First Peek At The SAAB 1-Series Killer

In preparation for the 2008 Geneva Auto Show Saab passed us on an invite to attend a March unveiling, and the invite itself us a hint of what their 1-Series killer will look like.

With the sleek silhouette and a competent turbocharged can SAAB take on and succeed against an established giant such as BMW? 

With a longer turbocharged history than BMW, they just may be a company that can use their vast expertise and actually turn the tables on the Germans.

You tell us if they are up to the task.

 

commander104 - 2/18/2008 4:05:58 PM

+2 Boost

I wonder if the new Saabs are still able to withstand crashes with Moose like the old ones are able to? (One reason they had that egg shape was for the moose to roll right over the car without crushing the top half of the car.)

commander104 - 2/18/2008 4:10:09 PM

+2 Boost

Does anybody remember a Discovery Channel's "Beyond 2000" episode where they had a Saab with a hand grip on the center console instead of a steering wheel? It was supposed to replace the old wheel. The episode purported that this generation that grew up with joysticks/gamepads are ready for a car with joystick steering opposed to the wheel.

cdoke - 2/18/2008 5:38:20 PM

+1 Boost

I remember a Beyond 2000 (I miss that show) episode with a similar thing except in a Mercedes. It had a split joystick, so it could be controlled from either side of the car. I recall, however, that the vehicle was quite difficult to control at higher speeds.

answer - 2/18/2008 4:34:32 PM

+6 Boost

As always, shouldn't "killer" be "competitor"?

ThierryHenry14 - 2/18/2008 5:34:59 PM

+2 Boost

killer? lol

Spoonie_G - 2/18/2008 5:46:52 PM

+4 Boost

PUKE!!!

You know a car is screwed when the "Concept" is hideous.

Chip - 2/18/2008 5:56:03 PM

+3 Boost

"can SAAB take on and succeed against an established giant such as BMW?"

No disrespect to current Saab owners, but they are barely alive in todays marketplace. The current (9)5 is older than my grandmother, their SUV was a complete disaster and the refreshed (9)3 is still too quirky to be taken seriously.

I predict death before we know it.

sholemon - 2/18/2008 10:51:21 PM

+1 Boost

1-series killer? You make it sound like the 1series is top dog. Lets let the 1 series prove itself before car makers begin targeting it as THE car to beat in its class.

vman1013 - 2/19/2008 9:27:50 AM

+2 Boost

Didn't you watch it beat the Cayman on Fifth Gear?

Autoegr525 - 2/18/2008 11:48:50 PM

+1 Boost

Their vast expertise isn't much more these days than access to a vast arsenal of GM 4 bangers

cybernetck - 2/19/2008 2:11:26 AM

+2 Boost

Hmm, what kind of drive train is in that sucker? If its FWD, which is what I suspect, there's already darn good FWD turbos out there, VeeDubs's 2.0T powered cars will keep pace with the up coming boost to 230+, and Ford is already set with the MS3. Moving right along.. :)

M53R - 2/19/2008 3:00:49 AM

+4 Boost

Wow, some of those cars killing each others without even meeting...

farabira1 - 2/19/2008 6:47:52 AM

-1 Boost

Looks just as ugly as the 1 series.

vman1013 - 2/19/2008 9:26:38 AM

+1 Boost

When has Saab killed anything? This looks like the Volt in the front end and a Magnum in the rear.

enthusiastx11 - 2/19/2008 12:11:12 PM

+1 Boost

sadly saab had faded into the woodwork since the wonderfully quirky 1980's 900 model.

this car won't kill anything, nevermind a 1-series.

2004E46 - 2/22/2008 6:32:49 AM

+1 Boost

This Saab is ugly...put it on the streets with a BMW and it will kill itself.