Koenigsegg: We'll give Saab back its "soul"
Koenigsegg is one of the most elite exotic car builders on earth. In a good year, the ultra high-end automaker produces a few dozen of its million dollar masterpieces. It's the limited nature of Koenigsegg that makes its purchase of the much larger Saab a real head-scratcher, but that isn't stopping the company's founder from aiming for the stars. Norwiegen designer and Koenigsegg controlling owner Baard Ecker tells Automotive News that he intends to revive the "soul and spirit" of Saab, while also sparking some creativity in the sagging auto industry. Tall order, that is.
Koenigsegg's offer for Saab includes the financial backing of the Swedish government, along with investors in the U.S. and Norway. Ecker also wants to improve Saab's quality and incorporate a regard for the environment in future product planning. As for his role once Saab is acquired, Ecker maintains that it's not his intention to micro-manage the brand, which already has a management team in place. From the sound of things, Saab appears to have a much brighter future than many fans of the Swedish brand could have hoped for just a few weeks ago.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Lucas 4:43PM (6/18/2009)
I'll take my new 9-3 with TWO superchargers. Thanks.
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TyWright 6:15PM (6/18/2009)
This is going to be awesome - best car news of the day.
Mehdi Cheddadi 4:46PM (6/18/2009)
pfff, quad turbo, 10 intercooled w16 engine please. and vertical roofdoors please
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Andrew 4:47PM (6/18/2009)
It should read Norwegian not "Norwiegen".
And the shareholder is Bård Eker, not Baard Ecker.
http://www.saabhistory.com/2009/06/13/koenigsegg-owner-bard-eker-of-norway-officially-confirms-saab-automobile-ab-interest/
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Peter 7:37PM (6/18/2009)
I thought "aa" and "å" were basically the same. Most of us don't use Scandinavian keyboards anyway.
Wait, why is this even relevant? As for the article, I think it's awesome that Saab is finally going to get the attention it rightly deserves. It's as if GM realized that Saab was a niche brand and did anything it could to keep it that way. Making mediocre cars is certainly a way to attract only a small niche of the market.
John P. 4:52PM (6/18/2009)
Between this and the Penske/Saturn deal, the car industry just got a lot more interesting. SAAB's "brand" just went up a few notches in my book.
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MaX PL 5:41PM (6/18/2009)
i was thinking the exact same thing myself.
it seems GM selling off some of its brands will do more positive than just the survival of GM.
adam1drift 4:54PM (6/18/2009)
so I'm pretty excited to see what they come up with out of this...
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derrrr 8:15AM (6/19/2009)
it would be awesome if saab could return to its glory years
inline6 4:55PM (6/18/2009)
With the new 9-5 and 9-4x coming online soon, and the 9-1 and next 9-3 in development, I'm glad to hear that Saab has found a suitor. The opportunities are too good to pass up.
If the new 9-5 is half as good as the hype says it is, Koenigsegg will have quite a jewel on its hands!
What a relief! I just hope the new company will have enough investor interest to keep its products well-funded and well-supported.
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mole 12:17PM (6/19/2009)
it will definitely be if the interior gets better treatment! current Saabs have horrible interior because GM uses inferior parts for its interior... breathe some life into Saab please!
jaartsgroup 4:58PM (6/18/2009)
My Saab 9000 Aero just got really excited. Oop! It boost spiked in its pants!
This is the best news Saab has has since turbocharging. I cant wait to see if Koenegsegg (sp?) can make it into a boutique brand again...and redevelop the torque-laden character of the marque that has been lost in the recent GM years. let alone the functional design of the 5 and 3-door configuration.
Godspeed...
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Nixapatfan 4:59PM (6/18/2009)
So how does he plan to bring it's soul back? Will he dump all the future product that GM already started(9-4x, 9-5, 9-3 and maybe 9-1) but ran out of cash to finish? From what GM showed of SAAB the last few years it was going to get it's mojo back as long as there was money to fund the products.
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Beastage 5:37PM (6/18/2009)
Aye, if GM had a few more years (maybe 2) Saab would bounce back.
I hope Koenigsegg wont do anything to revolutionary.
redcars 10:56PM (6/18/2009)
Stale product lines was only one of their problems. GM's rebadging of Trailblazers and Subarus as Saabs really turned off the faithful.
skablaw 5:06PM (6/18/2009)
I have been seriously considering dumping my now very aged 1999 9-5 SE to get into a sporty coupe of some kind. Now that Saab is getting some TLC, I just might have to hold out and see what the replacement has to offer. If it debuts at Frankfurt this September, what's the line on a sale date?
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Alex Hobbs 10:55AM (6/19/2009)
Supposedly the new 9-5 will be on sale shortly after there debut in Frankfurt at the end of the summer as a 2010 model. The 9-4x will be released shortly after as a 2010 model as well.
James 5:07PM (6/18/2009)
Hopefully, this means SAABs will at least have more interesting driving dynamics. Swedish style + good driving dynamics would be absolutely fantastic.
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rygar 5:29PM (6/18/2009)
A modern Sonett, perhaps?
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UtahAlumnus 5:40PM (6/18/2009)
Would be nice to see Saab really compete with Mercedes and BMW.
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