Back in the early 1960s, Saab touted its background in building aircraft just as enthusiastically as it did under GM's leadership in the 21st century -- it was a bit more believeable back then only 15 years after WWII.
These are English-language commercials for the 95 hatch/wagon and the 96 sedan (with a 42-hp engine!), and they're beautifully remastered. The Scandinavian actors look as tidy and wholesome as they would today. Interestingly, it's OK put the kiddies in the trunk of these cars, whereas today they'd all be restrained in deluxe Britax car seats.
2 more videos after the jump.
Continue reading Commercials: Travel Back to 1960s' Scandinavia with Saab.
Categories: Classic Cars,Saab
The last of the GM-engineered Saabs, the Epsilon II-based 2010 Saab 9-5, quietly debuted in Frankfurt this week. This is just some running footage from Saab, but it's a chance to see the interior and the car on the road.
We're expecting the new 9-5 to feel a lot like the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, which we've driven in regular and VXR vareties.
2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: 2010 Saab 9-5
Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Saab,Sedans
This long list of events is your chance to throw away your inhibitions and lay down some rubber. Some of the track days make you bring your own vehicle, while others provide you with a machine to pilot. Either way, find the right event and brush up on your driving skills by booking some track time at the links below.
Continue reading Hit Up the Track With These Events.
Categories: Audi,BMW,Bentley,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Consumer Track Events,Dodge,Ferrari,Ford,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Mazda,Mitsubishi,Porsche,Saab,Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Saab has released official details of its 2010 9-5 flagship sedan about a month after photos leaked online. Saab's managing director Jan-Ake Jonsson says that the vehicle is the "start of a new era for [the] brand."
Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: 2010 Saab 9-5.
Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Saab
Lost among all the business issues swirling around Saab is the fact that the company is still working on developing new vehicles. One of our staffers was in Death Valley recently soaking up some rays when he spotted these 9-5 test mules taking a break from the heat.
As we've seen before, this new sedan will get a shape with that features typical Saab "uniqueness" and at this point there's nothing new owner Koenigsegg can do about it even if wanted to shake things up a little. Also note the new Cadillac SRX being used as a support vehicle. GM may be officially out of the Saab business in the future, but for now it will still play a central role in product development.
Spy Photos: Saab 9-5 Spotted in Scandinavia
Categories: Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Saab,Sedans,Spy Photos
Among all the chatter about the upcoming Koenigsegg/Saab tie up was a report in a Swedish newspaper confirming the eventual production of the Quant electric concept first shown at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
Like most concepts at the Geneva show, the Quant concept was light on hard numbers but big on promises. Koenigsegg said the Quant had over 500-hp, a range of 310 miles and a recharge time of just 20 minutes. Sounds great, but we're guessing the production model will be somewhat less powerful, have less range and require more than a short nap to fully recharge.
IL News: GM Selling Saab to Koenigsegg
IL News: Will Saab Have More Soul With Koenigsegg at the Helm?
Categories: Concept Vehicles,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Green Tech,Saab,Sedans
General Motors has confirmed that it has an agreement to see its Saab brand to Swedish specialty car maker Koenigsegg. The deal is expected to conclude in the third quarter of this year and includes a roughly $600M funding commitment from the Swedish government.
Much like the sale of its Saturn brand, GM will continue to build Saab vehicles for several years under contract until the new company can development its own models.
IL News: GM Selling Saab to Koenigsegg
Categories: Auto Industry,General Motors,Saab
Bloomberg is reporting that GM has settled on Swedish specialty automaker Koenigsegg as the best suitor for Saab.
AutoObserver: GM Picks Koenigsegg as Front-Runner for Saab
Categories: Saab
If you have never driven on a race track, you should. If your skills are weak, track time will make them better. And if you think you're an undiscovered Tony Stewart, well then, get out there and prove it. The list that follows after the jump gives some ideas where you might try your luck both on the road and in the dirt.
Continue reading Looking for Track Time? Find It Here.
