The World Has Caught Up to Saab…Or So Saab Hopes
For years and years, Saab has been struggling to find a happy medium between maintaining its unique and renowned character and possessing enough mainstream virtues to appeal to an audience big enough to sustain profitable volumes. It’s lucky for them that consumer values may be shifting in ways that make traditional Saab values suddenly more relevant.

What has made a vehicle uniquely a Saab? This has generally meant unique (and sometimes quirky) style, rejection of excess, and small displacement engines with high output, often through turbocharging. Consistent with these values, Saab has rejected many attributes that were up till recently a given for success, such as big and beefy engines and SUV bodystyles (on both those counts, we’ll forget the Saab Bravada…er 9-7X ever existed).

Today, however, those Saab values might be a little more relevant. Ford and others are touting small displacement direct injected turbos, and small premium multi-use vehicles are popping up all over the place. Hmm…has Saab’s time to shine finally come?

Continue reading "Saab 9-4X Concept: Finally, A Saab For the Times?" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Slow-Selling 9-7X Range Adds Aero Model for 2008MY
Saab borrows the 390HP 6.0L V8 that Chevrolet used to create the TrailBlazer SS for a 9-7X Aero for 2008MY. With the power, the Aero gets polished aluminum twenty-inch wheels, a specific paint color (Carbon Flash Metallic), and Aero embroidered leather seats inside. The Aero also takes a heavy-duty rear axle with a limited-slip differential and increases braking power with larger rotors, iron twin-piston calipers, and high-performance brake pad lining. These mechanical differences are the same changes applied to the TrailBlazer to create the SS, though the Saab 9-7X already had a lowered suspension compared to the Chevy. (Aside from adding the Aero model, there are only color and wheel changes to the 9-7X range for the 2008MY.)

The Saab 9-7X is on its way out, and losing what little relevance it had. The product gave Saab a quick and inexpensive SUV, but one so un-Saab-like that it did not help brand image. Joining the club of offering excessive power from an already thirsty product, especially in the midst of media and public concern over fuel economy and "global warming," seems misguided. Luxury entries from brands with performance history like BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne offer high-output performance-oriented models to help keep brand image up, but adding a 390HP Aero 9-7X does nothing for Saab's overall brand image. Saab cannot disguise the fact that the 9-7X Aero is an American-mindset product. Even as Saab used jet references in announcing the Aero, describing the Aero's performance as "jetlike" and the 9-7X Aero as taking off and TV commercials play on the jet theme, they can't make this round product fit into Saab's square product hole.

Still, putting image and brand personality aside, our experience with the Aero's mechanical twin Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS gives us confidence that the Saab variant will be an entertaining drive. The Aero may bring in a non-traditional Saab buyer, but Saab has nothing with which to keep them, nor are they developing new products in the same vein.

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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IIHS released the results of its 2007 Safety Pick Awards on November 20. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific feel that these results are important to communicate to our readers. Along with other awards for quality, satisfaction and performance, safety awards can and should be among the information sources a buyer uses when deciding which new vehicle to buy. After all, the Internet gives us almost perfect information.

While we do appreciate the safety value of electronic stability control, it will take years for the entire fleet to be equipped with ESC. For IIHS to eliminate all vehicles lacking ESC eliminates many otherwise safe vehicles from their analysis. This is too simplistic an approach.

2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award winners: award criteria are tougher; SUVs eligible for first time

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announces 13 vehicles that earn TOP SAFETY PICK awards for 2007. Winners include 4 cars, 7 SUVs, and 2 minivans. This award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC).

WINNERS

Large car
Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later

Midsize cars
Audi A4
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control

Minivans
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Luxury SUVs
Mercedes M class
Volvo XC90

Midsize SUVs
Acura RDX
Honda Pilot
Subaru B9 Tribeca

Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control

Continue reading "IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2007 Model Year" »

Posted by George Peterson at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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OK, on this one VehicleVoice is just the messenger. The Truth About Cars website has taken it on itself to identify the ten worst cars and trucks sold in the USA in 2006. Not really sure what their credentials are, but here is their press release... When we feel like commenting, see our notes following the press release writeup.

The Truth About Cars Website Names Its Ten Worst Automobiles for 2006

November 8, 2006 - PROVIDENCE, R.I.: The Truth About Cars website (TTAC) has revealed the ten winners of its first annual "Ten Worst Automobiles Today" awards. According to the site's readers, the very worst vehicles sold in America today are... GM's minivans.

For voting purposes, TTAC lumped all four of GM's virtually identical people movers together: the Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza and Pontiac SV6.

In his description of the "winner," reviewer William C. Montgomery slated GM's minivans for their "antique engineering, woeful looks, cancerous effect on not one but four GM brands and their abject inability to hold a candle to their foreign-owned competition." In terms of dreadful driving dynamics, contemptible aesthetics and torturous ergonomics, no other vehicles sold in America can compete with these ridiculously-named 'Crossover Sport Vans.'"

