Ignace, the guy who provided the “Saab Saved” image for the announcement of the sale of Saab, has forwarded a translation of a quick interview of Victor Muller by Autoweek.nl.
The big takeaway here is a firm commitment to deliver an all-new Saab 9-3 in 2012.
The link. The translation:
——
Masterpiece or just hot air?
AutoWeek spoke with Victor Muller this morning to speak with the person in the leading role of this (fairy)tale.
The take-over of Saab has risen many questions. Victor Muller will shed some light on the business-plan.
“In our plans for the upcoming years are three cars; – the 9-5, – the 9-4X and the 9-3. The 9-3 will be introduced in 2012 and it is a very important car to become profitable. Contrary to what analysts say, no extra funding is needed to make the 9-3 ready for production.”
In the TV-interview yesterday evening with Pauw & Witteman, Muller criticised the management by GM. By using Opel platforms, Saab models of the past years were a bit bland. The question arises: how should it be done instead?
“The next few years we will use GM-technology, and it still is too early to say what we will do after that. Maybe we will knock on the doors of other manufacturers, or maybe we will choose for GM. But it is also possible that we will develop a platform ourselves.”
Finally; what can we expect after the 9-3 ?
“I would love to see a small, waterdrop-shaped car being developed, the 9-1. But we would need extra investors for that. Saab used to be in the absolute frontline within GM when it comes to alternative technology, so you can expect that we will have a lot of news in the future when it comes to alternative technology.”
When we ask Muller about how he sees Saab in 10 years, he is very clear:
“Like a premium brand that has its own face that has earned its place between BMW and Audi.”
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The other interesting part of this is the goodbye given to the Saab 9-X Biohybrid concept car as a potential Saab 9-1. When it was first shown in Geneva in March 2008, the Saab 9-X Biohybrid was described by Bob Lutz as being a potential Saab 9-1, if Saab were ever going to produce it.
Muller has said here, and elsewhere, that he’s interested in a 9-1 that’s more inspired by some of Saab’s earlier models.
That does leave the Saab 9-X Air a little stranded, however. Where the hardtop version was warmly received, the chop-top version was an absolute killer. I can’t imagine they’d leave that by the roadside, however, and would expect the design theory behind the 9-X Air to be brought into play for the 2012 Saab 9-3.
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I hope to see the 9-4x production-model soon… Is there any further information of the 9-4x?
Latest news from Aftonbladet.se
Google translation of http://www.aftonbladet.se/bil/article6516478.ab
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It was the Swedish government to the Russian Antonov owner family was stopped from taking control of Saab Automobile by Spyker Cars, Dagens Industri.
A source close to the government stated that the Debt Office of the DI gave a private survey companies and SAPO in the hard task of reviewing the Russian interests, which resulted in a report submitted to the FBI. The report contained, among other things, strong linkages between Antonov Group, majority owner of Spyker Cars, and money laundering and organized crime.
Was ordered to stop the affair
This led to the General Motors board of directors received a direct order by the U.S. government to stop the deal, which also took place on 18 December.
The sequence is confirmed by Hans Lindblad, state secretary at the Treasury. He told the newspaper that the circumstances, it was Sweden who has developed information, facilitated the Government to argue that the bidders would receive a time extension. Lindblad says that there is no Russian ownership link anymore.
Does anyone know when the NG9-5 Estate will bee displayed and when it will be available to buy?
2012, huh? Wow! Interesting times we live in, interesting times…
~P
“”Waterdrop-shaped” car being developed, the 9-1″”
Wow. Well, this is waterdrop-shaped:
http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/AndyBlackmore/news/saab3.jpg
I’d be quite willing to bet that a lot of the “work” for the 2012 9-3 has already been completed. But now out of GM’s bean-counter death-grip I bet Saab is going to thoroughly revise it and weed out as much visible GM/Opel from the design. For example gauge cluster, radio/NAV/HVAC controls, steering wheel, seats, etc… and replace it all with innovative, functional, beautiful, Saabish stuff! I’m perfectly fine with GM parts under the skin. But when I buy a Saab I want all the stuff I touch and see to have nothing to do with GM. Although I shouldn’t talk because I haven’t sat in an NG9-5 yet and that’s all very heavily influenced by GM’s parts bin. Whatever, certainly exciting stuff coming up!
