REPORT: Saab in "expansionist mood," plots own 9-3 replacement, new compact
Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
The talk has begun: last week the outlines of Koenigsegg's intent for Saab was publicized, now the sports car company is flapping their jibs to back it up. The 9-5 and 9-4X that GM developed will be arriving shortly, and behind those is the 9-5 SportCombi. The gem for Saab fans is the mention of a redesigned 9-3, and perhaps a 9-1 and 9-2.
That 9-3 might even make a return to the days of quirky, since it is "more unlikely than likely" that it will be built on a GM platform. In short, Koenigsegg wants to do a clean-sheet design, and that could mean restoring the aura of the Saab 900 to the brand's smallest car. That, a huge leap in feel and quality, and the ability to sustain a paucity of sales for a few years just might put a Swedish crown back on the old gal. However, we realize that is asking a lot...
But going beyond that, Koenigsegg's plan is that the 9-3 wouldn't remain the brand's smallest car for long. A 9-1 or 9-2 that takes inspiration from the 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept is being considered, which would finally give Saab an entrant in a segment where buyers have proved they are willing to pay a premium for well-done small cars. The test of Koenigsegg's ambition begins now.
Gallery: Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept
[Source: Motor Trend]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dasupersprint91 9:25AM (11/04/2009)
So they're planning to begin working on a new 9-3. That means they'll produce the current generation for another 4 or 5 years at least. I got a 2004 and it'll still be basically the same car in 2014!
I wish them good luck, though. I hope it will turn well
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AMcA 8:13PM (11/04/2009)
They're crazy. Little Saab cannot afford to develop a competitive small car platform. Not at the volumes they'll do. Not unless they adopt a radically different business model - and what that would look like, I have NO clue.
adam1drift 9:32AM (11/04/2009)
thats quirky for sure!
I'm still excited to see what they can do once they lose GM and come up with their own stuff!
Smaller cars = Good
better cars = better!
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JZeke 9:47AM (11/04/2009)
Wasn't the news last week about how Konigsegg wants to take the Saab avg price higher and reduce volumes? Wouldn't smaller Saabs mean a (slightly) lower price at least?
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Alex 9:47AM (11/04/2009)
I'm curious to see where the new 9-3 platform comes from. Will it be a custom in-house job or are they going to contract one from a company like Volovo (S40) or BMW (3 Series). An in-house platform would be ideal but that is an expensive undertaking for a car this is unlikely to sell the numbers that would be needed to recoup expenses. A contacted one would be cheaper but they need to get it from a company that builds well regarded platform.
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rebpup 9:49AM (11/04/2009)
Bring back the 9-3/900 hatchback.
This is the car I think of when I think of SAAB
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Bobs 6:32PM (11/04/2009)
tehehe I drive a '97 900 SE :D
tanooki2003 10:02AM (11/04/2009)
Once they completely ditch all of GM's parts and influence then SAAB can once again be restored and actually have more people interested in the brand. Quirky or not I think it will be a much better SAAB in the long run.
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Other Man 10:24AM (11/04/2009)
I would actually prefer the 9-3 remains a sedan/wagon with the 9-1/9-2 being an S40 sedan in size with a quirky hatch variant.
I STILL wanna know what happened to that supposed nearly 350 hp turbocharged V6.
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Rick 10:41AM (11/04/2009)
I can't stand that rood line.
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Rick 10:41AM (11/04/2009)
roof
Epsilon-Not 12:25PM (11/04/2009)
I'll be really impressed if they can pull it off- there's a lot of talk today that smaller manufacturers simply can't make the volumes necessary to develop new platforms and survive. If Saab can do it, that'd be great.
I have a lot of doubts, though... Best of luck, though, Saab is one of my favorite import brands and I'd hate to see them go.
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P.V. 5:55PM (11/04/2009)
Bring a new 9-3 HATCHBACK!
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Bill Clough 4:07PM (11/05/2009)
I don't want to be seen as a grammar (or metaphor) nazi, but a flapping jib is the sign of a boat without the sails trimmed to move ahead. As in sitting still, dead in the water. Not exactly the image you want to bring to mind if trying to give the idea of a company moving ahead with product plans.
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