Everything was bad, bad, bad, dead, dead, dead. It must have really killed these people when the transaction with Spyker actually went through.

Today they've managed to make right Clarksonian cocks of themselves (pardon my Francais) with an article on their site that plain-and-simple infers that the Saab 9-5 costs too much because the top-line model is more expensive than a similar Volvo S80 or 'equivalent' Audi (and what's even more annoying is that they've referenced SU in their article).

They ask "Are customers willing to pay 55,900 kronor for the Saab 9-5 than for equivalent Volvo?" (Googletrans) and then point out a 42,800 SEK difference between the same 9-5 and an Audi (presumably an A6).

Of course, they don't mention that the 9-5 is a brand new car, with brand new technology and handling. They don't mention that the Volvo they're comparing it to is several years old now. And the Audi options list - want wheels to go with your car, sir? - no mention of that, either.

Thankfully, a large number of Swedes have chimed in and given them a good serve in comments to their article. Over 200 of them as I write this.

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So who's going to buy one of these new Saab 9-5's?

Well, this 24-year Mercedes veteran has just gone and bought two of them!!!

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr Daaaaagens Industri.

......Even though Thomas Karlström is used to correct expensive cars, it became love at first sight when he got to see and test drive the new Saab 9-5.

- Sure, I have always known that Saab could build cars. But this was something completely different. Saab has not built anything like this before. The feeling is fantastic - at least in the same class of car with a Mercedes Star in front, "says Thomas Karlström.

He did not confine themselves to a car - he ordered two pieces of the family business.

- I was away and test drove both the BMW and Mercedes new top models. But even though they are very expensive, they can not quite match the 9-5: an. It is simply a fantastic car, "says Thomas Karlström.

One might suggest that DI.se should just stop crapping on and casting aspersions at Saab and simply wait until they can drive the car for themselves and see how good it is. I know that doesn't sell papers, but it might stop them looking like a packet of noodles and give one of their nation's good companies a fighting chance.

Yes, some people will have issues with 9-5 pricing. Somewhere in the world there's someone who has issues with Hyundai pricing, with Dacia pricing. Right now, there's probably someone who can't quite put together enough rupees for a Tata Nano.

There are always people on the fringe of being able to buy and they'll always have issues.

The real question here is whether or not Saab will sell enough of them. I bet they will. Di.se doesn't need to cast aspersions or make poor comparisons in order to ask the same question. They just need to ask it and then ask if the car's impressive enough for people to pay.

Still, I thought it was worth a mention here after I stumbled upon it again last night.

Saab Belgium, as part of their "I Love Saab" campaign, hosted a paper cutout design for a classic Saab 900. To make the model, you simply print the design, cut, fold and paste.

Click here to go to the download page. I'm sure the kiddies (even the grown up ones) will love it!

I featured a screenshot of the palette being offered (in Sweden, at least) based upon some literature I had sent to me yesterday. That palette is as follows:

It does lack a little variety, but bear in mind a few things.

• It's my understanding that the color palette that GM intended to offer was larger when the car was to be built in Russelsheim. The move to Trollhattan changed that.
• These decisions are based on what customers order as well as perceived trends in the future (see below)
• The literature I received indicated three more colors (Solid Black, Laser Red and Java) for 2011.

So more color will come, but these should do just fin for the rest of this model year.

I thought I'd reproduce a press release from PPG, one of the world's biggest automotive paint companies. It's from late 2009, so is still quite current.

From this release, you'll hopefully get a better understanding of the trends, the timing of decisions, and the complexity of modern paint and by extension, the methods needed to apply it. Like everything else in automotive manufacturing, changing it is not a finger-snap decision.

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Silver still entrenched as world's favorite vehicle color, according to PPG data
Company introduces 70 new shades at annual Automotive Color Trend Show

TROY, Mich., Oct. 1, 2009 - For the ninth consecutive year, the silver category, which includes charcoal and gray shades, has ranked as the most popular vehicle color in the world according to data from PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG), the world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings.

In North America, silver and charcoal saw a strong increase in popularity from 20 percent in 2008 to 25 percent this year. White was second (18 percent), black was third (16 percent) and red was fourth (12 percent). These four color categories comprise well over two-thirds of all vehicles sold in North America. Just 15 years ago, the most popular color on vehicles in North America was green with 21 percent, while silver had only 8 percent in 1994.

