2009 San Francisco Auto Show: Pictures, videos and Saab's last stand?

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor (source: msheena)

This is part two in my coverage of the 2009 San Francisco Auto Show, to read part one you can click here.

When I crossed over to the other hall at the Moscone Center, I got a lump in my throat: There was the Saab display, with the new Saab 9-5 sedan getting center billing. It is hard not be a bit emotional about the Saab brand. My wife and I both have a strong history with the Swedish cars and the thought that Saab might ending is hard to fathom. Saab had planned a press event for the San Francisco show, but literally canceled it a few hours after sending the invite. Looking over the new Saab 9-5, it has all the makings of being a strong entry. There still is hope that Saab might be purchased by outside investors and that the San Francisco show won't be one of the last events for the marque. The Saab stand is already bought and paid for at this week's Los Angeles show, so technically if the company goes into the history books the LA show would probably be its the last. Let us hope for a miracle. Shots of the 9-5 sedan are in the slideshow below this article.

Also on display at the San Francisco show were the controversial Acura ZDX and Honda Crosstour. These hatchbacks have somewhat awkward styling with the Acura winning the beauty contest (if barely). I am usually a big fan of anything with a hatch, but neither of these cars wins me over. I had held some hope that these cars would be better looking in person, but sadly my opinion did not change upon viewing them up close and personal. My opinion notwithstanding, both the ZDX and Crosstour were surrounded by interested visitors and a friend of mine was quite taken with the ZDX, so they may hit their sales targets. I have embedded a video of the Crosstour below this post and ZDX photos are in the slideshow.

The Ford area was relatively busy in comparison to other manufacturer's displays. A large reason for this was a talking robot that captivated the crowd with a comedy routine. The robot was a great way to keep folks in the Ford area while telling them about innovations like the MyKey system which allows parents to limit speed and audio volume when teen drivers are behind the wheel.

Also receiving a lot of interest from the crowds was the Hyundai Equus luxury sedan. The Equus will slot above the well received Genesis and will be priced in an estimated $40K to $50K range. Interest seemed to be strong, we will see if that translates into sales. Photos of the Equus are in the slideshow below.

The Academy of Art University had a nice collection of classic cars on display and I will post a story and slideshow on the display as my third and final installation of my 2009 San Francisco Auto Show coverage.

Honda Crosstour

Kia Sorrento

Ford MyKey

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Leaked! 2010 Saab 9-5 sedan photos hit the Internet

2010 Saab 9-5 sedan

This image has been circulating for some time now.

We now have a wonderful cache of photos of the forthcoming 2010 Saab 9-5! Click the link to see the full gallery of photos of both the exterior and interior.

It was just the other day that the last Saab 9-5 rolled off the assembly line and now we have a view of the future.

Officially the sedan bows at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but it is a rare day that photography can remain secret once it starts to be distributed, especially with a model of such importance as the Saab 9-5.

Based off the same unpinnings as the Opel Insignia, Chinese Buick Regal and Buick LaCrosse, the 2010 Saab 9-5 has been molded into a style at once recognizable to Saab fanatics.

2009 Saab 9-5 sedan

The new sedan not only pays homage to Saab's history, it also sports the latest in Saab graphics.

2010 Saab 9-5 interior

2009 Saab 9-5 interior

Wagon fans need not despair, there will be a SportCombi, but it will be revealed at a later date and time.

The big question that remains, did Saab get the driving dynamics right? We'll have to wait awhile before any impressions are published.

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Saab story: Final Saab 9-5 has left the building

The last 9-5 was produced on July 2, 2009.

You could never accuse the current Saab 9-5 of lacking staying power: The Trollhättan produced car has been in production since 1997. The Saab 9-5 received a couple of refreshes in 2002 and 2006, but has been basically the same design for 12 years.

Supposedly the production version of the next 9-5 sedan source: saabs united

While quite competitive when first launched, the Saab began to slip behind the pack as the years piled on. The 2006 refresh gave the 9-5 a nose job that did little to improve the car's appearance.

Supposedly the production version of the next 9-5 wagon source: saabs united

No matter its warts, the Saab 9-5 will long be remembered as a very comfortable, safe car. The next generation 9-5, set to debut at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show, would do well to emulate its predecessor's lengthy tenure.

For more info: Visit the original (translated) article.

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Good egg? Koenigsegg Group AB looks to purchase Saab

Koenigsegg CCX and Saab Aero-X Concept

General Motors sent out a press release today stating that a planned acquisition of Saab by a a consortium led by Koenigsegg Automotive AB would secure Saab's future, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year, includes an expected $600 million funding commitment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) guaranteed by the Swedish government and includes plans to launch several new products that are in the final stages of development.

Koenigsegg CCX and Saab Aero-X Concept

This last piece of the press release is very critical. Saab is about to replace its ancient 9-5, launch a 9-3 variant called the 9-3x and produce a new crossover called the 9-4x. If Saab is to maintain any momentum, it must continue with this launch schedule reasonably intact. While it is safe to assume to the 9-5 and 9-3x will arrive in the not so distant future, less has been said about the 9-4x although presumably it is still set for production.

Koenigsegg CCX and Saab Aero-X Concept

“This is yet another significant step in the reinvention of GM and its European operations,” said GM Europe President, Carl-Peter Forster. “Saab is a highly respected automotive brand with great potential. Closing this deal represents the best chance for Saab to emerge a stronger company. Koenigsegg Group's unique combination of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and financial strength, combined with Koenigsegg's proven ability to create world-class Swedish performance cars in a highly efficient manner, made it the right choice for Saab as well as for General Motors."

Koenigsegg was founded by Christian von Koenigsegg in 1994. The company makes high-performance sportscars in very limited numbers. The company's headquarters is in Angelholm, in southern Sweden, using an aircraft hangar that once housed Swedish airforce Gripen fighter jets made by defense group Saab AB.

