Saab - it lives!
Something stirs in Trollhatten - yes, that's the Saab production line starting up!
'New' 9-3s will be mostly headed for China
The company's owners, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (or NEVS) - a joint Swedish-Chinese concern - released a video earlier this year of the first pre-production 9-3 rolling off the production line. Today, even better news: the company has re-started the lines properly. Though before we get too excited, we should point out that this isn't exactly a full-blown explosion back into the upper echelons of mainstream series production. In fact, the company's only planning to put together 10 cars every week at first, and NEVS is cautiously managing expectations, with spokesman Mikael Ostlund describing its expectations to Automotive News Europe as "humble".
What's more, the only cars we'll get for the time being will be new examples of the old 9-3, a model which was already verging on the pensionable when Saab closed down two years ago. Nevertheless, at least it'll be fairly potent, with the 220hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that powered the old Aero model providing motive power. So we should see a 0-62mph time of below seven seconds, and a top speed of around 150mph. Prices should be pretty reasonable, too, starting at 279,000SEK for the manual version (around £26,000) - for comparison, the 184hp BMW 320i sells in Sweden for 303,000SEK, or just over £28,000.
Don't hold your breath for a return to the glory days
There's no talk yet of new models or exports to the rest of the world, or indeed, exactly what the 'Electric' part of Saab's parent company will mean for its future range. Mind you, that's probably a good thing. Either way, the road ahead for Saab does not look to be an easy one, especially with a range that's looking peakier than most. But you know what? We'd rather it was alive and kicking than consigned forever to the history books. Dare we hope that we might one day see some future Shed fodder in the shape of another big, fast, plush, and rapidly-depreciating estate? Or perhaps - cross your fingers properly, everyone - a true return to form by way of a modern successor to the classic 900 Turbo? Yeah, OK - we're probably getting a bit ahead of ourselves now. But the one inescapable fact is that Saab's back. And for car nuts at least, that fact alone makes the world a slightly better place.
[Sources: NEVS, Automotive News Europe]
Ive always had a hankering for a 99 Turbo, but the prices of those..well, lets say at the recent Classic Car Show at the NEC, a guy on the stand told me they fetch anywhere from £4k to £11k,
I would suggest it wont be long until people wake up to this great car and the prices go the way of Escort Mexicos etc, i.e out of my price range.
Apart from the fact that the notion of state intervention in private sector companies is thirty years out of date (thank God) it was a tough but sensible decision to finally pull the plug on the old dinosaur.
Anyone brave enough? Seems like a lot of metal for the money....
Some of the unique parts are allegedly hard to get hold of (windscreens for HUD cars for example), but this and a few comical un-fixed bugs in the SatNav system are the only real negatives.
It is a lightly tweaked Insignia underneath, so all the normal running parts are plain old GM and everything is bulletproof.
Martin.
Changed it for a 9-3 Aero. That was the worst car I have ever owned and severely disappointing. The build materials were awful - seemingly most of the interior being made from the same material as plastic egg boxes, and creaked even more. Most of the electronics would decide not to communicate with the rest of the car, leaving me without air con on one of the hottest days of a summer (actually for 3-4 days). Some pixels went on the sat nav screen. It was changed under warranty twice for new screens, both of which also had missing pixels, but at least the contrast on the screen worked. Utter shed.
Then put down deposit on a used 9-5 Aero estate with 10,000 miles on it, ex Saab UK owner. Unfortunately, their idea of 'maybe one or two stone chips' on the car was nearer to - 'the entire side of the car needs repainting due to the long deep scratches', so lost my deposit on it after refusing to buy.
Still love the 9-5 especially the estate. The last incarnation looked great. Unfortunately, I can only see this revival being shortlived even with the Chinese partnership. I wish them well though and hope I am wrong (so long as they don't work on Fridays, which was the day my 9-3 must have been built).
Apart from the fact that the notion of state intervention in private sector companies is thirty years out of date (thank God) it was a tough but sensible decision to finally pull the plug on the old dinosaur.
However 'good' state intervention can be beneficial. Without Rolls Royce (cars and engines) would not exist without the 1971 Labour government. Renault, VW, Porsche may not exist without regional or state intervention.
Personally I would like to see all the utilities back in state control, rather than this daft system of no real choice (just different call centres) etc.
) , love bmw cars hate drivers, same for AM, saab has been alsways very special, hope they will do again special/different/appealing cars, the only way to survive tmhoGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff