AMS chart Saab's possible future model timeline

By Swade on July 30, 2009 10:57 AM | 30 Comments

Auto Motor and Sport have a big feature on Saab in their current issue. As part of that feature, they've cobbled together a look at what Saab's future model timeline could look like.

AMS did spend some time in Trollhattan as part of the preparations for this big feature. How much this timeline is based on things they've heard there and how much is speculation on their part is unknown.

But the speculation sure is a lot of fun, nonetheless. It looks like I've got to save up for a new car in 2015!!

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Click to enlarge.

My basic Swedish and general knowledge lead me to believe this is as follows:

2010 - New Saab 9-5 as shown in Frankfurt. New Saab 9-4 small SUV available in September. Facelift for the Saab 9-3, which will focus on the interior as per the 9-5.
2011 - In January, the new 9-5 Sportcombi. Start/Stop technology added to the 9-5 range.
2012 - an all-new Saab 9-3 and possibly a Saab 9-1, developed in co-operation with BMW/Mini. Something there about a Sport hybrid.
2013 - Possibility of a crossover vehicle based on the 9-5 SportCombi. All new Saab 9-3 convertible, maybe featuring the new roof system a-la the Saab 9-X Air.

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I think this is where we're getting into purely speculative countryside, but still.....

2015 - Something at the top there that looks totally hot and custom built for ME!! And a new Sonett, which could be fun, too.
2017 - A third generation Saab 9-5.

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That's a nice timeline and I'm sure there will be plenty of other added features in that time to look forward to, as well.

Bring it on!

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My thanks to Dippen for the scans!

30 Comments

Karen | July 30, 2009 12:37 PM | Reply

sweet! Enthusiasm for product in any language.
That new 9-3 for 2012 kind of looks like a two-door hatch, fits my three year plan.

imagining how Bob "it's all about product" Lutz is reacting... :)

Gerrit | July 30, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply

No K-Aero-X?!

SaabKen | July 30, 2009 2:02 PM | Reply

Wow, "Start/Stopp" technology ...... so we won't have to leave our cars running all the time, then ? [wink]

Seriously ... what does that mean ?

I'm disappointed to see the next 9-5 (Mk.III) won't be by 2005. Isn't a 4 to 5-yr product cycle achievable (like most other automakers) ?

That "9-1" sketch was seen by the press about 1.5 yrs ago when supposedly a smaller, Delta II-based concept drawing was discovered by some journalists as they were touring Russelheim(?). The car was intended to be a new MINI competitor spawning the 9-1 and maybe a Saturn stablemate:

http://www.motorauthority.com/saab-9-1-minicar-to-spawn-saturn-variant.html

But later the 9-X (and 9-X Air) was revealed, maybe that was it after all.

IMHO the 9-1 should be called the Sonett, and maybe a new 9-2 Mk.I would serve as a latter-day C900 :-D

mo | July 30, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply

start/stop is where when the car is stopped it turns off the engine to conserve fuel, and when you accelerate, it seamlessly turns the engine on and you are on your way.

Aeropilot replied to comment from mo | July 30, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply

S/S is a terrible thing !
It works so unnatural, noisy and wierd, -very annoing.
I've tried it in VW cars, and I will NEVER let it happen in my car.
I'm not driving Aero's for saving fuel, but for joy.
Must be possible to override / disable.

Dippen | July 30, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply

cant wait for a 9-3 Delta 2 / 9-1 with 2.0T :)

TuuSaR | July 30, 2009 8:45 PM | Reply

S/S works best in a hybrid, maybe there will be a one then?

Eagle63 | July 30, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply

The start/stop system is something that is very annoying in a car. Also it can not be healthy for a turbocharged engine, which needs to be kept running at idle for a short time after an 'intensive' drive.
I would disable it right away, or otherwise simply not buy the vehicle.

tonyvee | July 30, 2009 10:23 PM | Reply

Hey the timelines great. But I do have a question thats sorta off topic. This may be because I live in the states I am not sure. Why are we seeing more info and questions about VW and Porusch merger and opel buyout then we are seeing on Saab. I mean VW is the same family, Opel well they have no idea and we are the closest thing to happening but we hear nothing but what companies are speculating will happen tp "the Saab" in the future. Maybe I am a selfish American, but and I hope I speak for most of us want to know whats going on.

gordon | July 30, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply

Have patience Tonyvee. GM still owns SAAB. First, the people at SAAB and Koenigsegg are smart not to say anything that would jeopardize their negotiating position. Second, GM can't say anthing because it is not their decision and thay have no idea what they are going to do with anything, even Cadillac. (Read the press and try to figure out whether there will be an Alpha platform or a new STS.)

