Can Saab Be Redeemed With A New Performance Car?

Watching any of the media this holiday season, the bad news after bad news makes anyone want to find a respite. When it comes to Saab, for us it means a preference for imagining what could or should be rather than what may not be.

So our minds turn to better days and one word comes to mind most quickly… Viggen. The idea of a new Viggen is not terribly novel in the land of Saab enthusiasts – most have probably already wished for it. However, we’ve taken the time to throw together a few computer-generated images of what a current 9-3 Viggen might look like and devised a way that it could be brought to market with low development cost – important in these times.

Next, we also throw around the idea of a next-generation 9-3 Viggen and even a Viggen family of Saabs. Now we know a new Viggen is likely the last thing our friends in Trollhattan need to wory about, but perhaps the following can offer just a bit of an escape.
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theoptimisticpessimist - 12/9/2008 3:42:57 PM

+8 Boost

The best thing that happen to Saab in the last 15 years is GM deciding to sell them.

LET SAAB BE SAAB!

randy33 - 12/9/2008 8:10:27 PM

+1 Boost

Maybe so, but that's not necessarily saying much.

HOW IS THIS "NEW"? Isn't this the same damn 9-5 platform they've had since '01?

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/9/2008 9:36:41 PM

+1 Boost

Actually it’s the same damn platform since the 9-5 was introduced in 1998. That’s the problem GM bought and just badge engineered the brand and the Saab faithful bailed on them like rats on a sinking ship.

Brembo - 12/9/2008 3:48:17 PM

-1 Boost

SAAB business motto kind of remind me of Acura. They can't seem to figure it out.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/9/2008 7:06:16 PM

+2 Boost

No, they just don't get enough cash from GM to create the products they know they should have.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/9/2008 7:07:26 PM

0 Boost

"what would happen to the starbucks crowd that has lied to themselves about fwd being better in the snow for all these years"

Lying to themselves? That's taking it a bit far. RWD gets you through the winter fine as long as you have snow tires and some self control, but FWD will always do it better.

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/9/2008 9:39:12 PM

+3 Boost

I believe if Saab would stayed in the hands of Saab they would have made the natural progression to all wheel drive years ago, instead of last year.

dumpsty - 12/9/2008 4:44:55 PM

0 Boost

SAAB's luster was going to fade even w/o GM ownership. Their design was too specialized and they sold too few cars to still be around today as non-GM division.

Like Saturn, GM should really refocus SAAB's design and consider taking "chance" with their exciting concept designs.

rallyss - 12/9/2008 6:32:00 PM

-2 Boost

GM needs to just kill Saab off and use some of there future products as sporty new Pontiacs.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/9/2008 7:08:09 PM

+4 Boost

Ew, no. SAAB before Pontiac every time. GM should sell SAAB and kill Pontiac.

AutoContent - 12/9/2008 6:46:46 PM

+3 Boost

While Saab is unfortunately a low-volume brand, GM only hurt the brand by turning out products that scared off Saab enthusiasts, regardless of how few Saab enthusiasts there are. Infusing Chevys and ‘Saab-arus’ in the lineup only hurt the brand, not to mention failing to provide an all-new replacement to the archaic 9-5. A Saab sports car may help spice up the brand but I doubt that it will help boost sales. GM certainly knows how to make useless brands, and unfortunately that’s exactly what GM ownership of Saab has created.

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/9/2008 9:46:47 PM

+1 Boost

That exactly right. GM didn’t buy Saab for fresh ideas about new technology or engineering, they bought it because some bean counter thought “wow lets rebadge Opel’s and Subaru’s and GM SUV’s and people will buy them because the say Saab and will make a ton of money. Moving the ignition switch is on the console does not a Saab make. Unfortunately for GM Saab buyers are a lot smarter than they are.

Lexus - 12/9/2008 8:11:21 PM

-3 Boost

The only problem is when people see a Saab, they think it a Grandpa and Grandma automobile. Or at least that what I think of Saab, and Volvo.

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/9/2008 9:47:42 PM

+3 Boost

That comming from someone named Lexus.

MBCLS07 - 12/9/2008 9:07:33 PM

+1 Boost

I have a fondness for sportwagons and find the 9-3 sportcombi aero quite likeable. Aesthetically appealing and much more unique than Audi A4 Avant (as attractive as it is).

E36er - 12/10/2008 12:35:47 PM

+2 Boost

Saab was an east-coast/new england RISD grad car until GM took over. In many ways it was a very respectable car, especially the Saab 900 Aero circa early 90's. This whole GM "born from jets" marketing scheme is full of complete $#%@. Ask any Swede about Saab jets and you will immediately get a laugh. Saab jets have a reputation for crashing due to mechanical failure.

Saab should go back to just being Saab with a hefty does of Scandinavian design and refinement. GM ruined the brand by mixing it up with Subaru and their own SUV platform. Nobody wants a Saabaru. Yet another reason GM should go under for ruining a once respectable brand.