[pkd87]

Untill now i disagreed that GM is running SAAB into the ground. I love the 9-3 and what one so bad but this is where the truoble comes in. A rebadged Subaru? come on. I went to the auto show my friend seen and he said "It looks like a Subaru?" and he didn't even know it was a rebaged one untill i told him it was.

Then when i herd about the 9-7x i was happy becouse i thought SAAB needed an suv badly but when i herd it was a trailblazer clone i was mad. A truck based suv does not fit into SAAB's image. IT should be car based.

So what would you do it you ran SAAB? Hear is my lineup

9-2 on detla platform come in 3 and 5 door sport hatch models (3 only for europe) compete against 1-series and A3 OPT AWD
9-3 sedan wagen (like concept shown this year), convertible competes against same people offer AWD
9-4X VUE/EQUINOX platform FWD , OPT AWD compete against X3, others
9-5 sedan, wagen (europe, canada) redesign
9-6S Sigma or sigma-light platform 2 or 2+2 pass coupe and/or hard top convertible
9-7X lambda platform (XC90m sized) FWD or AWD

 

[mgescuro]

Awwww geeez..... I know someone was gonna start one of these up....

1) 9-2X Hatch on Extended Kappa. Base Turbo 4 @ 170 w/ AWD. HOT Turbo 4 @ 210-230 w/ AWD.
2) 9-3 Sedan on Epsilon. Base Turbo 4 @ 210. Turbo 4 @ 230. HOT Turbo 4 @ 250-270 w/ optional AWD.
3) 9-3 Convertible. Base Turbo 4 @ 230. HOT Turbo 4 @ 250-270.
4) 9-3 Hatch. Base Turbo 4 @ 210. Turbo 4 @ 230. HOT Turbo 4 @ 250-270.
5) 9-5 Sedan on current platform. Base Turbo 4 @ 220. Turbo 6 @ 240. HOT Turbo 4 @ 300 w/ AWD.
6) 9-5 Hatch on current platoform. Base Turbo 4 @ 220. Turbo 6 @ 240. HOT Turbo 4 @ 300-320 w/ AWD.
7) 9-7X on Sigma. Base Turbo 6 @ 240 w/ AWD. HOT Turbo 6 @ 300 w/ AWD.

I would bring the luxury factor up a notnch on the 9-5's to be more in line with the 5-series, but keep the sportier aspect of thye 9-5's intact. Furthermore, I'd get rid of the aluminum dash on the 9-5 Aero's and put a black-dyed walnut dash with aluminum accents.


Now, I know in reality, Saab has been testing a HOT Turbo 8 w/ AWD for the 9-5 w/ 350+ HP (it's an M5 killer), and I know there are Hirsch Performance Mods (Europe Only) that will increase the current HOT 4 in the Aero 9-5 to 310HP w/ suspension and interior mods, etc.
And I know 9-3 Viggen is testing on Epsilon, with an unknown engine.
Also Kappa is under development in Sweden.

 

[mgescuro]

I still believe 9-2X and 9-7X as they stand now are "placeholders" for GM as they get their act together in other areas and generate revenue.

I will be OK if 9-7X is treated like the Lincoln Aviator. Rebadge for now and relaunch when a better platform is available.

Of course, I would prefer it if GM had done this to start, but I do understand the finite resources available to GM.

 

[IMPALAon20s]

i'd make a 9-3 RP (richard pryor) version based on the movie "MOVING" where at the end it looks kinda baja'ish with a police door stuck to the back. hey, im bored.

 

[yoblues]

My wife the Saab nut wants a 9-3 hatchback version. Anyone know when the 9-3 Viggen will be out? Will it be a sedan/coupe?