Autoblog

Report: Next Saab 9-3 still based on GM's Epsilon I, plus more details on Victor Muller's Saab 9-2 sketch

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:58:00 EST

Saabs through history: 1949 Saab 92 - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are some Saab enthusiasts who feel very strongly that real Saabs have longitudinal engines mounted backwards with the clutch at the prow. Anything less, any power train layout where the crank is facing port or starboard and these people cry foul. We might even have one or two of these folks on staff here at Autoblog. One of whom might be in some sort of high-ranking editorial position. Another could even be typing the words you're reading right now. Point is, the argument can be made that Saab - the real Saab - died with the 900. Of course if you go down that road, even harder core Saabophiles will claim that the last pure Saab was the 99. Hence the problem with orthodoxy.

At any rate, as we've known, there's a new, post-GM Saab 9-3 in the works. We've long thought the new volume Saab would ride on some version of GM's Epsilon II platform, the same set of components that underpins the Buick Regal, LaCrosse and Saab's own 9-5. Instead, reports Motor Trend, the next 9-3 will be based on GM's older Epsilon I architecture that makes up the Chevy Malibu and the 9-3 from 2003. However, Saab boss Victor Muller assured MT that, "It's a heavily modified Epsilon I platform, but Saab now. So that's the basis for the new 9-3. So we have no further restraints. So we don't have to share it with anyone else. Which means we can knock ourselves out to make it the car we want it to be."

Does that mean the engine will be flipped around backwards, slanted and hooked to the transmission via a chain? Most certainly no, but we do like the part about Saab being free to be Saab. Speaking of being Saab, it looks like modern version of the classic Saab 92 might be in the works. Mr. Muller showed MT's Todd Lassa a rendering of the proposed 9-2 on the former's Blackberry. Lassa comments:

The car is stunning. It's retro-futurist, as J Mays would call it, an interpretation of early Saabs drawing obvious comparisons between Mays' Volkswagen New Beetle, the new Minis and Fiat 500. In the best tradition of Saab, it's a polarizing design - you will love it if you're a Saabanista. Or you will hate it. There will be no middle ground.

Actually, come to think of it, "no middle ground" would make for a good Saab mission statement. Especially if we can get 'em to put the parking brake back on the front wheels.

Gallery: Saab - A History in Pictures

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Next Saab 9-3 still based on GM's Epsilon I, plus more details on Victor Muller's Saab 9-2 sketch originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Buick Regal sneak peek shows face we already know

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Buick

Click above to watch the video after the jump

A couple of weeks back, General Motors officially announced that its next new Buick will carry a very familiar name: Regal. Two days later, the apparent U.S. spec Regal was added to Buick's Facebook page, revealing that the Regal sold here in the States will essentially be the same as the China spec Buick sedan, which is itself essentially a rebadged Opel Insignia. Got all that?

The only changes we noticed in the photo include a slightly larger and more rounded-off version of Buick's chrome waterfall grille and redesigned lower openings below the grille and headlamps along with the new squared-off fog lamps. After seeing a new "viral" video from Buick, we're more sure than ever that the FB Regal is the U.S. model.

Hit the jump to check out Buick's latest tease of the new Regal. The video was shot guerrilla hand-held style and it reveals nothing other than the front end of Buick's newest sedan. We do see, however, that the grille, badging and lower fascia shown in the video appear to be a match to the photo shown above. Judging by the uptick in Regal info emanating from the General, we're guessing the information floodgates will be opened up very soon.

Gallery: 2009 Chinese-spec Buick Regal

[Source: Buick via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Buick Regal sneak peek shows face we already know

VIDEO: Buick Regal sneak peek shows face we already know originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin

Chris Paukert — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Saab

2010 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

To be honest, there have been points at which it felt like this new Saab 9-5 would never see the light of day. To say that the outgoing model had grown long in the tooth would be a colossal understatement, and in the hyper-competitive market that is the globe's entry-level premium segment, the 9-5 had become something of a placeholder, playing second fiddle to the automaker's newer, more dynamic 9-3. So with its own cheaper sibling playing the role of upstager and parent General Motors in the throes of bankruptcy, we didn't exactly have faith that Saab would ever launch this new sedan. But after an arduous development process and a new owner in the form of supercar maker Koenigsegg, the future looks - if not bright - at least markedly less dim.

If we sound like we're damning the 2010 9-5 with faint praise, we're not - after sitting in the car today at the Frankfurt Motor Show and talking extensively with members of Saab's team, we're actually rather optimistic that the perennially underweight automaker may yet emerge from its funk and put some rouge back in the 'ol Griffin. But until we drive it, we're going to reserve judgment before we break out the akvavit and reindeer steaks - we've been here before.

