autoMedia Auto News Blog : Saab

autoMedia CARnival 10-2-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:38:00 GMT

It's the week ending October 2, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Toyota is recalling 3.8 million vehicles to check the floor mats and Cash for Clunkers makes it back into the headlines, but we've also got plenty of unusual news sure to entertain the automotive fan.

Cash for Clunkers might be over in the United States, but it lives on in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. AutoBlogGreen says European buyers who trade in their cars to purchase something else offering reduced CO2 or powered by compressed natural gas or electricity receive rebates ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 Euros. That's about 2200 to 5000 US dollars!

The first complete month of sales after the Cash for Clunkers has been tallied up and the predicted result - that auto sales would drop once the government stopped giving free money in exchange for clunkers - didn't exactly happen. In fact, according to John Neff at AutoBlog, nine brands posted positive sales in September versus the same period in 2008 with another three posting only single-digit losses.

Penske backed out of its agreement to buy Saturn, and as a result General Motors has announced it will kill the brand. As GM struggles to sell off languishing vehicle divisions, the latest rumor from LeftLaneNews says Chinese automaker Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation is pursuing the tooling and design rights to produce the outgoing Saab 9-5 in one of its Chinese factories. Meanwhile, there's still no word on the status of the sale of Hummer to China's Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company.

Auto show season is upon us! Last month was Frankfurt, later this month will be Tokyo, and in early December, Los Angeles will launch the domestic events. It seems clear that alternative fuel vehicles will be hot concepts this year, and HybridCars has a preview of two plug-in hybrids promised to be on display by Suzuki and Mitsubishi, though I can't wait to see all the far-out and freakish displays that make Tokyo so iconic.

Next week is the inaugural "Heads Up Driving Week," in which the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is urging us all to drive distraction-free for the week. What bad habits will you give up? Coincidentally, this week, According to The Detroit Bureau, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging or using cell phones while driving government-owned vehicles or while driving privately owned vehicles when they are on official government business. Todd Lassa has more on the topic of distracted driving in his blog here at Motor Trend.

In a disappointing twist of fate, I couldn't find anything that made me ROFL at Jalopnik this week, so in order to present some silly entertainment, I'm giving you a link to a video of some "Candid Camera" style automotive pranks. Have a great weekend!

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

Preview: 2011 Saab 9-5 Sedan

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:22:00 GMT

Ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the all-new Saab 9-5 sedan has made its virtual debut. The current model was launched in 1997, making it at least twice as old as most European competitors. Needless to say, the 2011 9-5 promises to make a significant step forward and help set the tone for the brand’s new owners.

The new design builds on the recent Aero X concept vehicle and draws inspiration from the company’s aviation heritage. Most distinct is the wrap-around windshield appearance, aided by blacked-out pillars. Jet-fighter influence can be seen in the heads-up display at altimeter-style speedometer gauge. (There is also a traditional speedo dial surrounding this curiosity.)

The cockpit moves into the 21st century with an available eight-inch navigation system, harman/kardon surround sound audio system, 10-gig hard drive for multimedia, and USB ports for connecting devices. Rear passengers can have their own audio controls and fold-out screens for viewing DVDs. Dual-zone air conditioning up front and twin vents at the rear with an independent temperature control should keep everyone comfortable. Other technology notables including adaptive Xenon headlamps, adaptive cruise control, Saab DriveSense adaptive chassis with real-time damping control, keyless entry and starting, and dynamic parking assistance.

Underhood will reside strictly turbocharged engines. The European range will begin with a 1.6-liter, 180-horsepower flex-fuel four-cylinder. In the United States, the powertrains will be a 2.0-liter, 220-horsepower four and a 2.8-liter, 300-horsepower V-6, each with a choice of manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. All-wheel drive will be available.

The Saab 9-5 sedan will go on sale next year, followed by a wagon version.

Read our last Saab 9-5 review.

GM Signs Stock Deal to Sell Saab to Koenigsegg

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:56:00 GMT

Almost there. General Motors continues its reinvention with a 100-percent stock purchase agreement for the sale of Saab to Koenigsegg Group, a Swedish conglomerate known for the affiliation with the famed Koenigsegg supercars. The deal is expected to conclude by the end of the year, and Saab Automobile plans to exit legal reorganization shortly. Conditions to close the sale include expected funding commitments with Swedish government support and guarantees, as well as transitional assistance from GM, as Saab becomes independent. (Read: "GM to Sell Saab to Supercar-maker Koenigsegg.")

