'Yump' For Joy As Spyker Saves Saab
Gallery: A Saab pic-fest to remind us what we're celebrating!
Saab didn't deserve to die as a result of the tyrannical General's misrule, and fans of the brand the world over will be celebrating the news that Spyker has agreed takeover terms.
Did we expect Spyker to pull off its brazen rescue bid? Probably not, but that's not going to stop us joining the party, and wishing the best of luck to one of motoring's most individual brands.
With an illustrious heritage behind the company, we look forward to seeing what the Swedes (and the Dutch) can do with Saab in future. So 'Lycka till', as we think the saying goes!
(If you want the full text of Spyker's announcement click this link. It's a bit dry...)
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SAAB used to make some really interesting cars. Since GM took over they've got progressively duller (unsurprisingly).
Hopefully under Spyker ownership, they can get back to making characterful cars which are that little bit different from the norm. And most importantly, be successful too.
I think Spyker know this, which is why, as a small company that makes supercars, as opposed to some vast sprawling multinational, they'll do it justice.
I'd like to see:
-4WD platforms all round (RWD isn't really in Saab's ethos, FWD smacks too much of platform-sharing, 4WD would allow them to compete with the best that Audi and Alfa can throw at them). Perhaps the Subaru link will help with this.
-A new 'Sonnett' sports car, based on the Aero X, with an affordable price tag in the Brera/Scirocco/C30 bracket. To make it distinctive, give it a bonkers set of Lamborghini-style doors. It's been a long time since we had a feature like this on an affordable car - the Bond Bug was the last time IIRC. There's a practical point as well - if your doors open upwards you don't run the risk of walloping other peoples' cars in car parks.
-Put the 9-3 successor in the IRC.
I only hope that when Spyker bought it (£47m I think) that they haven't been saddled with so much debt that it takes them under.
GM still have a 1% interest and some way of ensuring that Spyker don't sell off GM's technology - I thought that was ironic since the first thing everyone thinks of is to ditch the GM platform & tech.
Good luck - I feel they may need it.
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