You are browsing the archive for LA Auto Show.

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saab 9-4x in Aftonbladet

December 16, 2010 in Saabology

Robert Collin from Aftonbladet was in LA for the auto show and whilst it was a few weeks ago now, he’s just published some thoughts on the Saab 9-4x.

The article covers quite a bit about the vehicle’s development and Robert speaks with Peter Dorrich, who some of you will remember from this quick video.

In the Aftonbladet article, Peter goes into a bit more detail about the work that was performed, the fights that he had to have in order to get the Saab 9-4x to be a real, Saab-derived vehicle.

Peter Dörrich, a Saab man from Trollhattan for 30 years despite his German sounding name, had the technical responsibility for the project in which both the Saab 9-4X and Cadillac SRX would be developed…..

…..- I had been involved in developing both the Saab 9-2X and Saab 9-7X and had lived in Detroit since 2000 when I assumed responsibility for the new project in 2005

- We had many ideas that were not shared by Cadillac (that is, Cadillac didn’t see the value in them), not in the beginning anyway,” says Peter Dörrich when we meet in Los Angeles. But the American executives at GM had full confidence in me and I was working on getting the Cadillac people convinced of how we wanted the car…..

……The most important thing was driving characteristics. They had to be European

The story goes on to speak of how many characteristics were developed for the Saab side and were then picked up for the SRX.

The XWD system, for instance.

And thanks to Saab also the Cadillac has all-wheel drive from Haldex. Originally, the SRX was to have a cheaper system, but Saab were relentless, it must be Haldex, and also with the special slip differential eLSD rear, and the SRX got the same system.

- I’m extremely happy with the handling characteristics. They are better than the 9-3X (who received the highest rating for handling the Aftonbladet last year), mostly thanks to the engines. They are stronger, have better torque and run better.

There’s also a little bit about the considerations given to a V6 diesel, however the translation is a bit vague and I don’t want to risk a mistake here. So here’s the original Swedish and hopefully someone can provide an accurate translation.

– De var för dåliga, säger Saab-chefen Jan Åke Jonsson till Aftonbladet. Det var en V6 från italienska VM Motori och en fyrcylindrig GM-motor, men de var för klena och inte tillräckligt snåla. Då är vi hellre utan, även om vi förstår vad det betyder för försäljningen i Europa.

Translations now received (thanks!)

They were too bad, says Saab boss Jan Åke Jonsson to Aftonbladet. It was a V6 from italian VM Motori and a four cylinder GM engine, but they were not powerful enough and not fuel efficient enough. Then we rather have no diesel, altough we understand what that means for sales in Europe.

The Saab 9-4x as shown in LA looks like it’s going to be one heck of an interesting Saab. It’s the first genuinely Saab-developed vehicle in the segment and personally speaking, I can’t wait to have a crack at it.

–

Thanks to Arild for the tip (check that link to see the fun Arild’s having with his new 9-5).

Tags: , , , 47 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saturday Snippets

November 27, 2010 in Saabology

Don’t miss out on the Saabs United Cyber-Monday specials from Maptun, State of Nine and Saab USA Parts!

I’ll post those back at the top soon.

——

My sincere thanks to “Me” for putting together our new winter banner, featuring the Saab 9-4x.

Cool.

——

More winter fun (well, it’s fun when you’re writing it from somewhere where it’s nearly summer) ……

First, a funny little video, shot over to me by Per R:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMw1q297I24

….and to keep that company, some more photos from Trollhattan, thanks to Rikard.

You may have seen in comments, or at TTELA, that Saab had to halt production on Friday due to excessive snow on the roof of the factory.

Hopefully they can get that cleared and production up and running again as soon as possible.

——

Speaking of TTELA, there’s a very good story from the LA Auto Show from Valdemar Lönnroth, who I met at the show (we shared a very spacious bus ride out to the 9-4x photo shoot).

It’s a good overview of the feeling towards Saab at the LA Auto Show, and what Saab needs to do to turn those good vibes into customer awareness and ultimately, sales.