As part of the proposed transaction, GM and Saab will continue to share technology and services for a defined period.

"We have now concluded another important step in realizing the great potential of Saab,” said Christian von Koenigsegg, CEO of Koenigsegg Group. “Our plan is to transform Saab into a stand-alone vibrant entrepreneurial company and make it ‘sustainable’ by making it profitable. We will revive Saab’s Swedish heritage of ecological sensitivity, safety, design innovation, and ‘fun to drive’ experience!"

Yeah, adding several hundred horsepower to the 9-3 would be a great start there… It will be fascinating to see what emerges from this new ownership.

Research current Saab models in the new car buyer’s guide.

GM to Sell Saab to Supercar-maker Koenigsegg

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:27:00 GMT

General Motors continues to right-size itself with division fire sales. Prospective buyers have been found for Hummer and Saturn, and now Saab. Tiny exotic car maker Koenigsegg has reached an agreement to purchase Saab.

Koenigsegg builds $1 million supercars, with about 50 employees. Annual sales are around 20 cars. It would seem this builder of dreams is reaching to take on a mass-market company, though the deal includes a $600 million funding commitment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) guaranteed by the Swedish government. Further support is to be provided by GM to fund Saab's operations and product development, including several products well underway, including the next-gen 9-3, 9-5, and a 9-4x SUV. The 9-5 models in the Saab production facility in Trollhättan, Sweden.

It will be quite interesting to see how the two Swedish automakers integrate. On the surface, there isn't much compatibility beyond native tongue.

Research current Saab models in the new car buyer’s guide.

GM To Cut Off Over 1,100 Dealers

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:52:00 GMT

Just days after Chrysler announced that it would trim its dealer body by 789 dealers by June, General Motors has notified 1,124 dealers that it would not extend their franchise agreements past October 2010. Chrysler was able to make swift cuts due to the flexibility afforded by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On the other hand, GM is proactively making business adjustments ahead of a potential bankruptcy filing later this month.

General Motors targeted the weakest dealers for these passive cuts, those that were underperforming from market share and profit standpoints, as well as customer satisfaction benchmarks. The advanced notice will enable those dealers to wind down the businesses and sell off their inventories, currently estimated to at 65,000 units. And notably, GM will not need to buy the vehicles back.

In addition to these dealers, GM’s reach is expected to diminish by 470 stores when the Hummer, Saab, and Saturn brands are sold or otherwise disposed of. Plus, 27 standalone dealerships will be abandoned when the Pontiac brand is phased out next year, leaving about 2,600 dealers intact that hand multi-brand stores.

In total, many of the dealerships losing their GM franchises sell products from other companies and may continue without interruption. GM has not released a list of affected dealers, as Chrysler did under its bankruptcy rules, so the details of who and where are not yet clear.

Mark LaNeve, GM Vice President of Sales Service and Marketing, said in a released statement, “… it is imperative that a healthy, viable GM have a healthy, viable dealer body that can not only survive but prosper during cyclical downturns. It is obvious that almost all parts of GM, including the dealer body, must get smaller and more efficient.”

In a conference call with the media, conducted by LaNeve via OnStar from a Cadillac Escalade, he expressed compassion for the impacted dealerships, their staffs and communities, though remained committed to this move being in the long-term interest of General Motors.

“Long term, GM should have fewer, healthier dealers, maintaining GM’s current high customer satisfaction ratings, with more sales per outlet.”

Car buyers take note: Despite that GM is idling plants to reduce inventory this summer, the franchise reduction news may mean dealers will be hungry as ever to negotiate a great deal. Especially with Memorial Day sales just around the corner.

CEO Says GM Bankruptcy is Probable

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:09:00 GMT

As the days count till the end of the month when General Motors must present its final viability plan to the Autos Task Force, GM CEO Fritz Henderson described bankruptcy as “probable” in a restructuring update today with reporters. Henderson said there is still a chance that GM can accomplish its mission outside of bankruptcy, but he seemed to be paving the way for what may be unavoidable. (Read: "Chrysler Files for Bankruptcy, Merges with Fiat.")