For more info: Check out Koenigsegg on Wikipedia. Visit Saabs Unlimited (where I found the above photos) for enthusiasts' take on the acquisition.

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Next Gen Saab 9-5 Soldiers On

We'll see how this one plays out. The platform under this Saab also underpins the Opel Insignia and Buick LaCrosse. Pretty tasty stuff and a very promising base for the flagship sedan. But what of Saab itself? Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

Source: AutoExpress

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Saab 9-3x

If this lifted SportCombi helps Saab sell a few more cars, then I'm all for it. We will get this "top shelf" edition of the 9-3 in the States starting in the fall. You can check out the full press release here.

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GM Readies Saab For the Singles Bar

When you talk of GM, it's hard not to speak of its brands that are under review. One such nameplate that is getting a thorough going-over is Saab. Unlike Michael Scott from the TV show ''The Office,' Saab is not being called into the boss' office to discuss what it is doing right. Instead, according to interviews I had with GM staffers, GM's European operations is reviewing the brand and will make recommendations on what should be done.

Separately, in an article published in Automotive News, the trade paper quotes GM sources as saying that "Saab has been negotiating with GM and the Swedish government about becoming a more independent company, initially as part of GM."

If Saab development was split off from GM Europe and moved to Sweden, it would hark back to the olden days for the Griffin brand. I'm not sure how this would all play out, but certainly if GM wishes to cleave the brand from its business, it has to make it a clean break. That means getting Saab's house in order and its bags packed.

source: automotive news

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What's Swedish For "Not Interested"?

As one might expect, GM has not found any takers for its Swedish division. According to sources cited by Automotive News, GM has quietly shopped around Saab to little effect. I don't think this comes as much of a shock. Saab has never been a profit center, so it might be difficult for any buyer to imagine an upside. On a cheerier note, once dealers have been stocked with the new 9-4x crossover plus a replacement for the aging 9-5, Saab will once again have a formidable lineup.

I've suggested before that one possible scenario might be to combine Volvo and Saab into a "Super Swede" automobile manufacturer. While GM would probably be willing to let Saab go for a song, Ford is trying to exact a high(er) price for its Volvo division which might prevent a Hyundai/Kia-like tie-up.


source: automotive news

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Saab Greenwashing? "Yes" Say Aussie Authorities

Maybe they should stick to giving away free picnic sets? GM Holden has promised to "retrain" its Saab marketing staff over a snafu that occurred last year. Between July 27 and September 1 of 2007 Saab Australia ran advertisements that used the following slogans, "GRRRRRREEN", "Every Saab is green. With carbon emissions neutral across the entire Saab range" and "Shift to neutral." Saab Australia made representations that by planting 17 trees for each Saab sold, the car would be carbon neutral for its life expectancy. Trouble arose when it was found that 17 trees would only offset a year's worth of driving.

Saab said it received no complaints about the campaign and will plant the trees as promised. The offending ads will never be published again and marketing staffers will be slapped with a wet fish (I may have made that last bit up).


source: the age

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Saab 9-5 Sketch

The Epsilon II onslaught will continue here in the U.S. when the next 9-5 arrives. Our first taste of the platform will be the next LaCrosse, but this Saab version is the one I'm licking my chops for. This shot was taken at Saab Owner’s Convention 2008 and offers us a tease of what the next 9-5 will look like.

source: tollhattan saab via a labyrinth of blogs which may or may not include kevin bacon

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Live in the U.K.? Want a Free Picnic Set?

It would appear that Saab Great Britain is giving away a limited edition eco-friendly picnic box complete with dining accessories, a fair trade woven blanket and luxury food vouchers. The kit has 8 sets of natural, biodegradable picnic ware made from potato and cornstarch, all of which are heat resistant and reusable. Just e-mail saabpicnic@halpern.co.uk to request your own set. I would imagine that requests from the U.S. would be rejected with extreme prejudice, but if you never ask, you never get.


Saab Great Britain - Independent Summer Dining With Style

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Sobbing About Saab

Dave Newhouse: A Saab story - Inside Bay Area

On this July fourth, I thought I'd call to your attention an article by a local writer (link above). Being a recovering Saab owner myself, I can certainly sympathize with Newhouse's experience. Newhouse says that Saab, loosely translated, means "electrical disaster." The uplifting part of this story is that Newhouse formed a connection with his service writer, something that I was never able to do with mine. Where my Saab relationship ended in acrimony, his ended in the simple realization that his Saab was simply too expensive to maintain. Newhouse followed his service manager to Toyota where he bought a Camry. Talk about a sea change!

Going forward Saab has a new raft of products. Soon we'll have the next 9-5 and a crossover will replace the dismal 9-7x. A smaller 9-1 should also added to the mix in a few years time. Will these new products have fewer "sob stories?" Yes, I think that Saab is getting its house in order. My friend's 2004 9-3 has experienced far fewer troubles than my 2002 9-3 Viggen did. Sure his alarm occasionally goes off while he's driving, but to experience a completely gremlin-free Saab would go against the grain.

photo source: mother jones photo essay "sea change"

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It Was All Yellow

I'm a big fan of Saab, even if my 2002 Viggen spent more time at the dealer than in my driveway. Hoping to add a little spring in its step, Saab is releasing the 2008 Saab Convertible Yellow Edition with an MSRP of $42,830 including destination charges.

As long as the "special edition" moniker isn't overdone, everybody wins. Saab pushes a few more cars out the door, dealers have a "limited edition" model that will hopefully sell for closer to sticker and the buyer gets a new car that won't look like everybody else on the road...Of course, when you buy any Saab you're pretty much guaranteed of that anyway, right? Well, maybe not in Boston.

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