My/Your Ideal Saab Lineup

[mgescuro]

I think ultimately, Saab should have no more than 5 models.

* Compact hatch/wagon -- 9-2
* Mid-Sized sedan/wagon/convertible -- 9-3
* Compact/Mid-sized crossover -- 9-4
* Mid/Full-sized sedan/wagon -- 9-5
* Mid/Full-sized crossover -- 9-7

And that's it. There are rumors that the Sonnet will be resurrected. So that would be teh 6th model.
That should be Saab's lineup.

ALL should be FWD/AWD capable.
ALL should incorporate BioPower.... or at least 9-3 and 9-5.

[yoblues]

Mgescuro you have it. No more than the five Saab's you mentioned. They don't need the Sonnet. Then get the marketing dopes to stress the SAFETY, SECURITY, QUALITY and POWER/FUEL ECONOMY features of all Saab's in their commercials. All these are great selling points, Saab has them all. I never understood why the marketing dopes never stressed them?

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by yoblues

Mgescuro you have it. No more than the five Saab's you mentioned. They don't need the Sonnet. Then get the marketing dopes to stress the SAFETY, SECURITY, QUALITY and POWER/FUEL ECONOMY features of all Saab's in their commercials. All these are great selling points, Saab has them all. I never understood why the marketing dopes never stressed them?

You're right. Saab doesn't need the Sonnet, so long as the 5 models are strong and compelling. However, if GM does decide to give Saab the Sonnet.. AND it's a convincing car... who am I to say Saab can't have a sweet roadster?

ANd your'e right -- Safety, Security, Quality, V8 Power w/ 4 cyl economy, Go figure. The "Born from Jets" commercials almost got it down.

[AmericanRevolution]

Updated my lineup... down from 6 to 5 cars and updated 9-3, as well as minor engine updates on every vehicle.

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

* Compact hatch/wagon -- 9-2
* Mid-Sized sedan/wagon/convertible -- 9-3
* Compact/Mid-sized crossover -- 9-4
* Mid/Full-sized sedan/wagon -- 9-5
* Mid/Full-sized crossover -- 9-7

And that's it. There are rumors that the Sonnet will be resurrected. So that would be teh 6th model.
That should be Saab's lineup.

ALL should be FWD/AWD capable.
ALL should incorporate BioPower.... or at least 9-3 and 9-5.

9-2 DELTA II
9-3/5 EP II
9-4 THETA II
the 9-7 is overkill of fullsized crossover.
Saab should be a low volume along with Pontiac and Buick

[tomprice]

9-3X to compete with C30, A3, 1-series. Has good dynamics, a turbo version, a selection of diesels and petrols. No cacky bio-fuel versions. Maybe an AWD version?

9-5X to compete with 5-series/A6/CLS. No equivalent to current 9-3, as Saab have lost so much ground in that area it is impossible to make it up. Would have hints of Aero X, sleek CLS-like profile. Must be seriously entertaining to drive to usurp the A6/E-class/5er.

9-8X AWD Coupé to take on Jaguar XK/Aston V8. Convertible version and an 'XR' version for track work.

And then give some Saab US some regurgitated 20-year old GM SUV that is awfully out of date.

[AmericanRevolution]

Heavy updates!

[The Law]

9x (Sonnet) vs R8 *built along side Pontiac firdbird

9-1 vs A3 *delta 2

9-3 vs A4 *Eps.2

9-4 vs small Cuv *Esp 2/Th

9-5 vs A5/6 *extend Eps.

9-6 vs Cuv

[Vette Ninja]

This might be a silly question, but what is Saab's obsession with the number "9"? Wasn't it nine aircraft enginners that founded it or something?
Are there nine cars in the line-up? Or what?

[civilzues]

Drop the prices about 4-6K on everything..
On all of your line ups everything is SO expensive.

[schmallz]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

9-8 would be a Phaeton competitor. But there is no existing platform in GM to do that just yet.

Is it possible to build it on Lambda? Or at least a slightyl modified Lambda?

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by Vette Ninja

This might be a silly question, but what is Saab's obsession with the number "9"? Wasn't it nine aircraft enginners that founded it or something?
Are there nine cars in the line-up? Or what?

No reason in particular. All Saab cars have had some 9-something designation. It's just history, like all Peugeots having a zero (or double zeros) in the middle of their model names.

As for a Saab lineup, I contend there can't be any RWD-based cars. It's just not "Saab". A RWD Saab is like a FWD Corvette. Saabs have been quirky and unusual since their inception and need to stick as closely as possible to their traditional FWD formula.

So here's t-rex's Saab lineup:

Saab 9-0: Gamma; tight-looking little mini hatch being bandied about the past few days

Saab 9-1: Delta; Audi A3 competitor

Saab 9-3: Epsilon current model. I'd focus on blown fours over V6s though.

Saab 9-4x: Delta-sized small crossover

Saab 9-5: lengthened 9-3 with five-door liftback body

Saab 9-6x: enlarged Theta-II crossover; Lambda may be too big for trad Saab customers, but I won't rule the platform out

Saab 9-7: enlarged Epsilon-II; Audi A6 competitor

Saab 9-9: SWB Epsilon coupé and convertible competing with Audi A5

[The Law]

Originally Posted by t-rex

No reason in particular. All Saab cars have had some 9-something designation. It's just history, like all Peugeots having a zero (or double zeros) in the middle of their model names.

