Autoblog

Saab fans save the last 9-3

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab

Congratulations are in order: Saabs United has raised enough money to buy the last Saab 9-3, what is likely to be the last Saab of any sort ever produced. The group will be installing the car in the Saab Cars Museum on a permanent loan, as well as donating the additional money it raised during its fund drive.

Forgive us for being just a bit cynical here, but it's really a shame this particular car is so mundane. It's a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin, a run-of-the-mill sedan that's a direct descendant of the 2003 model year 9-3. Based on the global General Motors Epsilon platform that also spawned the similarly extinct Pontiac G6, the 9-3 is arguably the car that killed Saab - or at least failed to save it - as GM was never able to sell enough of them or derive enough profit from the ones it managed to move in the U.S. to make a go of the brand.

We're sure all Saab enthusiasts agree that the marque certainly deserved better treatment than it got from Detroit, and when we look back in fond remembrance on Saab, there are any number of models that will come to mind before we think of the final 9-3. Most of them are included in our historical Saab gallery.

Saab fans save the last 9-3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab devotees rally to save last 9-3

Chris Paukert — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Etc., Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab, Earnings/Financials

The folks over at Saabs United have been a fixture on the Swedish automobile scene for some time now, cementing themselves as the hub for all manner of Saab news and gossip as the fight to keep the brand alive has ebbed and flowed over the past couple of years. So significant was SU's bond with the automaker that its principle, Steven Wade, had the ear of buyer Victor Muller throughout the General Motors extrication process, and eventually Wade went to work for Saab itself, leaving others to run the website.

With Saab having slipped into bankruptcy and the company's Trollhättan plant idled, Saabs United now finds itself at the center of a new fight - an effort to preserve the final 9-3 - possibly the final Saab ever. An Arctic White Griffin sedan, the 9-3 exists in a state of partial build but is scheduled for final assembly at the end of this month. The car is part of a special batch of about 50 partially finished cars and a cache of spares that Trollhättan dealership group ANA purchased from Saab's bankruptcy estate, and it will be for sale. Saabs United has taken it upon itself to rally the faithful in an attempt to purchase the car for donation to the Saab Cars Museum, which was itself only recently saved.

It seems only fitting that the 9-3 Griffin would join other final examples of various models in Saab's history at the Museum, but even then, the car's fate might not be entirely secure. According to SU, "A number of cars at the museum from the history of Saab that was written in the last two years are NOT secured. They are either borrowed to the museum or are still missing."

As of this writing, the funding effort is well on its way, with Saabs United faithful and various clubs and investors having raised over 15,000 Euros (around $19,750 USD), with a goal of 28,500 Euros ($37,500) within the next 18 days. If the total amount needed is not reached, fundraiser proceeds will still go to the Saab museum, and if extra money is raised, it'll be donated, too. If you're interested in learning more or making a donation, click here.

Saab devotees rally to save last 9-3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Saab Design Director greets the diehards, calls for "return to Saab's roots"

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Saab, Design/Style

Saabs United, the site that played such a noteworthy role in the General Motors-Saab-Spyker cage match earlier this year that Saab gave the site an award, is at it again. This time, Saabs United is voicing concern about Jason Castriota, who was recently named 's Saab's design director. Castriota took the position above longtime Saab designer Simon Padian, who penned the Aero X concept.

Saabs United is worried that Castriota, moving between Turin and New York with his design consultancy and more known for supercars than family sedans, won't get Saab design and might not understand what the next 9-3 should be. And if that car isn't right, then Saab has a lot of trouble on its hands. So Saabs United wrote Castriota a letter detailing its concerns. Castriota, much to his credit, answered with a 2,347-word response.

Castriota acknowledges that there is no way he can prove himself yet to Saab fans, since the first product we'll see from him is at least two years away. But after relating that his first car was a hand-me-down 900 three-door hatch, he does a good job of explaining how his supercar-designing experience isn't really any different than designing for Saab: if you want to make a worthy Ferrari or Maserati, you've got to understand what the brand means and how to move it forward. Only the year 2012 will reveal the truth of the statement, but for Saabphiles, it's an auspicious start.

[Source: Saabs United]

New Saab Design Director greets the diehards, calls for "return to Saab's roots" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enthusiast blog Saabs United inspires official automaker award

Zach Bowman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Saab

Throughout the turmoil of the on again, off again sale of Saab to Spyker, the site Saabs United did its part to rally supporters of the brand and keep the world up to date on what was happening at any particular moment. At one point during the brand's dark days, Saabs United founder Steven Wade presented company CEO Jan Åke Jonsson with a boomerang as a symbol of the head honcho's tenacity when it came to returning to the bargaining table. Now that Saab appears to be headed toward calmer waters, that boomerang has inspired Jonsson to create a Saabs United award.

The award features the very same boomerang along with a model of the Ursaab - the company's very first model - on a plinth. The strange looking award will be handed out annually, and Jonsson says the honor will be given each year to the individual who made the single greatest contribution to the company's success. Fittingly enough, this year the award went to Wade himself. Hop the jump for a look at the full press blast.

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Enthusiast blog Saabs United inspires official automaker award

Enthusiast blog Saabs United inspires official automaker award originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Despite selling off old bits to BAIC, Saab brand still in search of buyer

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: China, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Saab

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

Here's a little bit more on the salvation/debacle of Saab. First of all, it should be pointed out that after our last report about Holland's Spyker trying to buy Saab, the ~~freaks~~ lovely people over at Saabs United pointed out some ~~gaping holes in our reporting~~ an inconsistency or two with the Reuters/our version of the facts. As such, we've gone ahead and vetted the information we're using for this post with the brain trust over at Saabs United. Hey, they really like Saabs, what can we say? And now, on to the story.

Automotive News is reporting that China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC) has reached a deal with General Motors to acquire the tooling for both the Saab 9-3 and 9-5. Not so fast, says Saab's United! What they actually acquired is the tooling for the old 9-5, as well as the stuff for the pre-2006 9-3. Sort of a big difference, as obviously Saab's just getting geared up to roll out the all new 9-5 - and whomever winds up buying Saab will most likely want to offer both it and the existing 9-3 and its derivatives. Spyker's CEO Victor Muller confirms the BAIC deal is for "old equipment" and goes on to characterize the BAIC deal as, "Good news."

Then there's a bunch of no commenting. Obviously, General Motors has no comment on anything, though they do say that once a deal is reached they will say something. As far as we can tell, the pending Spyker deal is still a definite maybe. BAIC could not be reached to make a "no comment," and Saab's Eric Geer's stated, "We can't comment on anything about the sales process." Though our Saabs United source does provide us with a juicy tidbit, "[Geer's] wife is Saab's head legal counsel so he's like the canary in the coal mine. If he ever resigns suddenly..."

So there you have it - Saab's future is still totally up in the air. Though our source says that in addition to the 9-5 sedan, there's a 9-5 wagon (SportCombi) that's "pretty much ready to go" as well as the 9-4x which has, "been ready for about a year but Caddy had to get the SRX out first." Plus, a new 9-3 is being worked on. And one more thing - Saabs United is reporting that a Swedish group (not Renco) is also in talks with GM, in addition to the Spyker deal. We'll keep you posted.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5

[Source: Automotive News - subs req. | Saabs United]

REPORT: Despite selling off old bits to BAIC, Saab brand still in search of buyer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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