It would be nice to take one step back. “Waterdrop” was the SAAB96 too. Seem’s to be very interesting idea and I believe it should be nice car offered from Spykers.
I’m not very convinced that there will be an all new 2012 9-3.
Firstly, this is something relatively new. We never had a firm expectation as to when the new 9-3 would arrive, all we previously heard was “soon”. We’ve heard that before with the OG 9-5.
Secondly, we’ve seen rough sketches of the new 2011 9-5 for a couple years now, ever since 2008 if I’m not mistaken. It will be released as a 2011 vehicle, sometime in April. The new 9-3 would be a 2012, and guess what that would peg a release at around Oct of 2011. That’s 18 months away, and we’ve seen very little, if any, firm NNG 9-3 activity. How does Spyker intend on ramping up a new vehicle from scratch in such little time?
Thirdly, I think this would all be too much activity in too short a timeframe for our little love Saab. Perhaps I’m just thinking overly pessimistically as a result of nearly two decades of GM neglect. But imagine if the 9-3 indeed does come to fruition…
April 2010: New 9-5
Nov 2010: New 9-4X
September 2011: New 9-3
Am I missing something? Oh yeah, August 2011: AeroX!
What if the 9-x and the Air, actually influenced the coming 9-3??
For me the new 9-3 (or a 9-1) is everything.
I am glad that Saab has been saved…. but the whole point of survival, at least to me, is my desire for a replacement for the 9-3 hatch.
I love all the other models, love to look at them, talk about them etc…. but I don’t personally want a sexy spacious 4 door sedan like the new 9-5.
I want to OWN and DRIVE Saab’s next 9-3 hatchback design.
I hear you say “what about the Turbo-X, Mike?”
…. well, I’m still arguing with myself over that one
BBTH
I am really looking forward to the new 9-4x. Im planning to get one as soon as they’re available.
My only hope is that Spyker does not follow through with GMs plans to build it in Mexico. Id rather have it built just about anywhere but Mexico.
Given Saab’s history -the first car was a spare-time project by some aeroplane designers and engineers- I wouldn’t be surprised if a new 9-3 already has been designed as a parallel to or, better word, an alternative for the GM NG9-3. It may well live in the shape of a concept that was never made public.
Muller said last night on TV that the new MY2012 9-3 already existed as a clay model. Well, that model didn’t evolve since last Wednesday night but must have been worked on for a long time under GM reign, perhaps (disguised) as a design excercise. I seem to remember ‘Engineer’ -or maybe it was another Saab employee- posting here that the new owner may get quite a few pleasant surprises when hitherto closed doors open…
Ivo
Gomes. It is being built in Mexico and there is no way around that. Its done, the parts are there and its being built atm.
If you look at the 9-x air from the side it could easily be interpreted as a hatch back. Adding normal roof and rear hatch would turn it into a small 3 door saab with practicality. I would love to see that!
I like surprises
=)
The fact is… whatever the NG9-3 is, it’s so nice to see that SAAB could have a very serious and modern lineup in 2012 with 3 modern cars that could sell reasonably well.
Even if they sell 40 000 cars of each model(NG9-3, 9-4X, 9-5), they would be profitable(120 000 cars sold). But we know that 9-3 could easily sell in excess of 70-80 000 cars…
It states in the quote above the it will be introduced in 2012 not so much as a 2012 model. this means then it could be a MY2013 model introduced in october november 2012, so add another year onto the time frame. They should be already a fare way along the path of development, as it has been around a year since the 9-x air was released, which was basically a new 9-3 prototype. So that would be 3.5 years from prototype to sales, so it sounds about right.
I fully agree that a New 900 – or 93 hatch style – two door (not four) would please many SAAB Drivers.
I fully agree that a new 900 – or 93 hatch style – two door (not four) would please many SAAB Drivers.
I was reading your case study of marketing in Japan that you posted almost year ago, even in this economy,Japan should be still biggest market place in asia for the Saab. The ethanol-powered Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower, 9-X hybrid should be champion to push in Japanese market as they like fuel efficient cars and europen products are highly rated.
