This car caused plenty of conjecture when I showed it yesterday.
Fortunately the original photo was much larger than the one I posted, so I've been able to isolate a close-up of the car so you can see the details.
Here's a standard 9-3 rear section for comparison.....
And a close up of the rear wheels.
I don't know what's going on with it. Much bigger rear wheel arches by the look of things, though I'm not sure why.
It might be one of the tech guys having some fun for all we know, but it's good to get glimpse at these things.
LATEST NEWS ON SAAB SALE
http://www.e24.se/branscher/verkstadsindustri/artikel_1383473.e24
Jöran Hägglund Undersecretary of Commerce comments on the imminent SAAB sales. “Swedish National Debt Office” has been instructed to prepare Government loans for new investor. He stataes that negotiations between GM, SAAB and new owner are in its final phase.
It’s close now…
Any chance of doing a similar comparison of the front arch to std -08 and 08-?
Maybe an old XWD test mule?
-Rogan
If you were hacking an existing shell to fit a new floor, you'd move the rear more than the front - less "hard points" to have to accomodate.
Unless, of course, the architecture of the front was different, with the driveshafts being located differently relative to the bulk of the drivetrain. Not going to be a bit change, though, assuming it's staying with a relatively similar E-W engine & box, even with an AWD transfer box. Without seeing the front overhang, it's impossible to guess whether the wheel's moved back in the wing.
So what's the guess, hmm?
DeltaII?
Is it a battery/hybrid test car?
Thought my spam-blocker plugin blocked the first time.
Swedish television states that Koenigsegg together with some unnamed Norweigan investors is the buyer of SAAB!!!!
Swade; some inside information about that?
A quick google for news items isn't revealing anything, so it may just be guesswork?
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1591468/koenigsegg_koper_saab?lid=puff_1591422&lpos=rubrik
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1591468/koenigsegg_koper_saab
http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/koenigsegg-pekas-ut-som-ny-saabagare-1.889700
Looks like it's official, then.
Wonder if it'll go all Opel, though - BBC reports have been suggesting the German government are starting to edge Magna out in favour of BAIC today.
but that's a suspension test mule. the wheels are at the max size and lowest profile to stress test the suspension, while the expanded wheel arches are for access and observation.
SJ4
Looks like it is offical?!? Koenigsegg is the new owner...congrats to Christian, Bard and co.
I hope it is true, but by now I would rather have a confirmation from a second source.
But maybe is the weather, that makes me feel blue.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE55A3Z020090611
What is it Champagne or Pear Cider?
So happy if it's true!!!!!
can't wait to see that info becoming public!!!!!!!
Will there finally be an Aerosegg-X????????
W-A-K-E U-P S-W-A-D-E, we need some Djupe-Strupery NOW!!!! ;-)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601209&sid=aaMdJ34vikQg
The first article not refering to SVT. :)
http://ttela.se/ekonomi/saab/1.493579
Googletrans
She also states that negotiations are ongoing and intense, but that they are still talking to more than one. They have not yet reached one final candidate.
It's only a letter of intent, nobody has bought anything yet.
btw, do you know of any cars with similar drivetrain as the 9-3, large wheels and more ground clearance... ;)
Aftonbladet.se
Secondly, Koenigsegg backed by Norwegian investors. Sounds great! :D
About K-egg .. I hope there's some deep pockets behind 'em.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090611-711132.html
This flurry is good... very good. Even if its speculation, it always starts that way.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSSAT00632220090611
It just says that they have signed a letter of intent with GM. Haven't the final two/three all done this?
It's not signed, sealed and delivered, sure. Think of it as your offer on that house has just been accepted, now it's down to surveys, lawyers, mortgage etc.
RE: Koeingsegg...that would be great news but I am going to wait til Swade wakes up for something official!
Personally I am a bit worried if they will have sufficient funds (and patience...), but this is promising indeed.
The story will certainly be an interesting one for TV. I expect full coverage in Top Gear...
Happy, happy, joy, joy!
I'm already trying to come up with a Saab / Koenigsegg avatar and signature for all the car/Saab forums I visit.
http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/article3118138.ece
"Norwegians silent regarding Saab purchase"
"Nobody in the Koenigsegg organisation are willing to confirm the story about the company's purchase of Saab in cooperation with Norwegian investors"
The rest of the article can be summed up like this: "No comment. No comment."
The skies above are clear again
So lets sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again..."
I sure hope so.
http://ttela.se/ekonomi/saab/1.493579
ends lke this
So many of us will get no sleep this weekend :(
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLB79943720090611?virtualBrandChannel=10531&pageNumber=1
Ken is referring to the previous sale thread..
If I may speculate: I suspect that not only Saab and Koenigsegg will be brands of the Norwegian car grouping but also - Think!
Saab engineers may both manufacture and design the new Think (after City) and create a sibling; 9-1, fully elctrified, maybe by GM (Volt/Ampera).
On the Koenigsegg side the new electrically powered addition to their line-up may get a sibling; ElectroAeroX...
A very little known fact is that the best and safest viking vessels produced around 920-960 were constructed by a group of people calling themselves "Svenska Åror AB" (Swedish Oars). They were dissolved at one point, but I heard they later started making aeroplanes.
In fact, if you give me thirty minutes, I will see if I can dig out a wikipedia reference for you.
As for this altered 9-3 in the pics, its a 9-4x mule...