"What helps drive silver's popularity are all of the innovative effects that really make silver shine ... much more than just a simple gray," said Jane E. Harrington, PPG manager, color styling, automotive coatings. "Silver tones work well with today's tinted metallic textural looks. The diversity of silver, from subtle hue shifts to dimensional metallic flake appearances, works with a variety of vehicle styles."

In the Asia/Pacific region, silver and charcoal (34 percent) were followed by black (21 percent), white (17 percent), blue (9 percent), red (7 percent), naturals (6 percent), other/niche colors (4 percent) and green (2 percent).

"Clearly, the automotive industry is moving toward more color choices," Harrington said. "Palettes are broadening as the number of models decreases and the industry consolidates. Going forward, automotive manufacturers are going to be relying on color more and more to distinguish their brands."

At this year's annual Automotive Color Trend Show held at PPG's offices here, the coatings company presented its ideas for future vehicle colors. Titled "3D Color" - representing "Design," "Dimension" and "Differentiator" - the show included a collection of interior and exterior colors developed globally and inspired by fashion, interior design, industrial design, culture, commercial construction and nature. PPG presented automotive designers with 60 new exterior shades and 10 new interior shades for consideration in their designs of the 2012-2013 model years. The new shades were grouped in four themes based on vehicle type: "Dimension" for compact vehicles; "Perspective" for mid-size vehicles; "Surface" for hybrid vehicles; and "Depth" for luxury automobiles.

PPG introduced automotive manufacturers to new colors such as Champagne Silver, a tinted silver with a slight warm copper beige cast; Outer Space Blue, a deep, dark blue with a slight sparkle effect; Haute Couture, a black base coat with a high sparkle blue mid-coat that gives it an appearance inspired by a black designer evening gown with blue sequins; Quantum Rose, an interior color close to a neon red; and Hulk, a color developed in Australia that is bright green, just like its namesake.

In addition to the new exterior and interior colors, PPG added a computer-generated imaging demonstration to the show. This provides automotive designers with the ability to see some of the new colors as they might appear on new model vehicles.

In addition to color trend forecasting, PPG is continuing to develop new paint technologies that offer automotive design options to enhance appearance and help manufacturers differentiate their brands.

One of the paint systems that PPG previewed at the show is a next generation of glass flake coatings. These are paints that include very smooth glass flakes coated with various metal-oxide layers. "Because of the coating's narrow particle distribution and very smooth surface, this product shows extreme sparkle and brightness," said Jerry R. Koenigsmark, PPG manager of color design, North America automotive coatings. Koenigsmark said that the company hopes to make these coatings available commercially in the next two to three years.

PPG also highlighted its Chaos Sky White mica coatings. These are new shades of white based on synthetic micas coated with titanium dioxide (white pigment).

Additionally, PPG spotlighted its new inorganic infrared-reflective pigments. These coatings have a very high solar reflectivity that helps to keep the vehicle cooler, reduce air conditioning use, and reduce fuel consumption.

On the forefront of innovation in decorative and protective coatings and environmental application concerns since 1924, PPG helps automakers advance coatings technologies and application processes.

Some of you may not know that the Saab Cars page on Facebook wasn't actually started by Saab. It was actually set up by one of our regulars here at SU. A Turbo-X owning guy in Canada that we all know as Kroum.

Kroum works on the web for a living, so when this new Facebook fanpage thingy came out a few years ago, he did as instinct told him and started a Saab Cars page. The page grew over time and Kroum updated it with the occasional bit of Saab news. Eventually, the page grew to have over 12,000 fans, at which time Kroum figured he'd best do something with it.

Kroum got in touch with me. I got in touch with Saab and then Saab got in touch with him. Kroum handed over the page to their control late last year and it's been in the possession of Saab ever since.

It's continued to grow, too. Saab merged the page with the one they'd set up themselves and since they've had plenty of recent attention and gained a new owner, there are more that 25,000 fans!

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Kroum emailed me a few weeks ago to tell me about he package he received in the mail.

Just wanted to share with you what I got in the mail today - an appreciation certificate from Saab about the Facebook page I created. It's a nice big print framed in a - you guessed it - Ikea frame. It's a really nice gesture.

Very cool!