One thing's for sure - this new, larger 9-5 looks incredibly crisp in the metal. With clean flanks, a distinctive, cantilevered roofline paired with wraparound-look glass and handsome head- and tail lamp detailing, this is an attractive, cohesive design sans adornment - no gaping ducts, fender vents, or protruding aero addenda are in evidence anywhere. Very much in the Scandinavian mold, the 9-5 pulls design elements from the showstopping Saab Aero-X concept coupe and puts them in a real-world package. Similarly, like Scandinavian furniture, the design won't be to everyone's tastes.

Inside, there's gobs more space than in the outgoing car both front and rear, and the design has been tastefully updated in a driver-centric way that honors the marque's quirkiness (Night Panel button, eggcrate grid air vents, etc.) without becoming a caricature of Saabs past. Reinforcing the aeronautically-minded "Born From Jets" theme that had become something of a punchline with distractions like the 9-7x SUV, Saab has adopted new features like an optional heads-up display and a novel altimeter-like digital speedometer readout in case you aren't interested making use of the clear analogue gauges.

Click on the jump for more impressions and the official press release.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5

Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Cadillac to base new sub-CTS on front-drive Epsilon II platform

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Cadillac

2008 Cadillac BLS Wagon - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Just a year ago, the future of Cadillac's line-up looked pretty bright. By 2010, the CTS would spawn coupe and wagon versions, the "super-Theta" platform SRX would replace its Sigma-based predecessor, the Escalade would get a Lambda-based replacement and the Converj would come to market. Cadillac was also tipped to launch a new small sedan to slot in below the CTS using the new rear-drive Alpha platform, plus a new larger sedan to replace the aging DTS and STS models. However while the CTS derivatives, the new SRX, Escalade and Converj are all still in the works, drastic cutbacks at GM have meant the Alpha and DTS/STS successor have been canned. In their place, the next-gen. CTS is expected to grow larger, while a new front/all-wheel-drive sports sedan is now tipped to enter into the mix.

In order to make the Alpha compact rear-drive platform feasible, GM would have needed to spread development costs across several of its divisions, but many of those brands - chiefly Pontiac and Saturn - are now facing the axe, while its European assets Saab and Opel are on their way out the door. So what is a downsized GM planning for Cadillac instead? Using the next-generation Epsilon II platform, the replacement for the European-market BLS is tipped to come home to roost, positioned between the new Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac CTS. With its advanced turbo-diesel programs also on hold, the General realizes it lacks the resources to produce a serious contender for the European market, so expect a decidedly more American approach when the new small Caddy hits the market late in 2011 as a 2012 model with a price tag of around $35,000.

[Source: Motor Trend]

REPORT: Cadillac to base new sub-CTS on front-drive Epsilon II platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where have we heard this before? Report says future Buicks to be based on Opels

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Buick, GM, Opel

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse

General Motors may be taking a page out of its own book as it reportedly plans to raid the Opel parts bin for future Buick models. The last time GM decided to import Opels to the United States, it did so with the Saturn brand, and we all know how well that exercise turned out.

Regardless of its past failures, it does make sense to design platforms that can be used in all of the global markets that GM has access to, and the upcoming 2010 Buick LaCrosse uses the same Epsilon II underpinnings as the latest Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. That car debuted to mostly rave reviews at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year and it proves that not all vehicles using the same platform need to be identical, as they were in large part between the Open and Saturn brands.

As noted U.S. philosopher George Santayana once famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Here's hoping that GM's been paying close attention these last few years.

Gallery: 2011 Buick LaCrosse

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Where have we heard this before? Report says future Buicks to be based on Opels originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: 2010 Buick LaCrosse breaks cover

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Buick

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse

If the car you see here looks somewhat familiar, it should. It appeared in concept form at last spring's Beijing Motor Show as the Buick Invicta concept. At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Invicta becomes the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Like many recent examples, the Invicta was a less a concept than a very mildly disguised version of the upcoming production car. Just before the Christmas break, General Motors gave the media a preview of the new production LaCrosse in the design dome at the company's tech center in Warren, MI.

GM North America VP for Buick-Pontiac-GMC Susan Docherty, global mid-size car vehicle line executive Jim Federico, and Buick brand character chief designer Dave Lyon provided a run-down for us on the new LaCrosse. The mid-size Buick is the first North American market application of the revised Epsilon II architecture that debuted last summer as the basis of the Euro-only Opel Insignia. Follow the jump and we'll tell you all about it.

Gallery: 2010 Buick LaCrosse - LIVE

Gallery: 2011 Buick LaCrosse

Continue reading Detroit Preview: 2010 Buick LaCrosse breaks cover

Detroit Preview: 2010 Buick LaCrosse breaks cover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next gen. Vauxhall Vectra to get AWD, twin-turbo V6

Dan Roth — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, GM, Saturn, Vauxhall

Here's what the Saturn Aura Red Line should be, courtesy of Vauxhall. The Vectra is being replaced by an Epsilon 2-based car called the Insignia. The Epsilon 2 will also serve as the basis for the second-generation Saturn Aura. That platform sharing will no doubt be good in workaday trim, but Vauxhall's turning up the wick for the Insignia VXR, and we're crossing our fingers that Saturn is hanging out in the gym with its cousin. The VXR will gain visual horsepower and there will be real output from the powertrain to back up the appearance. A twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 laying down 300 horsepower through the all wheel drive system that debuted with the GTC concept car in Geneva. The suspension will be able to cope with the power by using a revised version of the Vectra VXR's adaptive dampers, and the AWD system carries at least one limited slip differential. A 0-60 time in the mid 5-second range sure sounds good, as does the 165 mph top speed.

Just as exciting to us diesel-starved US consumers is the 2.9 liter V6 turbodiesel variant of the Insignia. The diesel packs a not-insignificant 247 horsepower, and both cars get a six-speed manual transmission standard. What will we do if both versions make it Stateside? We'd have a hard time choosing, but it would be amusing to see what Saturn calls the diesel. The Aura Grey Line? Brown Line? The Insignia VXR is about a year and a half away, with lesser models arriving sooner. Cost will be £25,000 -- which we hope doesn't translate into a $50,000 range-topper Epsilon 2.

[Source: Auto Express]

Next gen. Vauxhall Vectra to get AWD, twin-turbo V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Opel Vectra/2010 Saturn Aura

John Neff — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Saturn, Opel

click above image for more views of this Opel Vectra mule testing in the U.S.

Though they look similar, the current Saturn Aura and its European cousin, the Opel Vectra, do not share the exact same platform as many mistakenly believe. General Motors will correct this when the next-generation of each car arrives, and we've already seen a number of spy shots showing a new Opel Vectra being tested in disguise.

These spy shots we bring you today are no different, except instead of being taken in some far off land, they were taken in Death Valley, U.S.A. This is the first time we've seen the new Vectra being tested in the U.S., and for that matter, with so little covering. It's easy to see through the camo to the Vectra's new styling, which is heavily derivative of the Opel GTC Concept that debuted in Geneva last March. That's fine with us, as the GTC is a stunning coupe concept and adding two more doors has hardly lessened the design's appeal. We particularly like the swoop that starts where the A-pillar meets the base of the windshield and then carves a nice line into the front door. It reminds us of a similar swoop on the rear doors of the Toyota Camry, though with a more subtle and tasteful execution. The size of the front and rear overhand is a little alarming, as we think the design would be served better by pushing the wheels out to the corners, but overall the proportions are right on. The car looks neither heavy nor insubstantial, and it appears wider than the current models, as well.

The next-generation Opel Vectra will debut first, and then around 2010 we'll get our version in the form of a new Saturn Aura. It shouldn't be difficult at all to extrapolate what the next Aura will look like from these pics, as we expect a different grille to be the biggest difference.

[Photos: KGP Photography]

Gallery: Opel Vectra - spy shots

Spy Shots: Next-gen Opel Vectra/2010 Saturn Aura originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Opel Vectra

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Saturn

The next generation Opel Vectra has been captured in the wilds of northern Sweden where the reindeer outnumber the human inhabitants (at least the permanent ones, not the throngs of engineers who invade every winter) by at least an order of magnitude. Based on the slope of the back-light and the short rear deck, the model in the photos looks like it's probably the five-door hatchback model that's available in Europe.

The new Vectra is built on the Epsilon II platform and will be turning up in US showrooms in a couple years, probably with minimal changes other than the Saturn Aura badges, and additional variants will form the underpinnings of the next Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6. The Opel variant at least may get a smaller version of the new 2.9L turbo-diesel V-6 that debuted at Geneva this week, in addition to the four cylinder oil-burners that are already available. How's this for an idea: an all-wheel-drive Saturn Aura with the killer V-6 diesel? Four hundred plus lb-ft in a stylish mid-size sedan and great fuel economy to boot? Sign us up.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Opel Vectra originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The future of the Saab 9-5

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:47:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Saab

The Saab 9-5 is the automotive equivalent of an octogenarian. Most manufacturers debut a revised model every four years, sometimes three, sometimes five, but the 9-5 has been around for over eight years now and it shows.

The UK's Car magazine cobbled together what facts are already known and combined them with some insider knowledge to come up with a few renderings of the future of the 9-5. The article itself isn't just pure stylist speculation, but gives a rough idea of both the looks and underpinnings of Saab's new mid-size sedan.

The styling takes cues from the AeroX concept car from this year's Geneva show and is clearly trying to get some of that coupe-meets-sedan cred that Mercedes made so popular with the CLS. As for mechanicals, you can expect that the new 9-5 will be based off GM's Epsilon II platform that will underpin the Opel/Saturn side of things. The platform will likey undergo some serious revisions, namely to the suspension and steering components, before being employed into the new Saab.

Naturally, FWD will be the order of the day, but AWD will be an option, as will the choice of either a common rail diesel V6 or turbo'd V6 that is expected to put out over 350 HP.

[Source: Car]

The future of the Saab 9-5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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