by Swade
February 19, 2011 in Saabology
Spotted in the public domain.
Now that is one good looking convertible.
If you’ve been keeping pace, you’ll know that the Saab 9-3 Independence Edition will be a limited edition, with just 366 cars world wide.
Hit that link for the details we (believe we) know so far.
UPDATE: Also seen in the public domain…..
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Thanks to Knape for the tip.
by Swade
February 18, 2011 in Saabology
Could it be that there will be different tailgates for different markets?
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Saab’s officially released image…..
Spyshot, from Trollhattan, beginning of February…..
Spyshot, from Trollhattan, yesterday…..
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Comments, from someone who should be in a position to know, indicate that the third of those images might be the tailgate used for cars shipped to the US market.
I don’t know US design rules, but I do have memories of cars being shipped to Australia from the US with big ugly overriders on the rear bumpers, presumably to keep low-speed colliders away from the panels. Maybe Saab are required to recess the rear door for that market?
I don’t think either one looks substantially better than the other, so it’s a non-issue for me, but an interesting observation nonetheless by various eagle-eyed commenters.
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by Swade
February 17, 2011 in Saabology
Djup Strupe spots another Saab 9-5 wagon on the streets around the Saab factory in Trollhattan…
Click.
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by Swade
February 9, 2011 in Saabology
UPDATE: Now with video!
If these cars are out on the streets, they will be seen. If they can be seen, they can be photographed.
Below we have what appears to be a Saab 9-3 Griffin. The Griffin is part of the enhanced model range that we believe will carry the 9-3 through to the end of it’s life when an all-new 9-3 replacement vehicle comes. This photo gives you a better look at the new front bumper treatment, with the bigger and more 9-5-like front foglight surrounds. As the car is in Java Metallic, the black surrounds aren’t as easy to see as they would be if it’s a lighter color, but they’re there.
The changes are subtle, but there, and it does look a bit racier. You’ll also note the Griffin badging on the side (which is the biggest giveaway of all).
Comparative image of a 2011 Saab 9-3 in Java, below…..
The 9-3 Griffin is said to have some subtle interior upgrades as well, with the biggest change to the car being the installation of the same direct injected 2.0T engine as in the Saab 9-5 making 220hp instead of the current 210 with better economy expected as well.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoQl7VldHA
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by Swade
February 3, 2011 in Saabology
There’s nothing I can really see to give it away, but autoweek.nl say this convertible is the first mule spotted featuring (some of the) tech that will come out on the Saab 9-3 replacement.
Visit Autoweek, click the image on the story and you’ll also find a rear view of this same car.
As mentioned, there’s not much different to look at here, except for the different wheels and wheel arches. The exhaust pipes at the rear look a little underdone and there seems to be an unfamiliar spaciousness about the underbody.
I really don’t know what else to look for here, but if you do then maybe you can help the rest of us.
Looks just like a convertible to me.
by Swade
February 2, 2011 in News
Here it is. The first Saab 9-5 SportCombi spotted in the wild.
The car was seen earlier today, out in the open, in Trollhattan. This car will make its public debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 1.
Thanks to Djup Strupe for the images.
Click.
The car was badged as an Aero TTiD and it’s certainly got some significant road presence.
The registration information on the car is as follows:
Registreringsnummer: LFB248
Fabrikat: SAAB
Färg: SVART Fordonsslag: PB
Fordonsår: 2011 Fordonsslagsklass: I
Chassinummer: YS3GR5MK7C9000003
Typgodkännandenummer:
Typgodkännandedatum:
Senaste EU-regbevis del 1: 2010-12-16
Senaste EU-regbevis del 2: 2010-12-16
Handelsbeteckning:
Upplysningar:
Ägare/Brukare
Namn: SAAB AUTOMOBILE AKTIEBOLAG
Adress:
Postnr: 461 80 Förvärvsdatum: 2010-12-15
Ort: TROLLHÄTTAN
by Swade
November 27, 2010 in Saabology
German car magazine Autozeitung had a new issue out a few days ago and in it, they’ve published this image of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi.
I believe it’s a photoshopped image as I’m sure there aren’t any undisguised Saab 9-5 SportCombi’s running around like fully dressed cars.
It’s a darn good photoshop, though. Not the most flattering angle, but a darn good photoshop nonetheless.
Thanks to Alexandros for the scan.
by Swade
October 26, 2010 in News
A reporter from Automobil magazine in Sweden has apparently sighted a hybrid in testing while he was in Trollhattan testing the new Saab 9-5.
The vehicle he saw was a very looking Saab 9-3 sedan and the reporter claims he saw a lot of battery packs in the back when the trunk was opened.
Automobile has just visited Trollhättan. The mission was to return the 9-5 Aero we had on test. As a bonus, we saw a diesel hybrid.