We used to hear of plans of a 9-3 refresh in 2011 and an all new one in 2013.
Does anyone know if VM means no refresh in 2011, but an all new 9-3 in 2012?
That would be sweet!
Please drop GM’s naming conventions and call this baby 900 (or perhaps even 99)!
2012 – 2008, 4 years! Good, that’s progress.
My suspicion too. The 9-X was related(?) to the supposed Delta-II platform underpinning the new Astra, which was rumored to be the basis for the 9-3 Mk.III.
I personally believe a lot of the past delays in launching new Saabs were more due to GM’s internal “political” and “marketing” battles between different divisions (ie: Saab vs. Opel, Cadillac, Saturn), even after the majority of each division’s technical work and testing of new cars have been completed.
Therefore I suspect much of the groundwork on the Mk.III 9-3 has already been done by Saab these past couple of years.
Like I suggested a couple of threads down: if you want to go more Saabish then rename the new 9-5 9001 or New 9000 (and bring a hatch version) since it is in a higher segment than the 9-5 anyway in terms of size, luxury and performance, the same segment actually the 9000 used to be in. And the 9-3 should become the 901 (if Porsche agrees…) or New 900.
Ivo
hatchback dont sell well in america… in canada maybe a bit more, but canada sales for saab aint too big im sure, not enough ppl. from what iv heard the hatch is consider cheaper than a sedan i dont know why but maybe for a entry model as a 9.1, a women s car like the volvo c30 a hot seller here.a 9.3 middle range decline in few trim level then the high end 9.5, in between a crossover 9.4 x.last but not least a supercar based on a spyker..2 seater coupe or convertible..maybe im dreaming…like an utopic world..but hey!!! everything start with a dream!!
So they need an extra investor for 9-1….
Maybe CJ could help out there…
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-saab-spyker-deal-explained/ i found this link interesting
This whole need for new “platforms” should be coming close to an end. When I look at 95s since ’98 and 93s since ’03, really very little has changed. Transmission, subframe, struts are quite similar. Any refresh will most likely only require a few tweaks here or there. Saab really has the transverse front-drive thing down. The only things I would add or change would be smaller displacement around 1.5L 5 cylinder petrol and diesels(the balance shafts and chains in 4cyls add weight and complication, 5cyls dont need em) which would add power/torque/mileage. Electric rear-drive would eliminate two power-wasting ring&pinions and the space taken by a long driveshaft down the center of the car. Go SaabSpyker!
The new 9-3 should come as a hatch, sedan, convertible, coupe and combi.
Don’t ever make the mistake to exclude the sedan customers – I, for one, I am not too fond of hatchbacks. Each new model should cater to as wide an audience as possible.
Oh, and don’t forget CJ’s idea: slap a nice twin turbo in there. Make the go-fast parts go really fast.
so the current 9-3 must soldier on for 24 months? i would make the hirsch interior upgrades standard as the current design and materials is no better than a hyundai. focus on vector, aero and x models only with a biopower option…. this needs to happen asap.
This car is really important to me as it will determine if my next car is a Saab. I’m moving over to a convertible and I’m hoping that the new 9-3 convertible is heavily influence by the Air concept with the trick top. Saw it at the Chicago auto show and even my die hard Audi friends were taking pictures of it. Overall the 9-3 needs to have a stand out design and needs to be fun to drive with a ecofriendly twist. I also think they’d be very smart to offer the 4 door with one of those trick hatch/trunk rear deck lids, it would offer saab versatility with the look that Americans want. I really hope this car doesn’t just play catch up like the current 9-3 but really takes the entire segment in a new direction.
A 9-1 in the teardrop form sounds like a great idea, Saab really needs to focus small and fight the mini cooper by creating an iconic small car. I hope they can get the funding to do it.
“After spring-like weather on Wednesday, Lubbock and the South Plains took a vicious winter punch Thursday, creating havoc with trees and the power lines and houses they fell on.”
Is it just me? Or, do all the other 9-3 owners notice all the BMWs spun out on the side of the road? I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to stop. I did notice momentarily some warning lights on my dash, but I’m not sure what they were because I was concentrating on driving and I couldn’t feel any changes in how the car was driving.
