This post is meant to be a container for all the Independence Day Information that I have or will get during the day. Feel free to post links or pictures to the comments. I’ll try to update it on a regularly basis.
Red J here ….
A last update
Our man in Trollhättan is gone to the hotel to get a small rest before the evening event at the Museum starts.
This is what he has found in his hotel room.
It seems like the whole town of Trollhättan is celebrating with Saab.
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A detail of the Ice block front lamps introduced in the 9-3 Griffin.
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For our Swedish readers.
Automotorsport.se has a price list for the SportSedan and Sportcombi Griffin and Aero Griffin, and for the 9-3X Griffin.
As an example:
The 9-3X (current) 2.0TXWD (210hp) Man6 costs SEK 317.900
The 9-3X Griffin 2.0T XWD (220hp) Man6 will cost SEK 323.900
The 9-3SS Vector TTiD 160hp Man6 costs SEK 275.900
The 9-3SS Griffin TTiD 160hp Man6 will cost SEK 258.400
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Some more pictures from our on-site reporter DaveR.
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Swade here…….
A great video from Saab showing some of the achievements from their first year of independence…..
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUDe-JHQ4QA
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Also, a couple of photos from Dave, in Trollhattan….
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As you know, DaveR is today in Trollhättan, and will be the on-site reporter for SU. 🙂
This is his program for the morning.
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I don’t know if those announced 300 special Cakes will look like this
But it could be.
Saab says thank you to you all.
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TTela.se has a live article about the celebration.
They also have some photos of the 9-5SC.
Front
Back
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On the Saab media site, you can find hi-res pictures of the 9-3 Griffin.
This is the interior update for the 9-3 Griffin.
Just seen Victor at breakfast at Hotel Alberts.
He’s looking as excited and enthusiastic as usual in the run-up to the celebrations.
G
WOW, the VIP invitation card 😉
I wish I was there …..
happy Birthday to everyone in Trollhattan and here on SU ….. we went through a lot of pain but emerged victorious ….
I got letter from SAAB yesterday, which explained the independence day concept and also had a picture of the 9-4x the 9-5 sedan and a picture of the new 9-5 combi from a different angle than the official image released a couple of weeks a go. I will try to scan it when I get home unless someone beats me to it.
/Christofer
I got one too yesterday. I have emailed that picture you mention to Swade. And a translation of the text.
But can perhaps scan that pic better? I got the folding of the broschure very visual. :-/
Hi, guys! I got an letter and a leaflet in the post yesterday, where SAAB tells about the 1-year celebation. In the letter, they talk about the 9-3 Griffin, “with several new design features”, as well as the green 9-3SC TTID, with 180hp. Apparently, there will also be 2 new BioPower engines, which can be ordered with XWD. The new 9-3 Griffins will have their first delivery, in Sweden , in april. There is also a new, small picture (CGI too, it seems) of the 9-5SC. Still a rear left “shot”, but from a lower angle. Looks even more stunning… Read more »
Hi Micke,
where are you based?
Thanx, Alexandros.
I get the VIP-thing with lunch etc. but would it be possible without signing up to drive to the factory at 12:30 and attend the “main event” ?
Congratulations to all the people who is part of Saab for the 1st year of independence. We are all proud for your wonderful effort and work during this year.
And congratulations to the customers because we can continue enjoying this unique and special brand.
Saab UP!!!!
Agree with you CR; this is a day that needs to be remembered.
Thanks to all who made this possible.
And as you said; this is the first year in a beautiful future for the Saab brand.
Happy Birthday, new SAAB! 😀
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Sigh.
🙂
Ttela.se is repirting direct from the party in Trollhättan. Start at 1100 local Swedish time
Saab independence day
I will take a trip to my local Saab dealer for some Swedish “fika”.
The cakes are a little different… just round so everyon can have a piece of one of the 372 cakes (why 372?)
http://ttela.se/start/vanersborg/1.1129611-de-bakar-372-tartor-till-saabfesten
Hey, Ho. let’s go…
http://ttela.se/ekonomi/saab/1.1130171-just-nu-varldspremiar-for-9-5-sportscombi
Is that the curvy tailgate?
Its agonizingly still unclear to me which tailgate it is……
The live page updated into english:
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=sv&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fttela.se%2Fekonomi%2Fsaab%2F1.1130171-ttela-rapporterar-direkt-fran-firandet&act=url
YIIHAA!!
Now what we need are hi-res pics and loads of them 🙂 It is great to see good things happen to good people and companies!!
Looks like the “curvy” tailgate. Looks good!!
Somebody from saab, please tell us when the press materials hit the web… I can’t sit here and press F5 the whole day…. 🙂
it’s not much but…
http://yfrog.com/gy864fj
Wow, thanks for that pic. A great relief, curvy it is.