Such a thing is that many Americans in the common thought that Saab has been effectively eliminated, another is that they still believe it is part of GM. Here it is of course crucial that the public relations people and dealers manage to convey a different story: the facts.

——

One more reason for Saab to go full-on into the World Rally Championship when they get a car suitable for the purpose – to take on GM.

GM aren’t certain to head into rallying, but they’re thinking about it. Not that I bear them any too much ill-will, but I’d love to see Saab take them on and win.

——

There’s an interesting Saab for sale in New Zealand. I know a bloke who swore black and blue that if ever saw one of these on the market, he’d buy it.

It’s no ordinary yellow convertible. If the badging is to be believed, then it’s one of the late model Turbo S convertibles, which should be fitted with one of the factory red-boxes.

There was one of these for sale in Hong Kong a little while ago, too, and at a bargain price. I wonder if this is the same car?

–

Tags: , , , , 11 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Is the Saab 9-4x a real Saab?

November 24, 2010 in Saabology

I was standing around talking with Dick Lague and his sons at the LA Auto Show when Saab’s chief midsize vehicle engineer, Peter Dörrich, came up and joined us. I introduced him by name and to put his role in context, he told Dick and the boys about his relationship to the Saab 9-4x.

It was a perfect moment in time, one that we tried to catch on tape a second time around…..

It was my first time meeting Peter. He’s another one of those great Saab guys that you feel like you know just minutes after meeting him. I can tell you one thing, he’s definitely passionate about his baby, the Saab 9-4x. Peter started working for Saab in the early 1970s and as mentioned in the video, he’s been working on the Saab 9-4x since 2005, ensuring that it would indeed be a real Saab, from the ground up.

If you ever get the chance to go to a Saab event, be it a motor show, Saab Festival, or any other event, the one thing that will make an instant impression on you is how ‘flat’ the organisation is. There are no ivory towers. Everyone’s accessible. Everyone’s approachable. And everyone’s working their tail off for a common goal – the sustained success of the company.

–

Tags: , , 54 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Order a Saab 9-4x, get an iPad

November 22, 2010 in News, Saabology

This is another one of those things that received some attention in comments during the LA Auto Show, but didn’t to the front page. It’s time to change that.

Mike Colleran made the following presentation during the LA Auto Show, during which he announced a special promotion where the first 500 people to order a Saab 9-4x can receive a new Apple iPad worth $500.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNSc3m8PoZs

——

How it works:

  • Go to ordermysaab.com and you can register your interest in the new Saab 9-4x. The dealer you nominate should make contact in January.
  • The final amount of the deposit will be determined by the dealer, but $500 of it is the purchased price of the iPad, which will be credited against your vehicle invoice. You’ll receive an iPad with “some Saab9-4x related software” on it, which I presume you can share with others given Colleran’s remarks about spreading the word.

Based on the value given, I’d say they’re giving away the 16GB WiFi iPad (I priced them in Santa Monica last week during a visit with some others to the Apple store).

I love this concept. A Saab 9-4x at $34,200 is pretty good value anyway and to get the freebie iPad and the opportunity to help promote the vehicle elsewhere is pretty good.

And yes, it does feel good to help promote the interests of a company you believe in – I’ve been doing it for nearly 6 years now so I’m really pleased to see Saab opening up these doors.

Be sure to check out the FAQ at ordermysaab.com

–

Tags: , , , , , 23 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saab 9-4x launch – some official photos

November 20, 2010 in Saabology

Saab’s hired gun photographer, Charlie Magee, ran around with his camera during the Saab 9-4x launch on Wednesday.

I’ve been fortunate enough to get hold of some of his images, which are ten times better than the ones I took (I’ve really got to get a better camera, lens, flash, brain, etc).

Enjoy these.

–

Tags: , 20 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Autonews: Saab forecast and pricing for Saab 9-4x

November 20, 2010 in News, Saabology

I posted the price of the base model Saab 9-4x a few days ago. That model will sell for a smidge over $34,200. At that time, I couldn’t get any pricing information for the Aero model, although I was told it would be somewhere north of $45,000.