While the “B” word carries with it a rightful sense of dread, it brings with it protections and rights that could enable GM to more rapidly reinvent itself than would otherwise be possible. In interviewing a series of experts, the Detroit News declared that Chapter 11 filing seems all but inevitable. Still, the company is moving to swiftly reduce its costs.

Later this week, GM will announce details of its plan to cut 2,700 dealerships by 2010, according to Automotive News.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) released a related statement:

“By closing 2,641 dealerships in 18 months instead of five years, GM could lose an estimated $35 billion in sales revenue. Another 137,330 dealership employees will lose their jobs, and state and local governments will lose an estimated $1.7 billion in sales tax revenue that would have been used for economic development in communities around the country.”

Dealers were dealt a serious blow with the recent announcement that the Pontiac division would be retired, impacting 2,627 dealerships. Of those, just 27 are stand-alone stores.

Henderson also said that GM has received three offers to buy Hummer, and it is proceeding with two bidders.

Opel has several serious lookers, including Fiat, giving GM options with its German division.

On Saturn, GM is open to a variety of arrangements, including providing cars to a new owner and selling part of its manufacturing.

GM hopes to resolve Saab’s situation in the next couple of months.

Clearly, all these decisions have major, long-range repercussions. And we’ll continue to follow this serial drama to keep car shoppers and enthusiasts alike informed.

LA Show Preview: Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Convertible

admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:47:00 GMT

General Motors could use a ray of sunshine, and its day is coming with the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Convertible concept schedule to make its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. Underscoring the need, GM has disclosed that it will not have a press conference at this important event. With drastic budget cuts, the General has less eye candy to show off and a by-the-numbers business presentation would be depressing.

So, we have essentially an open-top version of a basic concept that has been shown repeatedly throughout the world over the last couple of years. (For example, the 9-X BioHybrid.) In fact, at the recent Paris Motor Show, Saab presented this convertible and a coupe version of the 9-X Air. OK, we get it. Saab wants to offer a three-door hatchback. Maybe a convertible.

This concept is a four seater powered by a small, 1.4-liter Saab BioPower engine that combines turbocharging, biofuels, and hybrid technology. Running on E85 fuel, the engine delivers 200 horsepower and uses GM’s next-generation hybrid system to deliver performance, fuel economy, and squeaky clean emissions.

In LA, green and sunshine should play well in the massive convention center.

For more on the Saab line of concept vehicles, read "Future-tech: Saab 9-X BioHybrid."

Research Saab in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide.

Future-tech: Saab 9-X BioHybrid

admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:51:00 GMT

For a company known for not displaying concept vehicles, Saab has been quite prolific the past couple years showing a variety of hatchback and SUV models that reveal future design language and powertrain technology. The latest example, the 9-X BioHybrid, was unveiled last week at the Geneva Motor Show. Building on design themes seen in the Aero X and earlier 9X, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept again tests the waters for a small three-door, while showcasing a high-tech, green powertrain that was wide, cross-brand applications.

“This car is all about efficiency in design and performance,” says Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe Anthony Lo, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

The 9-X BioHybrid uses active aerodynamics to reduce both drag and fuel consumption at cruising speeds. Above 43 mph, the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

More significantly, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 1.4-liter/200-horsepower BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation hybrid system. That new hybrid system will use a more powerful electric motor than the current system and it will replace the current nickel-metal hydride battery with lithium-ion technology, according to remarks made by General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner.

“The result is a cost-effective hybrid system that will be three times more powerful than our current ‘belt alternator starter’ system... and one that will reduce CO2 emissions on the 9-X BioHybrid to 117 grams-per-kilometer, when running on gasoline... and, when running on ethanol, just 105 grams-per-kilometer,” said Wagoner. In total, GM expects this system to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy, depending on the engine and vehicle application.

The lithium-ion batteries are being developed with newly announced partner Hitachi. GM plans to roll out this next-generation hybrid technology globally, across its brands and regions, starting in 2010 in North America, with vehicle volumes expected to eventually exceed 100,000 units annually.

Read our Saab 9-3 review. Research Saab in the buyer’s guide.