SAAB to Resume Production...

[csv8]

Can it be? New reports this week claim that new Saab owner National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS) is preparing to resume production later this year.

According to Swedish paper Afton Bladet, the company has thrown open the doors of Saab's factory in Trollhättan, recalling workers to get equipment cleaned and ready for action.

But what will the first 'new' Saab be?

Not a new one at all, it seems. At least, not all-new. The Afton Bladet report suggests that a heavily overhauled version of the last 9-3 will be the first range from the revived Saab brand.

If it happens, and it's a big 'if', the born-again 9-3 will apparently get a turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, with extensive changes to interior and exterior styling.

New technologies will perhaps also feature - and will be necessary if the overhauled 9-3, launched way back in 2002, is to compete in today's market.

The company's stated plan of producing a new electric Saab range based on the stalled Phoenix platform is also still in the works, although it will be some years before we see those models in production.

Of course, it remains unclear if we will ever see the properly new 9-3 in production. You remember the one: it surfaced online back in March, and would have debuted last year if the carmaker had stayed afloat.

The 9-3 is speculated to return initially in sedan form only, but if things go well, we could wagon and convertible models also return.

It won't be smooth sailing, however, with much of Saab's original supply chain broken after the company's 2011 collapse, and getting dealers back on board won't be easy.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/571...ars-end-report

[XF_Pilot]

very interesting! quite a surprise too

[Mr G8]

Originally Posted by csv8

Can it be? New reports this week claim that new Saab owner National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS) is preparing to resume production later this year.

According to Swedish paper Afton Bladet, the company has thrown open the doors of Saab's factory in Trollhättan, recalling workers to get equipment cleaned and ready for action.

But what will the first 'new' Saab be?

Not a new one at all, it seems. At least, not all-new. The Afton Bladet report suggests that a heavily overhauled version of the last 9-3 will be the first range from the revived Saab brand.

If it happens, and it's a big 'if', the born-again 9-3 will apparently get a turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, with extensive changes to interior and exterior styling.

New technologies will perhaps also feature - and will be necessary if the overhauled 9-3, launched way back in 2002, is to compete in today's market.

The company's stated plan of producing a new electric Saab range based on the stalled Phoenix platform is also still in the works, although it will be some years before we see those models in production.

Of course, it remains unclear if we will ever see the properly new 9-3 in production. You remember the one: it surfaced online back in March, and would have debuted last year if the carmaker had stayed afloat.

The 9-3 is speculated to return initially in sedan form only, but if things go well, we could wagon and convertible models also return.

It won't be smooth sailing, however, with much of Saab's original supply chain broken after the company's 2011 collapse, and getting dealers back on board won't be easy.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/571...ars-end-report

I'm glad, I quiet liked SAAB

[GQ_Smooth]

Cannot see any way they can stay in business. Thankfully it's not my money keeping them going.

[Bossxr8]

Just let it die already.

[Geez Louise]

I hope they do begin production of these again. I like SAAB's

[zilo]

Good cars until GM raped them.

[Franco Cozzo]

I've worked on a few SAABs, very odd-ball kinda car but they had cool features for their kind, I drove one of those late model turbo V6 ones and it flew.

[danzvtil]

i understand these are only for the Chinese market, they will move production there in the not too distant future.
I doubt that global sales will eventuate.