Automotive News have been speaking with Jan-Ake Jonsson and in their related story today, they’ve published estimated sales numbers and an estimated price for the Aero model.

9-4X output will average 12,500 units annually when full production is reached next year, said Jan Ake Jonsson, CEO of Saab Automobile AB.

Jonsson said it is a very conservative production forecast. Approximately 9,400 vehicles are intended for the United States, he said.

“It is not that we don’t believe in the car. We are trying to be responsible in how we set our volume,” Jonsson said during an interview at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where the vehicle debuted.

Conservative forecasting would seem to be the order of the day. Better to do that and exceed expectations than take a barrage from the press when forecasts are downgraded.

U.S. sales of the 9-4X will begin in May, followed by shipments to Europe, Australia, Taiwan and the Middle East starting in August.

The base U.S. fwd 9-4X has a sticker of $34,205, including freight. The Aero model has a sticker of $48,835.

9,400 units of this car in the US will mean some pretty good extra business for dealers and Saab sales over all – and remember that sales don’t start in the US until May next year, so it’s not a full year’s worth, either.

Pricing seems to be spot-on, too. I think this one’s going to do pretty well as long as they can promote it properly.

My thanks to John for the tip!

Tags: , , 29 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

LA Notes – Day 3

November 19, 2010 in Saabology

Today was my final full day here and I regret to say that I didn’t get to go over and have a look at the other hall here at the LA Auto Show. Fiat and Porsche were both over the other side and it would have been good to see what they had on show. Unfortunately I had to leave earlier than expected for an appointment.

I’ll write a little about that appointment tomorrow.

——

On the plus side, I had the pleasure of catching up with a former TS correspondent and all-round great Angelino, 1985Gripen.

Gripen covered a Saab event in San Diego back in the Trollhattan Saab days and provided reams of entertaining content from that trip. He was also gracious enough to drive me up to Santa Barbara last time I visited here, to meet with the late, very great, Bob Sinclair.

We ate well, and it was great to catch up with Mike once again.

——

Most of the press conferences were yesterday and because they have to allow space (for people, vehicle drive-throughs, etc), a lot of the manufacturers actually changed their displays overnight.

The Saab stand saw the addition of a 9-3 SportSedan in silver:

Saab Stand Day 2

——

Other events from the show…..

Mazda had a cool 20th anniversary edition of the MX-5 on show:

Cadillac showed a small concept car, which is about as anti-Cadillac as you can get and therefore makes total sense:

Volkswagen had a “Caraoke” stand playing Eye of the Tiger and other things. Seriously.

——

Chevy were offering drives of the new Volt at the LA Auto Show. I didn’t have time for one, but I did see them cruising around the perimeter of the LA Convention Center on brief trips outside for some fresh air.

This will sound like I’m anti-GM (which I guess I am to some extent) but the one thing that struck me about the Volt as it drove down the street – it already looks dated and kind of cliche.

Maybe the cliche thing is a bit harsh, but it definitely looks dated. With that body shape and black panel at the back, it could have come out around 2002.

——

And speaking of the Volt, it won a Green Car award today. There were five finalists but the presenter was candid enough to admit that only two of them mattered as far as the award was concerned – the Volt and the Nissan Leaf.

——

I don’t want to be all negatori (but I will).

I also saw the Mini Countryman on the street today and it’s one of the oddest things I’ve ever seen. It’s like an automotive version of Honey I blew up the kid!. It’s a shape that screams small car, but it’s far from small.

It’s so big it made my camera blur with fear.

BMW have effectively built a Mini X6. And it’s not right.

——

If you live in or near LA, I can highly recommend you get along to the LA Auto Show. The venue is great and the displays are spacious and well set out.

I’d go so far as to say it’s the most accessible and best presented of the few Auto Shows that I’ve been to since running this website (Sydney, Detroit, Frankfurt).

