by Red J
January 5, 2012 in SAAB Automobile AB, Technical
I’ve found this on a tweet from Saablog-In.
It makes me feel melancholic. But there is still hope that this press shop will continue creating nice cars in 2012.
I don’t know who has uploaded this video on YouTube. The user is called fglasell and the video was updated on november 7.
by eggsngrits
March 2, 2011 in News
Victor Muller is such a capable spokesman for the brand and for the plan moving forward.
The financial and business world that Saab is on track with a plan to be a player in the long-term automotive future.
Well done!!
by Swade
February 17, 2011 in Troll Stuff
Non-Saaby.
I’m constantly amazed when I see the things people can do with the right tools. They always make me feel like a complete idiot, but in the nicest possible way.
If you’re like me and have absolutely no idea about the real work done to build components, then here’s your insight. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KLNJ8d8Vqc
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by Swade
February 10, 2011 in Saabology
The Swedish Film Archive has apparently recently digitised a number of archival films and released them for viewing online.
This film from 1960 is 17 minutes long and full of fantastic archival footage from the time. There are jets, cars, and even a Saab-built helicopter that I wasn’t aware of.
The voiceover is in Swedish but it shouldn’t matter. The 1960s imagery is fantastic and the factory footage is essential viewing.
Below, I’ve reproduced a few screenshots…..
Click.
Apparently this guy leaning over the hood is checking to make sure no water is splashing into the engine bay on the test drive. 1960′s technology!
The mysterious Saab helicopter. They show this being assembled in the factory but I don’t know anything of the background to it (I’m not a big aviation guy). Any more info from the video would be welcome.
Saab strokers on the assembly line….
And an awesome sign at the end. I’d love to know where this is now.
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My thanks to Martin E for sending it through. Absolutely brilliant!
by Swade
January 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
Mellde, Molander, Carlsson, Moss, Skogh, Blomqvist, Eklund, Lampinen. Monte Carlo, RAC, Swedish Rally, Finnish Rally, Liege-Sofia-Liege, Midnight Sun – even a stint in Australia! Swedes, Finns and the odd bit of English. Two strokers, formula juniors, V4s and 99s. Snow and Safari.
The Saab Club Nederland YouTube channel has just blessed the rest of us with this fantastic video from the Saab Rally Department, documenting Saab’s rally history through the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.
It’s absolutely brilliant. If you can’t watch them now, bookmark them and come back.
Kudos to the SCN guys. An outstanding catch.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKxRiP2RLQs
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httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEjYkweyCPE
by Swade
December 16, 2010 in Saabology
Thanks again to Jorgen from the Saab United Historic Rally Team for a bit more ForzaVision featuring the Saab 99 Turbo they’ve just added.
View the car in racing action here.
And here’s some new video…..
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3StnJEw6Fs
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The Incas look fantastic! From the Forza garage…..
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOImYuhaEP8
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by Swade
November 5, 2010 in Saabology
John McElroy looks around the exterior of the Saab 9-5.
Enthusiasm!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_EBNjlxcb0
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by Swade
November 4, 2010 in Uncategorized
Timing can be extraordinary sometimes.
This morning I was reading one of Pierre’s latest entries at the Charles River Saab blog about his favourite driving films – Ronin and C’était un Rendezvous. You can watch some great driving at that link.
Rendezvous was famously directed by a guy named Claude Lelouche.
Later today, Eggs n Grits posted a tweet linking to another piece of video by LeLouche. This one’s called Un homme et une femme : 20 ans déjà. The driving isn’t quite as stunning in this piece – it’s more like mayhem and bedlam!!!
The cars featured in the video include a Saab 900 and a Lancia Thema (near cousin to the Saab 9000) as well as an Audi 100, BMW 5 Series E28, Mercedes 190, Peugeot 505 Turbo and a Renault 25 V6 Turbo.
Buckle up and enjoy! And thanks Eggs!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GiEEvE8-A
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by Swade
October 15, 2010 in Saabology
The following video isn’t Saab related.
What it is, is Jason Castriota talking about the aerodynamic factors that have to be considered when designing a car. In this instance, the car he’s talking about is the Bertone Mantide.
I’ve posted it here for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the replacement for the Saab 9-3 is reportedly in wind tunnel testing right now, so it’s kinda topical.
Second, it’s a good way for me to let you know that I spent an hour on the phone with Jason Castriota this morning, finishing off the interview we started a few weeks ago.
It’ll take a few days to transcribe and edit, so you can expect the full SU interview with Jason Castriota to appear here on Saabs United some time next week.
Until then, enjoy some aerodynamics talk.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H29ikP1_eZw
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Thanks to WooDz for the tip on the video.
by Swade
October 9, 2010 in Uncategorized
With many thanks to Jose N for the tip……
There are a lot of magazines, etc, carrying the news of the week, about the 50th Anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC Rally win and the launch of the new Saab 9-3 Carlsson Edition in the British market.
One such publication had a hook-up to this video on their site and it’s an absolute cracker. If this doesn’t put a smile on your face then you’re quite possibly dead.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2yeW6jvOlI
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by Swade
August 25, 2010 in Uncategorized
And he survived…..
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Thanks to Peter G for the tip.
by Swade
August 8, 2010 in Saabology
Another review of the Saab 9-5, this time from Canada. A little over-written if you ask me, but good and positive over all.
Overall though Saab’s style makes the Germans look even more conservative than usual. As Castriota said, it’s not a design for everyone and it isn’t meant to be. You will love it or hate it, but you will notice it. Have a look for yourself, but we think it’s cool.