I’m hoping to see reverse parking sensor as standard (or at least a very inexpensive option) in the 9-5 SC from now on 😉
look what that person also has posted:
http://yfrog.com/hs9v0gvj
and finally
:
http://yfrog.com/gy7mjmgj
Now I saw that TTELA has added some pictures to their “live” feed. Better quality of the SC
RS its already standard on 9-5 Ss and will surely be the same on SC.
Henke, at least in the base model its a part of the Linear Active package (about $1000) that includes the color display.
Seems like today shall be quite an interesting day indeed! 🙂
RS, Strange. What country?
Sweden
Local (country) offers are not comparable with other countries. For instance in Germany the Linear comes with wheelcovers, while in The Netherlands alloys are standard. Also pricing is different for different options
I like the simple but yet nice looking inprovement of the 9-3 interior panel. This may be enough to keep the 9-3 selling until the replacement is here!
holy cows that interior looks great. And I don’t understand the complaining about the rear doors of the 9-5sc (being the same ones used on the sedan), because it looks amazing!
I think the complaints about the rear doors are based on
1) One picture
2) The assumption that using the same doors are a sign of laziness or bean counting.
As the doors actually look good, I would think that that debate is going slow down.
I want more pictures !!!! 🙂
A few more pictures found on sverige radio website with the speach of VM
http://saab.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/02/23/victor-muller-today-we-re-alive-and-kicking.html
Here is the link oops
Is it just me, or does the wagon just look better and better and BETTER with each picture you see?
Some pictures make it look great and others make it look like a whale (in its most negative meaning).
So I must say that I need to see that car in the flesh before it is possible to come with a final verdict.
I see where you’re coming from, but to me, the “whale” bit doesn’t pose a problem, I want my wagons big. However, I’m not so sure it’ll prove to be that much of a whale once you see it in the metal.
Of course, until seeing it in the metal, I will hold back my final judgement but the profile of the 9-5 SC doesn’t convince me. It looks out of proportions. Reminds me of this.
The 9-3 though: What a car! These last ones will much sought-after in a couple of years. I want an Aero SC with 220 hp Biopower engine, XWD, 6 speed manual and Hirsch.
You really need to have your eyes examined! 🙂
I admit that that was a bit harsh. 😉
Now that’s uncalled for 😮
Nothing on earth looks like the Rodent, sorry Rodius!
In the interior of the Convertible is a button visible next to the cupholder. This is not visible in this picture of the Griffin version. Does anyone know what that button should do (and it is not for opening the roof).
It is not easy to see, but I’ve seen in other cars that the On-Star buttons (USA) are placed there.
Thanx for the suggestion. I looked at the Saab Usa website, but it is not visible on the pic’s of the ‘old’ Convertible. May be a passenger launge button (it is a convertible after all)? We have to wait and see on the new configuration pages on the Saab website, I presume.
SAABUSA — offer a discount on badges! I’d be in today to International Motors and pick one up! Well, I still want the saab-scania one so maybe you shouldn’t GIVE me one, but you get the idea!
Happy Birthday, SAAB! And you are slowly but steadily convincing me that the 9-5SC will be my next car. That car looks better and better – well done!
Have a nice day, all SAABers!
Cheers from Norway!
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAB. Always!
Extremely proud of the interest for the Saab brand from all over the world!
Still a little bit curious abut the “Rear Lid/Bumber” connection on the 9 5 wagon. Is this really the solution chosen for the serial production??
Too bad Canada couldn’t get its own website in time for the celebrations. More important to get the cars, I know.
Happy Independence Day to all SAAB lovers. And to those that don’t know yet.
Interesting things pop up everywhere. In the report about the event at Svenska Dagbladets (SvD) webiste ( ) there is a short sentence saying the following: “Orderingången för vecka sju var 1 990 bilar. Det är den högsta orderingången sedan Spyker Cars tog över.” “In English: Orders during week number seven were 1990 cars. That is the highest numbers since Spyker Cars took over”. IF that keeps up as a minumum for the rest of the year (which it probably won’t as the market is moving up and down from month to month): 1990 cars x (52-7) = 89550 cars.… Read more »
And that thing trying to use the “add link” function totally messed up. Sorry.
Great news anyway! I have a good feeling today and hopefully it stays that way atleast a couple of years.
This is the cherry topping on that Independence Day cake! Sales Up!
Read a comment on a Swedish site from a guy who said he visited his dealer today and lay an order for 4 Saab 9-3 SC TTiD. 🙂
Indeed it is moving in the right direction.
I actually don’t like the Griffin that much, so I am very much inclined to buy one of the pre-Griffin 9-3 leftovers ASAP 😀
I wonder if that’s a factor :p
Carl-Henrik you are the guy to find very good and tasteful news.
When does the first 9-3 SC TTiD/119g showing up in the statistic? Is it in march or april, does anyone know! The increase will be significant to sale figures in SWE. Looking forward to read the stat from BilSweden.