Anyway, being a Saab owner has it’s own rewards.
I would hope the NG9-3 is not based on the 9-X BH. I want a real hatchback, not a chopped of Golf style hatch. Let that kind of hatch be the province of the 9-1 when it arrives. That being said, certain design elements of the 9-X Air would be good for the NG9-3 convertible.
As to the 9-1 being a teardrop retro syle, I’m not convinced that is the way to go either. I think such styling might polarize buyers too much and marginalize the sales. In effect, it could end up being too ‘niche’.
The only retro styling I’d like to see, is a good dose of iconic 99/C900 in the NG9-3 (hopefully called 900?).
The 99/C900 styling became iconic for Saab in much the same way the 911 did for Porsche, but GM slowly walked away from that. Let a new 9-3 design be like a 99/C900 brought into the 21st century.
Not a retro car, but a tribute to those older cars and managing to do everything those cars did, with better space efficiency, lighter and stronger materials and better performance and economy.
Would you be happy with s Saab improved “twin door” model, that covers the 4 dr. sedan and 5 dr. hatch in one body style?
I think the Ng 9-3 could be ready by 2012. Saab may have continued to still develope this model as time went on. The new 9-3 is Saab’s bread and butter model so it would only make since that they made it a priority. I do remember koenigsegg saying they weren’t to crazy for the design that was developed under GM, so they started over from scratch. What was the codename they were calling it? Thorpe or something! If anyone remembers that article, please post a link. It was a interesting codename for a car was all that I remembered.
I reckon we wont see the new 9-3 for at least two years as a 2013 model released in mid-2012 and Id be willing to bet that it will be ‘twindoor’ hatch with sedan styling to kill two birds with one stone.
Just create the 9-1 from the platform and components of the new 9-3. Just like the BMW 1-series is basically the same car as the 3-series. It’s a no brainer.
I think the management and VM should clarify open points regarding product planning quite soon and give a realistic and reliable time plan, otherwise there will be confusion, disappointments and discredit among clients.
To have a brand new 9-3 in 2012 seems rather ambitious. In the car industry, things are not possible overnight. From past information I thought that originally the plan was to use GM’s delta II platform, but that Saab overhauled that decision and considers to develop an own platform. My modest knowledge of the car industry tells me that to develop an own platform is very expensive, needs a lot of resources and – time. Before chosing a platform, specification of what is needed (hatchback, no hatchback, all possibilities like hatchback, sedan, sc, cabrio, coup
Saab to position itself between Audi and BMW. Really? So should we see a $100K Saab in the not-so-distant future?
Because that’s the league that Germans are playing in – from $20K to $100K+ how is Saab supposed to keep up with Der Joneses?
This sounds like the same GM philosophy for Saab rehashed.
Put all our bets on a sedan and an SUV and forget that it’s hatches that every Saab nut is hot for.
Call it a 9-3 if you must, but Saab NEEDS, MUST HAVE, CANNOT CONTINUE SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT the 9-1.
Saab has probably done at least a year’s work on the NG9-3, so a two year lauch date is still feasible.
interior is way off the pace for the retail price,
the quality of the “leather’ is abysmal,
the griffin badge continues to fade and peel within 2 years.
However the 2.0 XWD has the ability to be the saving grace with the above changes [saab au: are you listening as i am waiting].
Retro seems to work though in the small car market. Just look at the sales of the Fiat 500 and the Mini.If it is a good looking retro ursaab I see it being very popular. Especially with suicide doors.
On a side note I’d love to see the return of SPG/Viggen models.
The Fiat 500 and especially the Mini are good examples of retro, but you also have bad examples like the VW beetle.
Personally I don’t think an UrSaab retro 9-1 would be all that practical. People keep saying that they’d like the Saab 9-1 to be a Mini basher, but it the 9-1 is to use the next gen Mini platform as it is often rumoured, it can’t encroach too much into Mini territory. It would have to appeal to a different kind of buyer.
