169 comments would tend to suggest that people are interested in the difficulties that are confronting some Saab dealers at the moment.
Saab clearly need to make some noise – and preferably before October.
But October is Saab’s chance to once again stand on a world stage and make announcement that says “We’re here!”
The Paris Auto Show is on from the 2nd to the 17th October and Saab are on the map of exhibitors. And check out their neighbors!
Click.
Here’s something I’d love to see. Saab executives wearing “100% GM-Free” T-shirts on the stands. In fact, anyone who visits the Paris show must wear a 100% GM-Free T-shirt. OK, so we’re still connected by parts, but the common punter doesn’t know that.
There’s one cheap stunt to get some publicity.
But there should be some other serious ways to get the public’s attention, too, which is why Saab will actually be there. That means they should have something big to announce.
The way I see it there’s two options and maybe they’ll go for maximum impact and announce both.
1. The new, refreshed Saab 9-3.
If they’re really doing an update to the Saab 9-3 for it’s final two years, then a big motor show is the perfect place to unveil it and Paris is a big motor show. It won’t be an all-new car, but they’ll have the Saab 9-5 there for that. This should be a reasonably significant upgrade to the 9-3 so it’s release will be a significant story.
2. Partnerships for the future.
Speculation has been rife on the interwebs that Saab have been talking to BMW about sharing some bits. Some say just engines and some say platforms as well. I’ve said a number of times already that I think it’s just engines, but I’ll be pleased to be wrong.
An announcement like that would make huge waves in the automotive world and it’d get plenty of press, too. If they could time an announcement like that for the Paris show then it would surely take up quite a few column inches.
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The Saab 9-4x will debut at the LA Auto Show a month later, so it won’t be that. I’d bet on one or both of the above.
I just wish it were in the first week of September and not a month later than that.
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