Saab is Dead - Or is it?; Yes, yes it is

  • Thread starter Famine
  • 306 comments
  • 32,813 views
Really? I couldn't have lived with the almost constant threat of...

"...hang on, looks a bit like an Impre-"
"YES THEY JUST REBADGED ONE OK".

I don't want to use the words 'it's not a real Saab', since that opens me up to a whole barrage of attack on the GM front, but I don't like how little effort has been put into the transformation. Not just from Saab's point of view, either - it wasn't that long ago I was staring at pictures of Imprezas on my bedroom walls, and to see the corporate face of a completely different company (with a completely different spirit, in my opinion) stamped on the front of a car that's quite clearly a Subaru irritates me quite a lot.

I'd rather have a 9-3, however ancient and Vectra-y the underneath may be. You do with that get the impression that Saab had at least some input in the design of the thing. I'd rather have a 2005 Impreza too, as it happens, despite its comparatively questionable image in the UK.

But then I don't like re-badges. We know this.
 
Jondot
But then I don't like re-badges. We know this.
Click to expand...

There's a Chrysler Ypsilon waiting for you in hell :D

In the Saabaru's defense, they did spruce up the interior materials a bit, albeit didn't do much with the design. And apparently, the slightly flatter bonnet actually meant better aerodynamics than the more bulbous scooby, and more air to the intercooler.

Also, since McRae and Burns passed all Subaru now says to me is "yob with too much money". Whereas I still like Saabs, and I still like the rollneck sweater image. The 9-2X is like a socially-acceptable Subaru.
 
The Last Saabs Built, Left To Rot At A New Jersey Port
At least 100-200 cars are parked outside.
It seemed like they are parked in clusters, with bunches of 9-3s together and the two visible sport combis tossed in... There were 9-5s everywhere... The cars have brake rotor covers, large pieces of paper in the driver's side rear windows with their VINs and a fair amount of Jersey grossness on them
Click to expand...
http://jalopnik.com/5897732/the-last-saabs-ever-built-left-to-rot-at-a-new-jersey-port

http://www.foundourownroad.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=562

xlarge.jpg


xlarge.jpg


xlarge.jpg


IMGP6424.JPG


IMGP6385.JPG
 
Last edited:
Hmm, I wonder if they'll sell those abandoned Saabs at a great discount? :mischievous: Those 9-5s were/are pretty nice cars.
 
Victor Muller seems a bit lost.

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Spyker Cars NV, the tiny Dutch company that bought Swedish carmaker Saab from General Motors Co. for $74 million in 2010, said Monday it is suing GM for $3 billion in damages.

Spyker, along with its now-bankrupt Saab subsidiary, alleges that GM unfairly blocked deals that would have seen a Chinese manufacturer take over Saab production and save it from bankruptcy. It says GM feared competing with Saab in China.

"We owe it to our stakeholders and ourselves that justice is done," said Spyker CEO Victer Muller. "We tirelessly worked to save Saab Automobile until GM destroyed those efforts and deliberately drove Saab Automobile into bankruptcy."

GM could not immediately be reached for comment.

Saab continued a downward spiral under Spyker's ownership as consumers worried about buying cars from a maker that appeared likely to be out of business soon. The Swedish company eventually went bankrupt in late 2011. It is now being bought out of bankruptcy by National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB.

As part of the deal selling Saab, GM retained say over GM technology used by Saab — including the chassis of most of its models. It also kept $327 million in preferred shares in Saab, with payments due to start several years after the sale, if Saab turns profitable.

Spyker has never turned a profit, and Saab never turned a profit under its oversight. When the takeover occurred in 2010, most analysts were extremely skeptical that Spyker would be able to turn Saab around, saying that it didn't have the quality to compete against high-end luxury cars, nor the volumes needed to compete in the upper-middle class market.

As Saab's financial position grew increasingly dire, Chief Executive Victor Muller cast about for various buyers for Saab.

The lawsuit filed in United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan alleges that GM unfairly used its right to prevent the sale of Saab to a Chinese company, citing its ownership of chassis technology. Spyker said one of the chassis was actually developed by Saab after it left GM.

"Since Saab Automobile is in receivership... Spyker and Saab have entered an agreement pursuant to which Spyker will bear the costs of such litigation in exchange for a very substantial share of Saab Automobile award when the proceedings are successful," Spyker said in a statement. It said it had financial backing from an unnamed third party "to see the lawsuit through to the end."

US news
 
TVC
Is there any reason to save Saab?
Click to expand...

Plenty.

Consumer choice being one. Preserving heritage being another. Preserving jobs being another. Giving it the chance of taking a direction it could never have taken under GM is also one.
 
homeforsummer
Plenty.

Consumer choice being one. Preserving heritage being another. Preserving jobs being another. Giving it the chance of taking a direction it could never have taken under GM is also one.
Click to expand...

Good points, I wasn't looking at the big picture.

Before I was going to post something along the lines of, "They're not going out of business because of record sales." I was thinking that Saab really had no reason to still be around. They aren't as nice as their German competitors and, although they have historically been innovative, they haven't really been popular with consumers. But I guess if they do survive, and do change, they could have a place in the future automotive market. Right now I am not seeing it, I don't see any reason to buy a Saab over its competitors. Though I also don't really see a reason to buy a Buick but apparently people are still buying those.