In a few short days or weeks, there will be plenty to think about from official sources.

Karen | July 30, 2009 11:00 PM | Reply

@tonyvee: I think we shall hear about K-Saab before August 17. Roger Penske was interviewed yesterday and said the GM bankruptcy process put a hold on finalizing anything else for forty days.

gordon | July 30, 2009 11:05 PM | Reply

The fascinating thing about the MINI story is that SAAB might be looking outside GM for future developments. They get the brand new state of the art Delta II royalty free and it accommodates FWD, AWD, hybrid, electric and diesel. It can also be big enough for the 9-3, but small enough for the Astra hatch, if not smaller. Yet SAAB feels free enough to look at what MINI has as a possible alternative. This suggests that SAAB really means what they say about shopping all over the world for what they need, not just at GM.

tonyvee | July 30, 2009 11:12 PM | Reply

Karen, Gordon thank you. Its hard to sit here and see all this press elsewhere, I mean what do I care about the new 458 will I ever be able to afford one of them NO. But I will be able to afford the new Saab yes, as will most people (not all but most). Don't get me wrong I love looking a the "SUPERCARS". but also would enjoy seeing more about Saab getting out from under that damn "loss leader" title and show the rest of the world what we allready know. We do have a world class car even after they sucked the life from us. What will happen when we can turn around and rub their smug litle noses in it. We will hear how much they helped and made us a world leader. I hate spin. I am sorry for ranting (but it did feel good)

gunteman | July 31, 2009 12:38 AM | Reply

Start-stop in its current incarnations are not that great, but the concept is good and makes sense and I don't doubt that it can be executed a lot better.

Mike900 | July 31, 2009 12:49 AM | Reply

It all looks beautiful...... but 2012 is the winner folks.

Can't wait!

francis | July 31, 2009 2:25 AM | Reply

I really appreciate the optimism of all persons here, but what Saab needs now : money and that's all ! no money, no more Saab and no more new models !

SaabKen | July 31, 2009 3:35 AM | Reply

Is it me or was it quite ironic that not long after news broke this past Winter/Spring of GM heading into bankruptcy and the potential sale of SAAB, all of a sudden the 9-3X SportCombi was "released" ?

My hunch is SAAB has been working on A LOT of its own ideas, concepts and projects behind the scenes all along in the past 10 years or so. But for a myriad of reasons stemming from GM business decisions, those ideas were either curtailed, suppressed (or is that "oppressed" ?) or delayed.

Pedro | July 31, 2009 4:22 AM | Reply

That idea of a MINI-based SAAB 9-1 is just too 'yummy' to pass. forgive the childish comment, but......... Me want!!! :)

1985 Gripen | July 31, 2009 5:37 AM | Reply

Hey Saab, can we FINALLY get a webvid of the 9-X Air top rising and lowering? How long can it possibly take to get a patent taken out? You released this vehicle for last year's auto show circuit. Do you figure everyone's forgotten about it by now anyway?

It's sort of like the Saab 9-3 Convertible Hybrid and SVC/SCC. Show it and then stuff it into the archives?

Angel Dust | July 31, 2009 6:36 AM | Reply

Can antone scan the full AMS story? and preferably translate for us non-Swedes? 11 pages seem meaty and we've only got the scratches on the surface yet....

gunteman | July 31, 2009 6:51 AM | Reply

@Angel Dust: It's coming. AMS was kind enough to give me permission to translate it, but since the article is the main story in the issue, they don't want me to distribute it until they stop selling it. I'm going to honour that, and respect their "embargo"

Johan replied to comment from SaabKen | July 31, 2009 7:58 AM | Reply

6-7 years is a normal product lifetime for a car model. During that time you typically see some sort of facelift.

Start/stop systems uses a reinforced starter and a larger capacity battery to be able to shut off the engine to avoid idle.

Start/stop systems are preferbly combined with an electric coolant pump and the stronger the starter motor is, the better the performance of the system. Some engines also use belt driven starter/alternator for start/stop, such as the system developed by Valeo.

Andy Rupert | July 31, 2009 8:10 AM | Reply

I'm looking forward to the 9-1. I really like that picture.