If a buyer has been picked and negotiations are in their final stage, these will be tense hours: finalising details on a deal can be quite difficult and stressful.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/11/breaking-swedish-tv-reports-koenigsegg-buying-saab/#comments
Wake Up! The biggest news event we have been talking about for the past few months has come and you are down under and out. Ha! I wish I lived somewhere there were beautiful beaches and mild climate. Keep up the great work on keeping us informed even though we understand you do have to get some sleep now and then. Of course, you could get a night shift job and be awake with the rest of us. Just a thought. And just kidding!
What's the betting line on the time of Swade's first post after he gets up? I predict 7:30.
But it will only be a matter of time before he wakes up and we can dig in.
I can almost hear us waking him up.
imagine.. one big desk...a little lamp..and a red telephone :)
Time to celebrate! Let Swade sleep, he'll have hands full when he roll out of his bed anyway ;/)
Cheers from a teardropping and condensating, norwegian Viking
-Olav-
Always on the longest way home when out there with my SAAB. Always! Now also with a bucketload of Cleenex......
Sounds so much better than "Saab Automobile AB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors"
I would guess that the car is used for testing different suspensions for the next generation 93.
I'm betting 7:42
Until then, it's a good reason to celebrate after all. We are very close to a solution after all, and man we have been waiting for this moment! ;/)
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest way home when out there with my SAAB. Always! Now also with a bucketload of Cleenex......
Låt mjöden flöda!!! (Eng: Let the beer flood!!!)
I would guess that the car is used for testing different suspensions for the next generation 93.
I'm betting 7:42
Well if its is true and everything suggests so, then a very exciting new chapter begins.
After all this time, a great result!
A big cheers to all Saab lovers everywhere! :))
"Nothing sucks liake an Electrolux"
I think it was back in the 60's.
(From Jesse's link)BTW, SAAB has stop making losses, at least reuters has stoped calling SAAB "GM's loss making unit"
I cannot believe this?! A dream come true? Impossible to say if this is really best solution for Saab, but it feels like it.
This is awesome. Truly awesome!!
GM --------> KOENIGGSEGG
Voi Perkele!!
Reports on Swedish television station SVT say: "The buyers have signed a letter of intent to buy Saab. Final negotiations about details on the deal will go on in the next months."
These reports have now been confirmed by Saab insiders to news agency Reuters.
See all the latest Saab reviews, news and video
Koenigsegg was set up in 1994 and produces just 20 of its supercars a year, selling them for around £1 million each.
Saab employs about 3400 people in Sweden. Including suppliers, 15,000 jobs in the country are believed to be at risk if the company were to close down.
Underpinning the sale reports, the Swedish government has also confirmed that it has authorised its debt office to begin talks with Saab regarding state loan guarantees for a potential new owner of the company.
"The decision means that the Debt Office can initiate negotiations with Saab, EIB and the coming owner, once one is revealed, about terms for state guarantees," a government statement said.
Less than an hour ago reports emerged suggesting Saab could be sold before the end of this week.
News agency Bloomberg is reported that negotiations were entering the final stages, and that the naming of a preferred bidder was imminent.
Saab has been operating under protection from creditors since February.
"The discussions are continuing, there is no official date that has to be reached, and this will have to take the time it takes," Saab spokesman Gunilla Gustavs told Bloomberg. "But an announcement could come as early as this week."
Reports suggest that, as part of any sale deal, current owner GM willl provide $500 million (£302 million) in assets and cash, plus production equipment for a new Saab model, as well as the $150 million (£90 million) of cash already in Saab's account.
However, the new owner would have to pay GM back if it succeeds in turning around Saab.
Your Say
"I am at the airport in Helsinki, and I hear that Koenigsegg is singled out as the one to save Saab. What a joke. I do not know if I should laugh or cry. But crying is closest to hand.
Koenigsegg in Ängelholm builds a handful of cars a year. But to build over 100,000 cars is quite another matter.
A long-term owner? Hardly. But a short-term with megalomania. Fiat had been good. But were not good enough. Magna had been as good. But were also not good enough.
Who controls this game? GM in Detroit? Saab management? In the latter case - what is the idea behind it all?
Now I got a plane to catch."
I want to jump for joy but I also want to hear Swade's take on it. Should I ring him?
We're going to get two kinds of car companies out of this crisis. Very large and small niche players.
We all know what happened to Saab in its current iteration as part of a very large company.
I haven't read all the the stuff from above so please excuse double or triple information. "Spiegel online" http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,630022,00.html says (referring to Reuters, TV-Station SVT and dpa) that K-egg have signed a "preliminary agreement for sale" (hope I translated that correct) with Saab. They are reporting of norwegian investors backing the whole thing and of public guarantees from Sweden IF the sale would happen.
JA JA JA!!!! (please let it happen)
http://www.saabsunited.com/2009/06/renco-vs-koenigsegg-vs-merbanco.html#comment-12151
It very looks like the true story.
Robin M > heh call him,tell him that SU is going crazy:)
The important thing is that not too much shareholders, if there are too much then it will be a mess, to follow one strategic direction.
The important, thing here for Saab is to manage the distribution and development synergies to be cost effective and efficiente, and going to the path of profitability.
One of the big advantages for Saab, is that is quite small to be managed easily and be quite flexible to move production, find new partners, resources and finance, and adapt itself to the enviromental situation.
regards
a. Losing battle, mate...
b. _Which_ previous sale thread?
More to the point, Bergstrom told me himself that Saab's version of Delta would have a multi-link rear axle, which (I guess) will almost certainly be carried over from the current 9-3.
Saab are also working on modifying the front end of the Delta so the front chassis legs are farther apart. I understood this was necessary so Saab could fit drivetrains other than those supplied by GM.