After a pleasant drive from Stockholm the writer and Oscar Carlquist arrived in Trollhättan. We will return the test car and go back to Stockholm in our own car. It is good manners to return a test car with a full tank, so we drive to a roadside petrol station affiliated to the factory. We are not alone, there are 9-5s and is 9-3s everywhere.
A 9-3 catches my attention because it is towed to the pump by a 9-5. When the car is to be refueled the co-driver goes out and open the luggage compartment. I notice a hefty collection of batteries and units, but my camera phone is not fast enough so I can take a picture.
I walk closer and see the sign in the rear side window. “Hybrid” it says, and now things get really interesting. When fueling is completed, the car is started and it becomes clear that there is a diesel engine that is being adapted for hybrid technology. I look up the car in the car register and indeed it is a diesel. It has automatic transmission and came into service in April 2007.
The development is a longstanding one. Already in November 2007 a Senska Dagbladet’s reporter spotted a white 9-3 with the combination of diesel and hybrid.
“We are developing hybrid technology for different types of engines,” said Magnus Wall, Director of the Development Laboratory at that time to SvD.
Since then much has happened with Saab. But it is gratifying to note that Saab proceeds with this project. Given how long the work has been ongoing they should soon be ready. It would be exciting if Saab could be at the forefront now. The world’s first diesel hybrid will be the Peugeot 3008 HYbird4 which goes on sale in 2011. Join now, Saab!
OK, so it’s only a sticker, but still…..
What was most interesting is that when the driver started the car, it was quite apparent that it was a diesel engine under the hood, meaning Saab could well be testing out hybrid technology in combination with their own frugal, low-emissions diesel powerplants.
Whilst petrol hybrids have been reasonably well received and appreicated for their mileage improvement, diesel hyrbids offer an even greater frugality promise and would surely be a great seller in European markets.
Thanks to Dippen and Arild for the tip!
by Swade
October 17, 2010 in Saabology
I’ll keep the spotter’s name out of this post as he’s a local there in Trollhattan, but this makes for a very interesting photo.
It’s badged as a V6 Aero, but that’s obviously not an Aero bumper or exhaust setup on the back there. And then there’s those blue plug-like things.
Our spotter says that the car also had similar plugs around the glovebox area.
Hybrid-electric tester? Something else? Let the speculations begin!
And if anyone knows the truth about this vehicle, that’d be welcome too.
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by Swade
September 28, 2010 in Saabology
The Saab/BMW news is all over the interwebs and it’s all been positive (aside from TTAC, see below).
We’ll have to wait for the press conference to see what the actual agreement brings to the table. Will it be more than architecture and/or diesel engines? I don’t know.
But personally speaking, I think it’s going to be absolutely fantastic, both for the expansion of the vehicle range and the perception of Saab in the marketplace. I’m pretty amazed at some of the reasons put forth in comments for reservation about this potential deal. The idea that this deal could ‘turn Saabs into BMWs’ is just really shortsighted and doesn’t give Saab’s excellent engineers any credit IMHO. Hang your reservations at the doors, people, and see what happens.
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Our mate Rune has been to meet his new ride…..
…..unfortunately there’s some problems with the road and registration authorities at the moment so Rune’s plates haven’t arrived yet. Agonising!
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I never thought I’d ask for Robert Farago to be reinstalled at The Truth About Cars, but it seems the inmates are now running the asylum. Farago was grumpy and critical, but at least he was predictable. This guy’s just freaking nuts!
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Another ‘different’ Saab is for sale over at Saabnet…..
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And then there’s this….. pre-production, and a sequel to the rear shot shown yesterday…. click.
Looking absolutely fantastic!
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by Swade
September 27, 2010 in Saabology
Not a lot to see here, but still something.
Click.
No click. Just proof.
Click. The rear of the concept vehicle in Detroit, January 2008
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by Swade
June 22, 2010 in News
Autoblog have published a story based on some Auto Express photos of the 9-4x out testing in the nude.
While it’s great to see they’ve removed all the flappy black plastic from the 9-4x, the stories that are written to compliment the photos are – I believe – wrong in couple of significant ways.
To the photos first, which you can see in their entirety here at Auto Express.
This vehicle is now limited to just the chequer-board disguise that characterised the later Saab 9-5 mules. What we can see here is not too surprising – the car looks pretty much the same as the Saab 9-4x display vehicle first shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 2008.
Saab have said all along that the show car was pretty much it as far as the basic shape of the car was concerned. What will change is the trim and some details, like the fancy ski rack, switchgear, etc.
So if you want to see 90% of what the 9-4x will look like without the camo, and in white, then click here.
Now to the articles…..
