate to the CTS here in the U.S. and at least for the next 4-5 years... a competitor, in Europe, to said 9-5 if it goes to another company
Reply
andy 10:40AM (5/13/2009)
I've seen the new 9-5, it's that good, it really is. One of the best interiors I've ever seen in a car, bar none.
Reply
brn 11:19AM (5/13/2009)
Every time I see "GM's Henderson", I read "Jim Henson".
Is that strange?
Reply
mikecanada 12:50PM (5/13/2009)
I'm not buying this story. He would ditch Saab for almost anything.
Reply
Other Man 4:38PM (5/13/2009)
I really don't get it. How can they NOT design an upper-class version of the Opel's platform to be better? Of coure it should be better, and in almost every way.
I also am confused as to GM's Euro strategy if they let go of GM Europe (Saab, Opel, Vauxhall). They're confident their Chevy brand can play there. They better, because the current lineup wouldn't put a dent in much of the competition. For their premium offerings, I recall reading on here not too long ago that they were planning on pulling Cadillac Europe from the menu, leaving Saab as their premium Euro brand. With Saab possibly leaving .. they wouldn't have anything there in the premium segment at all. And either way, they shouldn't be surprised by the Cadillac Europe's slumping sales; the Escalade and BLS should never have been brought there, and the SRX and STS lack the interiors to compete with competitors. The CTS 2008+ was doing reasonably well from what I heard. So give them the DTS we've all been waiting for, keep the CTS, give us the 3-Series-fighting BTS, and give them the new SRX. The next Escalade, if Lambda-based, could also work there potentially.
Reply
P.V. 5:28PM (5/13/2009)
Well, it had better be good, for God's sake. I think it will be, at any rate.
Reply