Tag Archives for 9-5
Saab to be saved by mystery Swedish electric car company
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Saab, Europe/EU
The all-but-lifeless corpse of Saab continues to stagger forward in hopes of finding a juicy investor to sink its teeth into. Autocar reports that National Electric Vehicle Sweden is currently close to buying t… Continue reading
Is Saab considering a Russian plant?
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Saab, Spyker, Russia
Spyker‘s association with ex-company chairman Vladimir Antonov is what almost kept the Saab deal from happening. But after a high-profile bid to clear his name (still waiting on the report, Mr. A) and the scent of euros on the table, you didn’t really think Antonov was just going to walk away, did you?
The Russian said in an interview last week that Saab was looking to build a production plant in Russia and will sign a memorandum of understanding to that effect “within a month.” Another report has put potential production of such a facility at 10,000 cars per year.
Spyker CEO Victor Muller has had nothing to say on the statement. Naturally, we have no idea if Saab is looking for a Russian plant, but we’d be shocked (not for the first time, we admit) to find it were doing so “within a month.” We’d have a much easier time believing that Spyker wants to get the new 9-5 and 9-5 SportCombi selling briskly and a better 9-3 on the way before it makes huge increases in production capacity in Russia. But that’s just us…
[Source: Moscow Times]
Is Saab considering a Russian plant? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Finally Final: Saab sale transfer completed between GM and Spyker
Filed under: GM, Saab, Earnings/Financials, Spyker
2011 Saab 9-5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
After a Mullholland’s worth of twists and turns, the sale of Saab Automobile AB to Spyker Cars is complete. The official transfer of ownership from General Motors to the Dutch supercar concern occurred earlier today, and now Saab will get down to the difficult business of becoming profitable.
According to Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars, a man who is fast becoming something of a folk hero in Sweden:
“Through this acquisition we add approximately 15 euros per share in equity and 60 euros of assets. With a well funded business plan in place we are looking forward to working with Saab’s management on the realization of that plan and bringing exciting new products to our customers. Real Saabs, Saab Saabs.”
With a compelling new 9-5 waiting in the wings and a raft of vehicles (9-3X, 9-4) just around the bend, the Swedish automaker’s short-term future looks bright, but even before those new products have run their course, the real battle for sustained profitability will begin, with Saab likely needing to partner with a larger automaker to share development costs for new models.
As it is, the rumormill has been rife with return-to-form scuttlebutt, including the return of a five-door hatchback bodystyle for the next-gen 9-3 and the possibility of a ’50s-era teardrop-inspired 9-2 model that would seem to jibe with Muller’s “Real Saab, Saab Saabs” comment. Will the promise of such models be enough to see the Griffin rise triumphantly from the ashes? If the build-up to the handover of the brand is any indication, Saab’s revival effort is at least going to be one hell of a spectacle. Official statements from both Spyker and GM available after the jump.
Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5
[Sources: Spyker Cars, General Motors]
Continue reading Finally Final: Saab sale transfer completed between GM and Spyker
Finally Final: Saab sale transfer completed between GM and Spyker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Report: Saab 9-5 sales will start in U.S. in the second quarter
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Saab, Spyker, Luxury
We had an interesting chat with a Saab mechanic in Hollywood yesterday. Naturally, he was overcome with great joy over the fact that Spyker saved Saab. What made the conversation interesting was his asking us if there will be a 2010 Saab 9-5? Dunno. Er, didn’t know. But that was then. Today we feel pretty confident that there will not be a 2010 Saab 9-5. kind of exactly how there’s no 1983 Corvette, minus the haggard sales saga.
However, according to a report by Edmunds Auto Observer, there will in fact be a 2011 Saab 9-5. Spyker is set to ramp up production of the new car in April and begin selling Saabs to us American types at some point during the second quarter. Did we say Saabs? We meant to say Saab Spykers, as the new cars may be called. Regardless, anything introduced to the market during May or June of a given year will be labeled as next year’s model. Hence, the 2011 Saab Spyker 9-5.
The Auto Observer is also confirming that the Saab (Spyker) 9-4 will also go on sale at some unspecified future date. The 9-4 and 9-4X are based on General Motors‘ Theta Premium architecture – the same platform used by the Cadillac SRX. Since so much parts sharing will be going on (the 9-5 will come with at least three General Motors engines), GM will continue supplying parts to Saab Spyker for many moons, and as such have a vested interest in the new company doing well. Not too well of course, as Saab will now be free to compete head-to-head with GM brands Buick and/or Cadillac.
One last thing, and this is a plea from our Saab mechanic friend more then anything else: here’s hoping Saab Spyker has the good sense to remount Saab motors longitudinally and backwards, rather than sideways, especially when a new 9-3 shows up, as that set up really is a trait of the Griffin.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5
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[Source: Auto Observer]
Report: Saab 9-5 sales will start in U.S. in the second quarter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