I agree with you on the fact that the current 9-3 could survive for a few more years. If they refresh the interior, front face and rear end of the car as well though. I would like to see the current 9-3 get the Ng 9-5 interior and about the time a Ng 9-3 comes out with an all new interior styling. Would be about time to refresh the 9-5 once again, by utilizing the Ng 9-3′s interior styling.
I hope its not based on the mini. I think saab should aim for a practical city car with good fuel economy and very innovative safe and practical features with a nice interior. It should be fun to drive with a hint of sportiness but no pretentions of being a mini beater.
I think Saab should strive to be Saab and not The next BMW/MINI/AUDI/Mercedes.
Agreed. I want a thoroughly modern 9-3.
Good article in nytimes about Victor, says a lot we know already but has some customer anticdotes about Spykers that were insightful.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/automobiles/31SPYKER.html
Email it to every email address u know and it will end up on the top list of stories and help get the word out about Saab.
I want to see saab amp up the luxury end of their game too.
They do need to amp up their handling a bit too. Why can’t we have limited slip differentials as standard in every FWD SAAB model. This would be like the kind I have in my Focus RS. Traction is better, handling is amazing, the only downside is it is stiff in parking lot manuevers. I think the SAAB engineers are more clever then Ford and could figure this out. This would set SAAB apart from every single other FWD car manufacturer.
The aero models would be XWD ONLY!
I don’t care if the 9-X Air surfaces as a 9-1 or not. If they use the 9-X Air to redesign the 9-3 vert, fine by me. My problem is that my boss is in the market for a new car (since my current 9-3 is 5 years old), and I need to have a short list around summer. There’s no Saab on that short list yet, because the 9-3 basically hasn’t changed, and the 9-5 is too large for me. When I sit in the 9-3, I see the same stuff around me as 5 years ago. Except for the dash: that’s not as good looking as the button dash I currently have. So if there’s a chance that the 9-3 might take the 9-X Air as a design base, then please start leaking images before summer. Otherwise I will have to pick between Audi and BMW.
I talked to someone with connection to Saab. He said that the hatch for the new 9- 5 was a no go bcause gm wanted a sportscomi to add sales to the Opel station wagon base configuration.
I’m curious but also a bit worried about Victor Mullers remarks on ‘waterdrop shaped’ 9-1. As I’ve mentioned before in a different topic, I think it would be a huge mistake for Saab to make a retro model of the Ursaab.
Please don’t make the mistake to retry the past. Just use Saabs DNA to make modern, timeless, new cars. Try to make an icon, not remake it.
Besides that, a car on the mini platform will probably be too small. I believe it was Simon Padian who said that Saab will not make a car smaller than the VW Golf / Volvo C30 size. Because that would be incompatible with Saabs reputation on real life safety.
I think the concept car 9-1X is a good example of the right direction for a new smaller car.
It would be also very risky to change current 9-3 convertible concept.
Well, that was in GM times. Now we are back in Saab times and the market is turning towards premium-class hatches. BMW and Audi already have them, others will follow soon.
And consider this: the Netherlands is a good Saab marketplace. I had occasion to see the numbers of Saabs registered in the Netherlands in 2009 (or maybe it was 2008, cannot remember exactly). There were about 5.300 9-5′s of all models and model years registered here, all of them either sedans or station cars, sold between 1997 and 2010. But there are still some 3.500 9000′s registered as well. These premium hatchbacks were sold here between 1986 and 1998 (final MY was 1997), so the youngest 9000 is now 12 years old. Just think how many 9000 must have been sold here during their 11-year lifespan for so many to still survive. And also how good the 9000 must have been to have survived in such numbers. The 9000 hatchback-only army here still numbers about 2/3 of the 9-5 total while it has been out of production for 12 years and was sold during 11 years only while the 9-5 was sold for 13 years.
So, yes, I think there is a market for a premium hatchback version of the 9-5. And I also think that a 9-5 (I would prefer a 9001 personally…) can do very well indeed if its retail price would seriously undercut the BMW 5-series GT. And that shouldn’t be too much of a problem, now should it? Seeing as the 5 GT is in fact a 7-series and consequently ridiculously expensive to buy and own.