The automotive website's readers voted the new Jeep Compass America's second worst vehicle: a lackluster vehicle that betrays its storied brand's heritage. According to TTAC's description, it's an "ugly, gangly, underpowered, mud-aversive half-breed" that "staggers into the light, turning all who see it-- or heaven forbid buy it-- into grotesque, bobble-headed morons." The Compass "stomps all over Jeep's reputation as America's purveyor of authentic off-road vehicles."

The rest of TTAC's Ten Worst are the Jeep Compass (2), Buick Rendezvous (3), Chrysler Aspen (4), Hummer H2 (5), Chevrolet Monte Carlo (6), Subaru B9 Tribeca (7), Saab 9-7x (8), Lincoln Mark LT (9) and Chevrolet Aveo (10). Capsule reviews are below.

To create the list, The Truth About Cars asked its 40k daily readers to nominate the worst vehicles for sale in the United States during the 2006 calendar year. A selection committee comprised of ten TTAC writers selected 20 finalists from the readers' nominations. Finalists were chosen for their crimes against aesthetics, engineering, ergonomics, driving dynamics and/or brand authenticity. The final ten "winners" were chosen by readers via an electronic poll.

Site publisher Robert Farago said his team created The Ten Worst awards as an antidote to the annual "love ins" provided by the mainstream automotive media. "The profusion of 'best of' automotive awards reflects the fact that the manufacturer-sponsored magazines and websites can't tell it like it is," Farago said. "TTAC is the home of take-no-prisoners automotive journalism. Our Ten Worst list says we're not afraid to tell the truth about cars."

Continue reading "Ten Worst Cars for 2006 - Truth About Cars" »

Posted by George Peterson at 05:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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Our VehicleVoice colleague Jim Hossack posted a blog giving his brief comparison of the Dodge Charger R/T and the Saab 9-5 sedan. Hossack was impressed by the Charger and undrewhelmed by the 9-5.

Saab 9-5 Compared to a Dodge Charger R/T - Unfair!

The fact that the 9-5 is priced about $5,000 higher than the Charger R/T did not help. While the base price of the 9-5 is about $35,000, the as-equipped price of the 9-5 tested was just shy of $42,000. The Charger R/T price was about $37,000 - what a deal. The price of the 9-5 is even more embarrassing when you note it is powered by a 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine putting out 260-horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Not too shabby, but when you compare the more pricey Saab against the brute 340HP 5.7L HEMI V8 with 390 lb-ft of torque, 9-5 is pretty tepid.

Sure, the Saab's turbo puts out more than 100HP per liter - impressive if you are a Euro-fanatic - but the sheer horsepower of the HEMI feels better in its delivery.

Yep, it's not a fair comparison. The 9-5 is supposed to be a highly finessed European sport sedan and the Charger is a blatantly American large, powerful sedan without sophistication. Yet, somehow, for $5,000 less, the Charger is an infinitely better deal. And with the Charger at about $37,000 you even get a rear seat DVD player.

With these kinds of comparative relationship existing, the reason for the existence of the 9-5 really has to be called into question.

Continue reading "Saab 9-5 - Promise Missed" »

Posted by George Peterson at 07:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Saab's Aerospace History Influences Future Design, and a Sports Car Concept

The purpose of the Aero X concept that Saab introduced at the latest Geneva auto show is to explore how the brand might express its heritage and Scandinavian personality in the future. Though the concept on the Saab stand this year is a two-seat coupe, and Saab is said to be developing a sports car entry for sometime this decade, the Aero X is not a direct representation of what that sports car might be. The Aero X allows Saab to display future design cues, further explore eco-friendly powertrains, and express the company personality in a new-generation form.

While the Aero X is not representative of any particular upcoming model, among the exterior graphics expected to be adapted to future production cars are the horizontal sweep across the rear of the concept and elements of the face.

Continue reading "Geneva 2006: Saab Aero X Embraces Heritage as it Looks to Future" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A winner...and a Loser

We frequently evaluate new cars and trucks having them at AutoPacific's offices for the staff to drive and critique. I just had the opportunity to drive two cars, somewhat similar, and yet completely different. Both were new , four-door sedans, and both were a metallic red in color. One was the Dodge Charger R/T (with an MSRP as equipped of $37,000) , and the other a SAAB 9-5 (with an MSRP as equipped of $42,000).

The Charger

WOW! What a car. I'm really a Pickup Truck guy, but this car is great. Looks good on the outside (although some of us find its styling a bit off-putting), looks good on the inside. Absolutely super Hemi engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. Delightful performance. Just makes you grin. Even sounds just right. Appropriate size, outstanding satellite radio and navigation system. At a $37,000 MSRP this is a bargain. Sign me up!