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An avenging Fangio in a Saab 900?
Let’s start with the video…..
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiU-CYOc7Bs
The story behind the video’s an interesting one. The guy in charge is Davey G Johnson, formerly of Jalopnik. He’s got a blog post about how it evolved here.
The artist is a guy named Peter Hughes, who some of you may apparently know from a band called the Mountain Goats (you’ll have to excuse my ignorance here).
Hughes has a blog of his own with some writings about this song, the imagery and his fondness for Saabs. Whilst the song isn’t my cup of tea, the fact that he had a Save Saab sticker on his bass guitar during a performance on national TV is pretty cool.
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The model guys at dimini.ch have some new stock and they look sensational.
Click to enlarge.
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by Swade
August 4, 2010 in Saabology
I’m not sure how they managed to pull this one off, but Carscoop have premiered a video of Saab’s new design chief, Jason Castriota, driving and talking about the new Saab 9-5.
It looks like this was part of the US launch, as Fox News have a video with Victor Muller talking about the Saab 92 that is shot on the same location.
It seems Castriota’s been well schooled in the Saab design lexicon since his appointment. He’s certainly talking the talk.
Here’s the video.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDC27v0M14Q
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Thanks to Brett for the tip via comments
by eggsngrits
July 31, 2010 in News, Saabology
Things are still popping up all over the internet from the Victor Muller / Jan-Åke Jonsson show tour through New York. Those guys (along with Mr. Colleran and Ms. Tinson) must be absolutely exhausted. I know that Swade is always saying that Victor Muller has no “off” switch, but these constant appearances are grueling for everyone.
Click to watch Messrs. Muller and Jonsson on CNN Money.
VM and JAJ on CNN Money
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I don’t know Matthew DeBord. I was unfamiliar with his writings until today. He has a blog called Shifting Gears published on a financial website here in the United States. His writing credits include the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Mr. DeBord is a fellow Saab enthusiast, and he’s interested in creating a montage of stories behind the Saabs purchased during the dark times of model year 2009. So, if you bought a Saab in 2009, please give him your story. He’s offering some swag for the best of the lot, so sharpen your pencils.
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From Gaywheels.com comes this review of the 2010 Saab 9-5.
Their contributions to the conversation are thus:
This is one seriously handsome car, and it should inspire plenty of customers to visit a Saab dealership for the first time. The cabin is equally uncluttered, though perhaps a little too empty looking for some people. I personally like the faux jet-fighter ambiance which, at best, brings to mind Saab’s roots in aviation. At worst, the dash is too dark, and could do with a few more bits of aluminum trim to liven things up.
Saab estimates the Aero’s 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time at 6.9 seconds, which is peppy but not pulse-quickening fast. There is very little engine noise and the 6-speed automatic did well to keep up with my driving demands, especially when quickly switching from aggressive driving to a leisurely pace. The ride was nicely controlled, yet the brakes could use a firmer bite when really pushing hard on them.
Mildly positive. WARNING: He uses the “q” word.
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Finally, our new-found friend, Ms. Liz Claman of Fox Business News, claims to be a Saab lover in her cheery blog entry encapsulating her recent feature on the new Saab 9-5. She signs it “Liz “Always-wanted-a-Saab-but-never-got-one” Claman”. Works for me. Ms. Claman: You know where to find us. It’s never too late to follow your dream.
Note to Saab Cars North America: You have a potential spokesperson there. Just sayin’.
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Post Script: I’ve thought about Jan-Willem Vester many times this week and I must say that even though I didn’t know him as well as others may have, I miss him and I am saddened that he’s not around to see the new 9-5 and all of the buzz surrounding this car. He has a small part of each of these cars to his credit. J-dub, you are missed.
by eggsngrits
July 30, 2010 in News, Saabology
Thanks to several readers via e-mail and Dippen in comments, here’s the video available on YouTube, which is a much more accessible venue. (The links were previously posted here.)
Kudos to all that asked questions. They are/were very good questions and they were all pointing towards Saab as an enthusiast brand. No other brand takes questions from their audience, to my knowledge. Excellent!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLp1OUSrnU
Notes:
1. A couple of commenters noted that many of the comments were the same that JAJ and VM mentioned at the Saab Owner’s Convention in Aurora, Ohio. They are, of course, correct right down to the video and JAJ’s comments about the verbiage about selling colors in a black-and-white video.
2. JAJ’s comments about “heritage” and making Saab “even more unique” is still music to my ears.
3. Interesting that JAJ mentions that the “A” luxury segment will have significant growth through 2020. He also claims that Saab “owned” that market in the 1950′s and 1960′s.
4. 2012 is the target for the “all-new 9-3″. That is pretty aggressive, folks. Take into consideration that they’ve only just hired the chief designer. Wow.
5. VM: He’s like a broken record thanking the enthusiast community. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing it. Way to go, Swade!!
6. The 2010 Saab 9-5 spoken of as a lynch-pin of the business plan for Saab. VM gives GM credit for realizing the mistakes of the past and allowing Saab to reclaim some Saab DNA with the Aero-X.
7. Profitability in 2012 because the company will have three brand-new designs in the showrooms — the new 9-5 will be the oldest of the three! VM reiterates that Saab can be profitable at a 100,000-unit volume.
8. Victor needs to be careful how he says “flocking”.
9. Saab and Spyker will be a “two-way street” relationship. Both companies will help the other. Interesting.
10. ”One of the most attractive heritages of all automotive brands.” - Victor Muller
11. August 16th again mentioned as the Canadian launch.
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