As for a Saab lineup, I contend there can't be any RWD-based cars. It's just not "Saab". A RWD Saab is like a FWD Corvette. Saabs have been quirky and unusual since their inception and need to stick as closely as possible to their traditional FWD formula.

So here's t-rex's Saab lineup:

Saab 9-0: Gamma; tight-looking little mini hatch being bandied about the past few days

Saab 9-1: Delta; Audi A3 competitor

Saab 9-3: Epsilon current model. I'd focus on blown fours over V6s though.

Saab 9-4x: Delta-sized small crossover

Saab 9-5: lengthened 9-3 with five-door liftback body

Saab 9-6x: enlarged Theta-II crossover; Lambda may be too big for trad Saab customers, but I won't rule the platform out

Saab 9-7: enlarged Epsilon-II; Audi A6 competitor

Saab 9-9: SWB Epsilon coupé and convertible competing with Audi A5

not bad line, but i would reserve 9, 9x & 9-0 for sonnet when they bring that back after audi's R8.

*Saab 9-1: Gamma; tight-looking little mini hatch being bandied about the past few days

*Saab 9-2: Delta; Audi A3 competitor

[KillerMRK]

Pulled right from my Sports Marketing notebook.

9-1 (3 Door 4 Passenger Hatch, FWD/AWD)

-Trims- 1.8T-$22,250-(Turbocharged 1.8L Ecotec I4) -190 HP - STD. ON 1.8T
Aero-$28,650- (Turbocharged 1.8L "Hi-Po" Ecotec I4) - 235 HP - STD ON AERO

9-3 (4 Door, 5 Passenger Sedan/Wagon, FWD/AWD)

-Trims- 1.8T - $28,990 - (Turbocharged 1.8L "Hi-Po" Ecotec I4) - 235 HP - STD ON 1.8T
2.0T-$34,075- (Turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec I4) - 260 HP - STD ON 2.0T
Aero - $38,995 - (Direct Injection 3.6L "High-Feature" V6) - 307 HP - STD ON AERO

9-5 (4 Door, 5 Passenger Sedan/Wagon, AWD)

-Trims- 2.8T - $36,250 - (Turbocharged 2.8L V6) - 275 HP - STD ON 2.8T
Aero - $47,550 - (Turbocharged 3.6L V6) - 335 HP - STD ON AERO

9-9 (4 Door, 4/5 Passenger Sedan, AWD)

-Trims- Turbo - $48,990 (Turbocharged 3.6L V6) - 350 HP - STD ON TURBO
Viggen - $56,005 (6.2L LS3 V8) - 430 HP - STD ON VIGGEN


Hope you liked it.

[ross82694]

I made these pics when i was realllly bored in history class last week...really bad profile drawings:

Saab 9-1

Apx. $21,000-$26,000
(Bottom)

Trim Lines:
1.8t, 2.0t, Aero
Powertrain:
FWD
Platform:
Delta [II?]
Backstory:
Saab NEEDS a small premium car; this is it. Sporty yet classy. This is the Saab for the Saab loyalists. Available in 3-door and 5-door body styles. Competitors will include, but are not limited to the 2010 Audi A3, 2010 (i think) MB A/b-Class, Current BMW 1-Series

Saab 9-3
Apx. $27,000-$32,000
(Top)

Trim Lines:
2.0t, 3.6t, Aero, Viggen (Yes...it's back)
Powertrain:
FWD, XWD
Platform:
Epsilon II
Backstory:
Saab can arguably call the 9-3 its bread and butter, but that's not saying much is it. It cannot be called a true competitor to the A4, C-Class, 3-Series, and TSX/TL. The next generation can be considered to be revolutionary, not evolutionary. A new engine will be added to the mix, the 3.6 direct injection from the CTS for the Viggen model.

Saab Sonett IV
Apx. $33,000-$42,000
(Bottom)

Trim Lines:
2.0t, 3.6t, Viggen
Powertrain:
FWD, XWD
Platform:
Epsilon II
Backstory:
The return of the Sonett will be in the form of a 9-3 coupe. Taking much of its styling from the Aero X concept, it will be the halo car for Saab as it will be built in such small numbers (1,000-2,000 per year). Will compete with the CLK, A5, and 3-Series coupe.

Saab 9-5
Apx. $38,000-$45,000
(Middle)

Trimlines:
3.6t, Aero, Viggen
Powertrain:
FWD, XWD
Platform:
Epsilon II L
Backstory:
The new 9-5 will be the largest Saab sedan ever made. It will be competing with the A6, E-Class, and Volvo S80. It will be very performance oriented but will still be the most luxurious Saab ever.

Saab 9-3x/9-4x
Apx. $29,000-$33,000
(Top)

Trimlines:
2.0t, Aero, Viggen?
Powertrain:
XWD
Platform:
Theta
Backstory:
The only CUV in Saab's portfolio. My hope is that the idea for a "9-4x" will be scraped in the hopes we will see a better handling raised 9-3 SC...like an XC70 or Audi Allroad.

That's it....love it or hate it. I'm probably the only 13 year old you'll ever meet that loves Saabs as much as I do.

Comments?