The SAAB

The Saab 9-5 styling must appeal to someone...I wonder who? Certainly not me. Not the exterior, and not the interior. This car was born old (basically 1996)! Package size too small. OK power, but significant turbo lag and torque steer. It is unique, but that's the only virtue that occurs to me. I can understand a BMW 3-Series, a Mercedes C-Class, or an Audi A4. Not my style, but I can understand the appeal. But not with the 9-5. I don't get it. The cup holder in the console is near useless because of the console lid location. And luggage-compartment-based CD player? In 2006? not competitive at all.

Am I alone on this? Don't think so. Calendar-year-to-date the Charger is outselling the 9-5 by about 35:1. And I think I know which product program is the more profitable. There is something to that "make products that people really want to buy" idea.

Posted by Jim Hossack at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Saab Explores Ethanol-Compatible Powerplant for U.S. Lineup

Automakers often use the Los Angeles Auto Show as the venue to launch their new "green" concepts. Saab revealed its 9-5 Aero Bio-Power Concept at the 2006 LA auto show in January. This 9-5 Aero delivers 310HP from a high-pressure turbocharged 2.3L engine optimized to run on E85 ethanol or on gasoline. While Saab began offering a 2.0t BioPower 9-5 in Sweden in 2005 (and resulting in surprisingly high sales due to Swedish incentives to use bio-fuels), this concept explores U.S. acceptance to the option.

Continue reading "Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The National Insurance Institute of Highway Safety announced its rankings of the ten safest 2006 model year cars on Sunday December 4, 2005. To make the ratings game easier to understand, NIIHS has developed a gold silver rating scheme. Cars receiving a GOLD rating have "Good" ratings for frontal impact, side impact and head restraints. Cars receiving a SILVER rating have "Good" ratings for frontal impact and side impacts, "Acceptable" for head restraints.

One of the key objectives for this new combined rating scheme is to push manufacturers in a subtle way towards stronger performances in all aspects of the rating game.

The winners are:

GOLD

Large Cars: Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego
Mid-Size Cars: Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy
Small Car: Honda Civic 4-door

SILVER

Large Cars: Audi A6
Mid-Size Cars: Audi A3, Audi A4, Chevrolet Malibu with side airbags, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat

Continue reading "NIIHS Announces Safety Winners" »

Posted by George Peterson at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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An article in the Saturday, November 19, 2005 Wall Street Journal projects that Toyota may overtake General Motors as the highest selling carmaker in 2006.

While Toyota (Toyota, Lexus, Scion) may not sell more than GM (Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Saturn, Saab) in the United States, it may sell more worldwide. Toyota is concentrating much of its sales expansion in North America where it is pulling sales from General Motors and Ford. GM is bolstering production capacity in China and South America where it sees room for growth where Toyota is not yet strong.

The Wall Street Journal article is one of many recent media reports confirming the results of VehicleVoice research and forecasts by AutoPacific. VehicleVoice research shows a continuing deterioration in General Motors' (and Ford and Chrysler traditional brands) market share in the United States under the concentrated onslaught of the Japanese Big Three. AutoPacific's forecast of United States sales shows Toyota, Honda and Nissan increasing market share by adding new assembly capacity and models.

Continue reading "Toyota to Overtake GM as Top Carmaker" »

Posted by George Peterson at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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Ever since the introduction of the new 9-3, Saab traditionalists have been screaming about the lack of a traditional hatchback model. Despite this, sales of the new 9-3 are far exceeding those of the old model, meaning that Saab's decision to offer the car as a notchback sedan was obviously a wise one.

Still, those Saab enthusiasts are a pretty rabid bunch, and Saab would be unwise to completely ignore their needs. Plus, with functionality being all the rage these days, why not offer a more functional bodystyle in addition to the sedan?

The 9-3 Sport-Hatch concept previews the next bodystyle in the 9-3 range, codenamed 444 and due in 2004CY.

A hatch it may be, but it's not a hatch in the way the old 9-3 was. The four-seat Sport-Hatch concept features a fastback shape drawing from the 9-3x concept. Inside, one can find more cues inspired by the 9-3x as well. According to Saab, while the 9-3x is a coupe-meets-SUV concept, the Sport-Hatch is meant to blur the distinction between five-door hatchback and wagon bodystyles.

As no proper concept car is shown underpowered, the Sport-Hatch features the 250HP 2.0L turbo-charged four-cylinder that can be found in Aero models in the lineup, and will likely be offered in the production Sport-Hatch.

Will this bodystyle appease the Saab traditionalists? Probably not, but this wagon bodystyle is even more practical than their old Saab hatchbacks, and by any standard the Sport-Hatch is a very handsome car. It should help add some incremental sales to the already popular 9-3 sedan, and offer one more reason to check out the Saab dealer. Finally, GM is paying some attention to this high potential brand.

Posted by dbarrett at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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