I think you are right though, especially saving the jobs Saab creates.
 
Saab...returns?

http://carbuzz.com/news/2012/8/27/Saab-Returns-Spyker-and-Youngman-Announce-Mega-Deal-7710443/

Yes this is actually happening, at least on paper. As we all know, boutique sports car company Spyker bought Saab from General Motors in the hopes of reviving the struggling Swedish brand.Long story short, it didn't happen and Spyker is now suing GM for leaving Saab in such a sorry state of affairs. Before this, Spyker was looking for a partner to build Saabs but GM killed a potential deal with Chinese automaker Youngman out of concern of its platform technology becoming accessible to a Chinese brand.

Although it seemed that Spyker's efforts to revive Saab were as good as dead, today it's been announced by the automaker that they've just formed a new, yet unusual alliance with Youngman. The deal still needs to be finalized at Youngman's end, but if approved it will see that company invest €10 million in Spyker. A joint venture called Spyker P2P will then be created where Youngman will contribute an additional €25 million, giving it a 75 percent stake in the partnership. Spyker will have the remaining 25 percent and will then return the favor by supplying Youngman with the technology of its D8 Peking-to-Paris SUV concept along with Spyker trademarks.

Following all of this so far? This joint venture hopes to have the D8 SUV on sale by the end of 2014. If all goes well, then more models will come of the deal - and this is where Saab fans should find themselves pleased.A second joint venture was also announced, called Spyker Phoenix, in which Youngman will supply Spyker the rights to the Phoenix platform. If you recall, Saab debuted the Phoenix concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show as an all-wheel-drive gasoline-electric hybrid. Saab was previously developing this platform independently from GM for the next 9-3, but then sold it to Youngman last year for a much-needed cash infusion.

In return, Youngman will also handle production start-up costs for vehicles to be built on this platform, of which a range of models will be based on. These models are what could become new Saabs.Yes, this is a rather unusual, even radical joint venture, not to mention complicated. However, both companies seem intent on making this whole thing work.It is risky, but its success could not only see the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris reach production (along with an increased output of other Spyker models), but also the return of Saab. Production could even take place in both Europe and China.

Youngman CEO Pang Qingnian stated that "With this agreement, many of our original intentions with the Saab brand will still take shape and we are excited to help Spyker further develop its vehicle model range with the SUV and vehicles based on Saab's Phoenix platform." Could this be the official return of Saab? We'll just have to wait and see to find out.
Click to expand...

205838.jpg
 
Saab to be relaunched with petrol engine and later on with electric ones
We haven't heard much from National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) since they acquired most of Saab's assets, but the company has apparently confirmed plans to offer their electric 9-3 as a sedan, wagon and convertible.

Since the electric variants aren't slated to go into production for 18 months, the company is considering using petrol engines in the short term. However, the engines would likely need to be bought from General Motors and the company hasn't been keen on helping Saab since things went sour with former owner Spyker. Despite this the spokesperson said "There is still a small possibility that GM engines will be delivered, but we are still working on it." If that doesn't happen, the company has "options with other brands."
Click to expand...
WorldCarFans
 
I think this is a pretty exciting prospect for a reinvention of the brand. Regardless of it's age and "wobblyness," the previous Saab 9-3 convertible was a good-looking car. Coming to the market with an electric one puts them entirely in their own segment. Granted, it looks like it'll be China-only.

It will certainly be a market here in the not-too-distant future. It will be interesting to see who gets to it first.


* Yes, I realize there was the Tesla Roadster.
 
I saw the SAAB story on Top Gear last night. If what they said was true, they were basically trolling GM from the 9-3 on by reengineering the cars. Example, the 9-3 was supposed supposed to be a Cavalier, but in the end only used a third of those parts, then when they 9-5 was coming along, it was supposed to be a Vectra, but became so different, even the wheelbase was different. They went so far, they threw out the GM Sat-nav system and developed thier own because they felt the GM system "wasn't good enough".

I liked SAABs, they had an understated look, were rarely offensive, and were safe as any Volvo (proven again by Top Gear), and while the jet reference ads were loose at best, they weren't horrible cars. Misdirected maybe, but not horrible.
 
I don't understand why Apple can build good quality iphones in China, but car manufacturers can't build a good car there. You'd think they could save on labor and build some really good vehicles. Maybe they'll figure it out with Saab.
 
I find the name of Saab's new owners highly confusing, and their insistence on making the new cars electric worries me. Surely it'd be far easier just to produce cars using the existing drivetrains?
 

Similar threads

V
  • Poll
Which is cooler? Mercedes CL500 vs Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon
Replies
4
Views
1K
ScottPuss20
ScottPuss20
CodeRedR51
RIP Holden. GM shutting down brand and RHD manufacturing
2 3
Replies
67
Views
7K
Darla Starch
Darla Starch
GranTurNismo
2023 Chevrolet FNR-XE: a sleek, muscular Tesla Model 3 competitor?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Keef
Keef
CodeRedR51
GM closing 5 US/Canadian plants, 2 International - Laying off staff
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Keef
Keef
Zolon32
Is it an Octopus, or is it a Tree?
2
Replies
51
Views
5K
IfAndOr
IfAndOr

Latest Posts

Back