Charting out Saab's upcoming model lineup
by Jonathon Ramsey on Aug 1st 2009 at 9:07AM 
There are many folks who've wanted big things from Saab, including this blogger, but we never seemed to get them. The company sold 93,220 cars in 2008, a drop of more than 25% from the previous year, and getting sucked into this year's General Motors saga hasn't exactly helped to create any believers in Saab's return to form.
But the quirkier Swedish brand has been taken over by Koenigsegg, and the little company is said to have big plans for the bigger one. Saab's product lineup, as laid out by Swedish car mag Auto Motor & Sport, will have the expected new 9-5 and 9-4 CUV at Frankfurt this year. Next year comes the new 9-5 SportCombi with Start/Stop technology. The two following years will bring the new 9-3 coupe and convertible, a 9-5 crossover, and a little 9-1 -- rumored to be co-produced with the Mini, sccording to the Swedish buff mag. In 2012, the magazine also predicts a sport hybrid powerplant.
The predictions go all the way out to 2017, but it isn't clear how much is pure guesswork versus actual hints from Saab. The magazine, however, suggests there will be some sort of shortened, Aero X coupe-looking thing, a return of the Sonett as a TT-fighter, and the next new 9-5 in 2017.
At this point, no one knows what Saab is going to look like a year from now, much less eight. But if Koenigsegg can make it look anything like it does in the Auto Motor & Sport chart – and get the sales to back it up – a lot of people will be very happy about it.
[Source: Saabs United]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bung_goo 9:15AM (8/01/2009)
2012 9-3 looks a lot like the UK built Civic Si. 9-5 SportCombi looks great though!
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Motor_Yakuza 9:23AM (8/01/2009)
Umm, it looks sexier then the Civic, plus that the Civic will get a new gen by 2012.
sk 9:25AM (8/01/2009)
The 9-3 rendering looks really good. I hope Koenigsegg can pull it of and sell it at a competitive price and top quality.
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Rev 9:43AM (8/01/2009)
All I can see are bars of soap.
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Motor_Yakuza 9:47AM (8/01/2009)
Umm, maybe you got soap in your eyes..
Art 9:43AM (8/01/2009)
....yeah, I very much doubt we'll see half of those. The brand just doesn't have the momentum where its smart and profitable to roll out so many new models
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Avinash machado 10:17AM (8/01/2009)
Saab could actually do well as a small independent quirky brand.
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Olivier Parent 10:48AM (8/01/2009)
A 9-1 co-developed with BMW, a 9-3 coupe and a sonett. Sounds very interesing. Not sure about the cabrio look though.
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Russell 11:05AM (8/01/2009)
the 9-1 looks like it has potential... the next 9-3 looks so too
P.V. 11:10AM (8/01/2009)
The 9-3 hatchback looks like a better EDM Honda Civic hatchback. I really like it!
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Farmboy 11:15AM (8/01/2009)
That yellow 2012 9-3 reminds me of a Pontiac Sunfire. Hopefully these changes will help SAAB. Trust me, I'm no fan at all, but I hope the best for them and Volvo. They have such poor sales here in the States, and they have some of the best-equipped vehicles.
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Andre 11:18AM (8/01/2009)
I'm rooting for them to pull it off..Need someone to come in and break the mold of everyday generic in the automotive industry.. More Unique looks, Power and Excitement!
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Other Man 11:59AM (8/01/2009)
The thing is, Saab has pretty much nailed the dynamics of the XWD 9-3s. The 09 9-3 Aero (or 08 Turbo X) handle eye-wideningly well. They just need a competitive interior and some more power and technology for the asking price.
So it's not a difficult thing to do, and I know they can do it.
What ever happened to that supposedly twin-turbo V-6 producing the upwards of 350 horses? That thing was all over these car sites and abruptly ended a couple of months ago.
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Soccer Mom 1:09PM (8/01/2009)
I can plot the time line much further: 2022 - Minor headlight refresh
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pickles 1:12PM (8/01/2009)
That's the first image I've seen of the 9-5 wagon (sportcombi). It looks terrific. I like the 9-3 front- as a better version of what Nissan was trying to do with the new Murano (which is hideous) but must concur, it also looks Euro-Civic. Still, I so hope Saab catches a break with the new ownership. Fingers crossed, right foot hunting for a sweet, economical 4 cylinder turbo....
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BoxerFanatic 1:23PM (8/01/2009)
Not bad.
The cars actually look pretty good, which is saying a bit of something for Saab...
I wish Subaru would learn from Saab's new design direction. If boxer-powered AWD cars looked as good as those renderings... I would have a lot easier time being enthused about those new automobiles.
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joe 1:37PM (8/01/2009)
what's Saab???.........LOL............sorry, I have not seen a Saab or a Saab commercial for ages here in Los Angeles, I don't even know any Saab dealers within like 30 miles............are they still around?
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PC Talon 7:05PM (8/01/2009)
Certainly bring back the 2 door 9-3. Hell call it 900 for all I care. I still see more 2 door 900 models than 4 doors, not sure why they ever stopped!
9-5 Wagon, Sport Combi, Touring, doesn't matter, gimme the wagon.
Probably the most enjoyable car I was able to borrow from my parents growing up was my dad's 97 9000 Aero. Loved that thing and if I had a few more bucks when I finished school and his lease was up I would have bought that.
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Sue Esponte 12:00AM (8/03/2009)
I would love to put a new Sonett in my garage to sit along side my '73. :) Please, KoenigSAAB, make it happen!
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