Resurrect the 9000 in the shape of a 9-5 hatchback and call it either 9001 or 9-5 9000! The 9000 was the best Saab ever in the past and the new 9-5 could and should be the best Saab for the near future.
Ivo
PS: Needless to say: I drive a 9000 2.3 FPT and will do so as long as I can. Best car I ever had and, believe me, I have had quite a few. Something like 46 over a period of 40 years, supercars included.
My word, if they get a 9-X Air inspired 9-3 hatch with xwd, i will buy it immediately!
That’d work.
November 2010 for the new 9-4X? That’s a long time to wait. Too long. I would think the 9-4X is pretty much ready for introduction to market right now. Saab Spyker Automobile need to introduce their new product as soon as possible… with a launch of the new 9-5 this April, followed closely by the 9-4X (I recommend no later than June 2010). Personally, I don’t want to wait 10 more months to obtain a 9-4X – I want to be driving a 9-4X this July!
I would also strongly encourage Saab Spyker to make available a diesel (TDI) engine in the 9-4X for the North American market. It would be a mistake to only offer the same two engines found in the Cadillac SRX (i.e. 3.0L DOHC V6 SIDI and 2.8L DOHC V6 SFI Turbo). The 3.0L engine is weak in the (too heavy) SRX and provides unimpressive fuel economy. The 2.8L Turbo engine is significantly stronger, however it demands premium-grade gasoline and provides even worse fuel economy than the 3.0L.
At this time no automotive manufacturer is offering a TDI engine in the compact/small luxury CUV segment in the North American market. Lots of folks want the utility of a ‘small’ CUV, however a good percentage of them still scoff at the lousy/ordinary fuel economy and disappointing performance (acceleration) numbers provided by most of the current crop of 6 cylinder gasoline engines available in CUV vehicles. With a very high-torque, extremely fuel-efficient TDI engine, buyers would ‘have their cake and eat it too’. I believe the current situation (lack of a TDI engine in this segment in North America) represents a marketing opportunity for Saab Spyker for the upcoming 9-4X.
As an aside.. it is my understanding that a diesel engine of some description (engine displacment & power is yet to be announced) will be offered in 9-4X vehicles for the European market.
Ready to help Saab-Spyker with a 9-4x purchase ASAP, as my wife really wants a classy-looking, fuel-efficient hauler for our frequent family trips and carrying of large items. Yet, call me blasphemous, but I am not really interested in a large estate car like the new 9-5. Love the new technology, and will happily take a friend’s 9-5 for a spin, however, I really have no use for a big sedan.
Instead, I am impatiently awaiting the NG 9-3 (or 9-1) for my personal use, racking up many business miles in a technologically advanced, understated
A lot of commenters seem to be worried about a retro 9-1 if its a tear drop form. I totally agree that it SHOULD NOT BE RETRO at all but I think there is a way for Saab to use the classic Saab form without being retro. Lets not forget how forward thinking that form was, cars around the world are now moving to the tear drop form because of wind tunnel testing and fuel economy. Saab could easily take that form and create something very modern and distinctive that hints to the roots of the brand without being obviously retro but rather much more functional and true to its roots. If its in the same shooting brake form as every other hatch its just going to get lost in a crowded market place, Saab needs to make some bold and well thought out moves to attract new and old customers back to the showrooms and if the 9-1 is built it needs to be a design stand out as well as fun to drive to be a success.
Also a lot of comments about not wanting a Mini fighter but if you build a small fun to drive, premium city car its going to be a Mini fighter no matter what because a large part of the customer base will be the same demographic. What I do completely agree with is that the car should not try to copy the Mini’s success by jumping on the retro bandwagon or playing catch up but rather be aimed in a totally new and unique direction by leaving all the retro nonsense and cartoonish design behind for something very modern and functional. No swedish flag on the roof or cheesie rally lights mounted to the bumper, it has to create its own definition of the segment. I think when people say they want it to be a mini fighter its probably more because Mini represents the king of the hill in small premium cars and the new 9-1 should be unique enough to steal away a lot of those customers and become a king of its own hill.
Don’t kill the 9-X Air!!
My word, if they’re going to build a 9X-Air inspired convertible, I will buy it a.s.a.p.
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