——

Tomorrow I catch up with another SU regular and local LA resident, DickL, for breakfast.

Dick lives very close to the house where the Saab 9-4x photoshoot was staged a few days ago. In fact, he saw the bus and a Saab sign outside the property as he was driving past, but wasn’t aware of what was going on.

After that, a little sightseeing and then I’m homeward bound, baby.

–

Tags: 12 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

A closer look at the Saab 9-4x

November 19, 2010 in Saabology

I know the readership here at SaabsUnited is into details. I know that somewhere out there, someone is wondering what the tie-down hooks in the Saab 9-4x look like.

So I photographed them. And many other smaller bits and pieces of the Saab 9-4x for your viewing pleasure.

I know there’ll be something I missed, but here goes…..

——

Let’s start at the back, where the 9-4x is set off with a set of tail lamps quite similar to those on the new Saab 9-5.

Here’s a look at the lamps once again with the 9-5-esque exhaust outlets thrown into the mix. The Saab 9-4x video featuring Christopher McKinnon had a good comparo sequence between the 9-5 and 9-4x and they really do speak the same design language.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , 29 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Video: Saab 9-4x – the LA story

November 19, 2010 in Saabology

You can see two full videos in posts below:

Here’s the pacey, edited version of the big story from the last few days – the Saab 9-4x breaking cover.

It comes with an added bonus, too: they guy who was the first to order of a 9-4x from right there on the Saab stand! He liked the car so much he ordered one right here at the LA Auto Show.

–

Tags: , 9 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Video: Saab press conference from the LA Auto Show

November 19, 2010 in Saabology

Following is the official cut from Saab’s 9-4x reveal at the LA Auto Show.

I got a bit worried that the doors wouldn’t open when the car was due to come out. I thought Saab was having a wardrobe malfunction. It was all as planned, however.

–

Tags: , 17 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Video: Saab 9-4x walkaround with Christopher McKinnon

November 19, 2010 in Saabology

You saw some photos from this yesterday.

Time for the video. Enjoy this tour around the new Saab 9-4x with Saab’s Global Product Manager, Christopher McKinnon.

Tags: , 1 Comment »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

LA Notes – Day 2

November 18, 2010 in Saabology

Wow. It’s 1am at the end of another incredibly packed day. Five hours until the wake-up call, so I’d better get moving.

——

A few minutes ago I waited in the lobby for an elevator so that I could go up to my room. The bell dinged, the doors opened, and out came two identically dressed men, both wearing those earpieces with the curly wires that you see in any movie featuring the Secret Service. I don’t think they were Secret Service, but it’d be interesting to know who’s on the top floor here.

——

The #1 car from another manufacturer that was popular with Saab people today – the new Range Rover Evoque.

The wide prediction was that this car will replace the Mini as the must-have car for the wives/girlfriends/ladies of LA.

——

The #1 car from another manufacturer that was regarded as a sad joke by me – the Acura ZDX. I used to respect Honda so much but their mojo is seriously MIA.

It has a front end that can only be referred to as a monstrous proboscis and the rear seat is basically inaccessible without a chiropractor (with a rear door that’s so dangerously pointy it should be classified).

——

The stands from today:

  • Audi – superb
  • Buick – woody
  • BMW – truly, as boring as bat$h1t
  • Volkswagen – so boring, I think it was bat$h1t, but then they did have Heidi Klum. Seriously, VW’s American range is a giant, unambiguous snooze.
  • Suzuki – it really is a wonder that anyone knew they were there
  • Kia – very well prepared
  • Mercedes – had the excellent cupcakes
  • Toyota/Lexus – no, your SEMA cars will not transform you into an exciting company
  • Fisker – Spending their federal money well, if you like nice, luxurious stands at auto shows.
  • Jaguar – elegance in green, excitement in silver
  • Saab – clean and very, very classy

——

Dinner tonight was another stunning event – held on a rooftop at The Standard.