Auto Express state the following:
It’s been a long time coming, but the SAAB 9-4X has finally been signed off and production of the Volvo XC90-sized SUV has begun at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico.
I’d be very surprised if there are any vehicles rolling off the production line already, unless these are early pre-production models for testing or quality control purposes. The reason for that will be apparent shortly.
Under the bonnet, there’ll be a choice of two petrol units, a turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a turbo 2.8-litre V6, and a 2.9-litre diesel co-developed by VW Motori in Italy.
Incorrect. The Saab 9-4x specs that we’ve already seen state that it will have a 3.0litre non-turbo engine as the base engine, and the 2.8T V6 as the Aero engine. Basically the same offerings that are available in the Cadillac SRX.
Bear in mind that those specs were preliminary and were for the US market. They may have changed by now. There may be a TiD or TTiD engine for Europe (actually, they’d be mad if there wasn’t) but solid Euro specs haven’t been seen yet.
GM abandoned the VM Motori 2.9 diesel some time ago.
The Auto Express headline has the following trailer underneath it:
SAAB SUV enters production ahead of late 2010 on sale date.
VM and JAJ have been quoted extensively in the last few months saying that the Saab 9-4x will come out in April 2011. That’s the other reason why production is unlikely to have started already – we’re still 10 months out from release.
Autoblog state the following:
….and considering the time frame, it’s safe to assume that the production 9-4X will debut at the Paris Motor Show this September.
That’s a reasonable guess, but a better guess would be the LA Auto Show in November 2010.
First reason – The 9-4x is primarily a vehicle for the US market so it makes sense to make the biggest splash in the US.
Second reason – The LA Auto show is five/six months out from the vehicle’s scheduled sales date, which is just about perfect. Paris adds another 2 months to that and Detroit would take 2 months off it.
Third reason – If you’re going to make a splash in the US, why not do so at a show that’s growing and in a nice climate (i.e the LA show) rather than a show that’s shrinking, at a crappy venue and in the middle of winter (i.e. Detroit, where the Cobo renovations can’t come soon enough).
by Swade
April 27, 2010 in Saabology
OK, not a spyshot, per se. It looks more like a CGI from a brochure or presentation. I don’t know how Autoblog.nl have got hold of it and they’re not saying, but I can tell you one thing: It is accurate.
I can say that because I’ve shown my own leaked image in the past (how quickly we forget), which reconciles with this one quite nicely, and also because I’ve seen the car for myself – last year, in Sweden.
Here’s the image:
Of course, the Saab 9-5 wagon is still the best part of a year away from being sold, though we’ll probably see one in the metal before then.
It is a sexy beast from almost every angle but a troubling beast in one regard. I’ll be interested to see if your opinions agree with mine and therefore, will not share what troubles me.
I’ll take mine in a dark color with tinted windows, please.
Thanks to Thomas for the tip via email.
by Swade
April 24, 2010 in Saabology
I’ll preface this by saying I don’t think this is a Saab vehicle. It’s quite small and Saab have consistently said have a small car in their plans – not in development. Saab need new investors before they can think about building a new smaller car.
If I were to guess I’d say it’s one they have been doing some development work on for GM, possibly for some time. Maybe one of their smaller new vehicles.
It was photographed yesterday near Saab’s facility in Trollhattan.
Guesses, anyone?
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Thanks to SL for the pic and the photographer for passing it on to him.
by Swade
April 2, 2010 in News
Dan Neil, formerly of the LA Times and now of the Wall Street Journal, has a nice fat headline claiming The Next Saab 9-3: World Exclusive First Picture!
Now, I can tell you a few things about this.
1) It’s (reportedly) Dan’s own pencil work based on him seeing the famous rendering on Victor Muller’s mobile phone. As such, it’s not “the next Saab 9-3″ as Dan wrote in his headline. The sketch on Victor’s mobile phone is his idea for a new smaller Saab, one that would be a Saab 9-2, or 9-1, or 92 or 91 depending on what the naming convention will be at that time.
2) It’s not a world exclusive, either. I described the sketch, which I saw as desktop wallpaper on VM’s laptop, in a post that I wrote from Schipol airport in Amsterdam back in February:
The desktop wallpaper on Victor Muller’s laptop is his sketched idea for a new small Saab. This is the Saab 92 inspired teardrop shaped vehicle that he’s been talking about recently. Think Saab 9-X Air at the front and Saab 92/96 at the rear.
Based on that description, Jeff came up with this rough photoshop, which gelled reasonably well with what I recall seeing.
So, sorry Dan, but it was neither a 9-3 or a world exclusive. But it’s a nice Saab 93 (1950′s generation) you’ve drawn there.
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The rest of the article makes for some good reading, summarising a good number of talking points with regard to Saab.
Recommended reading. Just ignore the sketch bit.
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