Categories: Audi,BMW,Bentley,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Consumer Track Events,Dodge,Ferrari,Ford,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep,Lamborghini,Land Rover,Lexus,Lotus,MINI,Maserati,Mazda,Porsche,Saab,Scion,Subaru,Toyota
Seems hard to believe that any company would be interested in buying a failing automaker given the current market conditions. Yet, in one news story after another, company officials from GM and others claim to have willing bidders for their in-market brands.
AutoObserver columnist Bill Visnic has compiled a list of these claims, and taken together they're no more convincing that they are by themselves. You buying any of it?
AutoObserver: Buyers, Buyers Everywhere - Or is That "Interested Parties?"
Categories: Auto Industry,General Motors,HUMMER,Saab,Saturn
According to a report in the Swedish paper Dagens Industri, there are three companies in the running to buy Volvo. Two of them are Chinese while the third is a "European constellation." Bids are expected to be in by mid-April.
In the meantime, Volvo has asked the European Investment Bank for a $568M loan to keep the lights on.
Automotive News
Saab Files for Bankruptcy
Categories: Saab,Volvo
Saab, the fair-haired stepchild of General Motors and the brand "Born from Debts," has filed for protection from its creditors in a Swedish court, according to The New York Times.
The move comes as no surprise because in its filing with the U.S. Treasury Department earlier this week General Motors indicated it would stop funding Saab next year. As is the way these dark days, Saab is looking to the Swedish government to step in and provide financial assistance for the soon-to-be orphan brand.
Uh oh. Reuters news service quoted a spokesman for the industry minister, Hakan Lind saying, "Support in the form of money is not on the agenda."
According to Saab managing director, Jan-Ake Jonsson, the company sees a formal reorganization as, "the best way to create a truly independent entity that that is ready for investment." Indeed. So, anyone interested in buying Saab? It sold a grand total of 21,383 vehicles in the United States in 2008. Gather your crowns, kids.
NYT
Categories: General Motors,Saab
At GM's press conference Tuesday, CEO Rick Wagoner said that without additional money from the Swedish government, Saab would likely have to file for reorganization. Well, according to various reports, the Swedish government has said it won't help out.
Sweden's Industry Minister Maud Olofsson was quoted as saying:
"I'm deeply disappointed in General Motors. They have in practice removed their hand from Saab. Instead they are handing over responsibility to Swedish taxpayers."
Hmm...sounds familiar.
AutoObserver: Saab to File for Reconstruction, Swedish Report Says
Categories: General Motors,Saab
Remember all those cool Saab concept vehicles that were rolled out at various auto shows over the past few years? They had a common design theme that was cool looking, yet hard to envision on a real production car, especially a sedan.
Well, it appears as though the time has come for a production application of that design and the 2011 Saab 9-5 appears to be the chosen vehicle. These shots of a 9-5 prototype taken recently in Scandinavia reveal the new shape and it's no small step.
Note how the upright windshield drops off into a steeply raked roofline similar to the concepts. The theme continues all the way back as the rear window is stretched way out until it comes to an end at the very slim looking rear end. Saab sedans have traditionally used an upright windshield and steeply sloped roofline to define their shape, but this looks like a more extreme application of the design, one that might actually get the 9-5 noticed.
Categories: Saab,Sedans,Spy Photos
Last week we asked whether or not Google could run one of the Big Three. Actually, it wasn't us, it was Jeff Jarvis. He wrote a book all about the greatness of Google, so he conveniently threw in a chapter about the Big Three to make sure the book landed on relevant magazine covers and websites. It worked.
Now, Autocar is reporting that Saab is looking to become "the Apple of car brands." An ambitious step for a company that stands a good chance of being cast off the GM ship at any moment. According to Knut Simonsson, Saab's director of Global Brand and Sales, "We don't want to be another Audi."
Mr. Simonsson went on to say that Saab's comeback will be helped along by an all-new 9-5 that will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and go on sale later in 2009. He also mentioned that Saab could be profitable even if it only sold 150,000 a year.
Autocar
Categories: Auto Industry,Saab