The rooftop at The Standard has a pool, a bunch of ‘pods’ with waterbed type lounges in them, sofas everywhere, bars and some very good food. They also had SAAB projected onto the walls like a big, Swedish bat-signal.

They even had the ‘Elements’ video from the Saab 9-4x launch projected onto the gym on a bulding across the street!

——

I’m working on getting answers to (most of) your questions posed prior to the LA Auto Show. Unfortunately, Victor Muller and Jan-Ake Jonsson have been working harder than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest with regards to their appointments with the press corps today. Pinning them down has been difficult.

They might be scarce tomorrow, too, but I’ll pin down some others to provide answers wherever I can.

——

The gallery below shows images from things mentioned above. Just another awesome day at the LA Auto Show.

–

Tags: , 51 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Behind the scenes – Saab 9-4x photoshoot

November 18, 2010 in Saabology

Saab have given me some ‘behind the scenes’ type images from the photoshoot held in Malibu a few days ago.

The event was held primarily so that members of the press could see the car in a setting quite different from your usual Auto Show stand. Whilst they were in such a beautiful setting, however, they also made some video and still imagery, which is mostly what this selection of photos covers.

Notes applied where appropriate. Click to enlarge.

Christopher McKinnon and Mikael Jakobsson chat with Valdemar Lönnroth from the local newspaper in Trollhattan, TTELA. Valdemar had been working in Ohio for a few weeks prior to coming down to LA.

Christopher McKinnon does a ‘walkaround’ video of the Saab 9-4x…..

…..pointing out the trademark Saab three-port grille….

That’s Matt and Ben behind the cameras. Matt’s sporting a wonderful demonstration of lip-hair in support of Movember. Saab PR guru Joe Oliver has the microphone.

Matt’s camera seems slightly uninteresting in Chris’ rendition of “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts”

Levity aside – these guys did a teriffic job, on both sides of the camera.

Below, Mikael Jokobsson gives Valdemar a run-through of the dashboard display, which is the same as the display in the Saab 9-5.

All of these images were taken by Charlie Magee, Saab’s hired gun of choice. After the press left the building, Charlie and Joe hung around to get some more moody photos after the sun dipped below the surrounding mountains.

Check out the incredible results…..

——

Many thanks to Saab for the chance to participate in this day and to Charlie for his magnificent work on the camera.

Next: Behind the scenes at the Saab stand.

–

Tags: , 10 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saab 9-4x – revealed!

November 18, 2010 in Saabology

I’m waiting and hoping Saab will get a video up soon of the reveal. All went well. The speeches were similar to those from Paris, but with some 9-4x inclusions, obviously.

A few photos…..

The car attracts some interest just after the reveal is finished….

That show was taken about 10 minutes after the reveal, actually. People were going in and out of the quite solidly from straight after the speeches. They still are.

Jan-Ake Jonsson and Victor pose for the cameras after the speeches…..

This is a large smudge on the windscreen of the Saab 9-4x….

I wonder how that happened…….

:-)

Tags: , 31 Comments »

Avatar of Swade

by Swade

JAJ live from LA – Autoline Detroit

November 18, 2010 in Saabology

UPDATE: VM on right now (1:55pm)

UPDATE II: Now over and done, but you’ll be able to see a recorded version at the link below.

–

I just dropped in on John McElroy from Autoline Detroit, who informed me that Jan-Ake Jonsson will be on Autoline shortly.

Autoline are doing a live show from LA and Jan-Ake Jonsson is scheduled to go on camera there at 1:45pm.

You might want to tune in earlier than that, however, and listen in on Bob Lutz, who’s appearing in his capacity as a board member of Lotus.

–

Actually, if the technology works OK, you should be able to tune in below…. (and if not, go to the link above….)

–

Tags: , 16 Comments »

27 visitors online now
17 guests, 10 members
Max visitors today: 52 at 12:10 am CET
This month: 121 at 02-02-2012 07:42 pm CET
This year: 336 at 01-03-2012 03:25 pm CET
All time: 509 at 12-06-2011 09:07 pm CET