PS Tomas Hagberg=Tomas TL1000R (just for your information)
As long as you don’t tell my boss what I’m doing sometimes during office time.. 😉 😉
No idea for when they will start show up, but I think we will get the news here when the first one is delivered and then it will be included in the “Below 120 CO2 g/km ECO-cars” in the Swedish stats. We have the SS there already, so I guess we will see when there is an even larger increase. But no, today we don’t have a date when that happens.
Jorgen,
the 50 % off thing with SaabUK and hirsch, is just engine upgrades or is it accessories as well?
Thanks,
Dave
Notice Victor’s matching jacket with the vert!
Kool man no doubt.
Image #5 with the SC. What are people complaining about the lines of the doors not connecting with the rest. For me that is just sheer beautiful design.
I get tears in my eyes… 🙂 SAAB is such an amazing phenomenon. It´s not just a car or a car maker, it is a community of shared values, wishes and emotions stretching across the world. SAAB the car maker seems to be in an emotional symbiosis with its customers and fans, spurring the car maker to superperformance. Somehow I get the feeling that this relationship can be contagious and attract new fans and customers. Why buy just a car when you can get much more than just a car, by buying a SAAB. The SAAB phenomenon deserves to be… Read more »
Very interesting post JL. For sure, owning a SAAB is more than just owning a car. I don’t think its unique to SAAB but it is not common to all brands. Of course surviving a near death experience is a very unique feature that make our bonds stronger. Can’t wait to see the next 9-3. It will tell us where all this is really going but for sure, our Captain and crew have pointed Enterprise SAAB towards a bold, new and promising world.
Long live SAAB!
Once more I can only say that everybody should read Hirschman’s book “Exit, Voice, Loalty”. That explain everything. 😉
+1, JL! There are so many things to comment on, but here they are.. 1) Cool that Scandic gave away a bag of BILAR to celebrate the independence day of Saab! 2) I really like the red-orange color of the 9-3 cab, along with the rims and fog light surrounds! Saab cabriolets should stand out from the crowd, as the Lime Yellow color did when it first arrived. 3) Not too crazy about the aluminium-ish dash fascia on the 9-3.. Hopefully it looks better IRL than on this particular image. 4) I hate to say it, but I actually agree… Read more »
As you say, the scenery doesn’t do it a favour. Because of the dark background, the rear window appears to be steeper than it is which unbalances the proportions. If it looks as good in the flesh as on my current wallpaper (February calender), I’ll be very happy.
Great coverage today Red J, really nice work! And thanks to all those on the scene bringing back these live shots, looks amazing Dave.
Finally a debadged edition is not a bad idea. I find the badges on the long-talked about tailgate of the 9-5SC look like an afterthought. A minor detail of course.
Happy Birthday Saab and many, many more! Some exciting machines there!!
Happy 1st year of rebirth to Saab!!!……….and thanks to all its workers, dealers, supliers, customers and fans for doing it possible.
Saab Up!!!!!!!
Good times!
Off topic.
Doesn’t this roof line look familiar?
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/geneva-auto-show-nissan-esflow-concept/?ref=automobiles
And another one! Look at the roof line:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/geneva-auto-show-renault-captur-concept/
Noticed that it is not the same car they are showing that is on the pressrelease, unless they have switched the stereo. It is a big navscreen in the one they are showing and just the small stereo in the press release…
Just a notice…
The SVT’s video report is online
http://saab.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/02/23/party-i-trollhattan-the-svt-s-video-report.html
Check out this video on the Swedish television
here
sorry!, forgot something
Lars, I’ve repaired your first comment.
If you want to add a link to your comment, you have to mark the word you would like the people to click in order to follow the link. If you don’t mark a word you will not see the link.
Red J
For those of you who can’t wait to get hold of the 9-3 Convertible Indepence Edition alloy wheels: they are the “BBS CS Schwarz-Diamantgedreht”: . Available in 8-spoke 4-bolt or 10-spoke 5-bolt, in 17″, 18″ and 19″. So even your 9000 can get some Spyker-day Saab influences!
Very UN-Saabish to pick a not by Saab designed wheel. The style is not Saab according to my taste.
This is one splendid day!
Congratulations Saab Spyker!
The 9-3 Independence day looks stunning. And what they achieved in one year, against all ods, is really amazing. Well done, Saab!
I have seen the car in the flesh for a couple of months now and it keeps growing on me. Today at the celebration with all the people and the car in the wild, it really looked goregous. I saw a white one on the roads as well and it was stunning! If I needed a big cargo area I wouldn’t hesitate a second to order a 9-5 sc biopower xwd in java with turbine wheels 🙂
A detail I like about the 9-3 interior is the matte silver trim on the hvac knobs.
I really don’t like the 9-5 and 9-4x’s chrome GM-style trim on the switch gear. I know I’m being nit-picky but chrome isn’t very Saab, especially when the exterior details are matte finished. You know?