Saab History

Site Sponsor New Salem Saab of Albany, New York has recently received their first 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero with XWD in “Snow Silver”. A thank you to New Salem Saab for providing some wonderful photos to share Saab History!

I would be curious just how noticeable the driving differences would be with the Saab 9-3 Aero that comes with Cross-Wheel drive in comparison to the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X that also comes with Cross-Wheel Drive. Will Saab Automobile have an Aero-XWD on hand during the Turbo-X Test drive in Boston, Massachusetts later this month for a side-by-side comparison as well?

If you find yourself near Albany, New York, stop by and let them know you are interested in test driving the Aero XWD. We would both be interested in your immediate thoughts!

To find out more information on Cross Wheel Drive “XWD”, check out New Salem Saab’s information sheet and downloadable official Saab Automobile XWD brochure in PDF!

I leave you with a brief introduction on XWD:

The Saab 9-3 XWD has arrived and is ready for test flights.

Just like Turbocharging was the next best step for the 4-Cylinder Engine. XWD is the next step for All-wheel drive. Saab’s exclusive cross-wheel drive takes advantage of already installed sensors used for Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Traction Control and adds Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) in the rear end to give the car the utmost in traction flexibility. Able to instantly transfer up to 85% torque to one wheel, this is a fully dynamic system that enhances the overall performance and safety of the Saab 9-3.

This state-of-the-art system includes two innovative features: pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels to optimize traction at take-off; and an active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), allowing variable torque transfer between the rear wheels. This pre-emptive function is a valuable improvement in current technology, which requires the detection of wheel slip before being activated. For the driver, the enhanced functionality gives maximum traction immediately for smooth, strong acceleration from rest without the possibility of any initial hesitation.

Film Credit: IIHS

Saab Automobile have been conducting their own crash tests since 1947, however there has been some news as of late that apparently came from a Swedish news source was continued by the Gas 2.0 blog, that claims that GM/Saab have been “conducting crash tests with real cadavers”

Here is what they indicate, followed by a quote by Saab Automobile Sweden’s Communications person, Christer Nilsson.

According to Swedish car safety specialist Claes Tingvall, GM has wrapped up a multi-year project which used dead human bodies instead of crash dummies. Specifically, the tests were made with Saab automobiles.

Tingvall told the Swedish Newspaper Expressen, that people had donated their bodies for the tests. He said the bodies aided researcher in better design of crash dummies, and, of course, see first-hand injuries sustained by human bodies in car accidents.

The article, in the English language website, The Local, says neither Saab or GM has acknowledged using human cadavers in any tests.

A Saab spokesperson, Christer Nilsson is quoted in Expressen as saying,

“We are with GM through thick and thin. We conduct our own research and try to find other methods to achieve our results, with the help of computers, for example.”

I am interested in how this information really originated from this paper, but I would also even more interested if Alf Persson still works at Saab Automobile AB in Sweden as their chief crash test engineer with attentino to what he has to say about this recent news from Sweden’s Expressen Newspaper.

For more information on Alf Persson and Saab Automobile’s Saab Crash Tests, here is a post I found about Alf Persson back in 2001 that I think you will find very informative.

Furthermore, I hope that Saab Automobile Sweden’s Alf Persson, can shed some more light on this by giving his own personal details as well as some current MY2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan and Sport Combi crash test videos actually conducted at Saab Automobile Sweden’s Technical Development facility in Trollhättan, Sweden.

I have sent an e-mail to Saab Sweden requesting their comments from their engineer, Alf Persson as well the aforementionedl videos of the MY2008 Saab 9-3 Sedans and SportCombis actually being crash tested in their facility in order to bring some real credibility countering this recent story from Sweden’s Expression.

I look forward to Saab Automobile Sweden’s response!

Photo Credits: Saab Of Hunterdon

Saab History site sponsor, Saab of Hunterdon has received their first delivery of one of 600 destined for North America out of 2000 that will be built of a 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X.

I suspect this will be the first of many Turbo-X delieries will now begin to start showing up in the United States as time moves on.

A thank you to Saab of Hunterdon who have been happy to share with us, the photographs of this vehicle in front of their facility.

I leave you with a quote from Scot Orzillo of Saab Of Hunterdon, who sold this Turbo-X to their customer.

“We finally received the Turbo X my customer ordered during the initial order period which I think was back in November. The pictures of this car by no means do it justice. It is absolutely gorgeous.

The one pictured is a 6 speed with navigation and touring package. The customer should be taking delivery by week’s end.”

The latest issue of Nines has arrived today and it certainly looks good. There is even a nice new photograph for the 2008 Saab Owners Convention.

In this issue, there is a lot of material, and keep in mind as soon as you get your subscription in for Nines Magazine, you are autmomatically enrolled for a free subscription to Saab Magazine as well!

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile Canada

As a follow-up to my recent communications with Saab Automobile Canada, not only did I kindly suggest that they include themselves in the media.saab.com website, which they have now done, I also suggested that they submit a photograph and their company history from the very beginning.

Saab Automobile Canada took my suggestions seriously as you can tell and have provided Saab History with said photograph and company history.

The Team:

The photograph of their team that I requested above, includes the Saab Automobile Canada team members (Left-to-Right), Terry Smith, Aftersales Manager, Mårten Wahlstedt, Brand Manager and Steve Tamblyn, Assistant Brand Manager. I emphasized that this photograph not only include their team, but to be taken within the context of their headquarters, as well as a Canadian flag in the background, rounding out with a Saab 9-3 in the foreground. A great job on the photograph, this photograph certainly contextualizes Saab Automobile Canada now.

The History:

The history has been provided with the best of their ability, with some significant digging in order to get the details, and here it is.

Saab Canada History

* In 1975, Saabs were first imported into Canada by Scancar, based in Toronto, Ontario. Cars were distributed across the country by approximately 9 dealers.

* Previous to that, Saab automobiles were imported into the country on an individual basis.

* In 1980, Imsport, of Toronto, took over the importation of Saabs into Canada from Scancar. This increased the distribution network to approximately 20 dealers.

* In 1985, Saab itself entered the Canadian market forming Saab Canada taking over from Imsport.

* In 1989, General Motors of Canada Limited acquired the exclusive rights to distribute the Saab brand in Canada. They were marketed through the existing Passport dealer network, formed by General Motors of Canada, to retail imported vehicles, which included at that time, the Isuzu brand.

* In 1992, with the birth of the Saturn division, Passport dealers underwent a name change to Saturn Saab Isuzu ‘Retailers’, to include the new brand in the distribution chain.

* In 2002, with the Isuzu division no longer part of General Motors, the Saturn Saab Isuzu Retailers became simply Saturn Saab Retailers.

This photograph and history now better contextualizes and thus provides the credibility that we needed and wanted to see from Saab Automobile Canada.

An enthusiastic thank you to Mårten Wahlstedt and his colleagues at Saab Automobile Canada for providing this information for the record.

Saab History Seeks Sponsor To Film Saab 9-3 Turbo-X Test Drive in Boston

I have been invited as a guest of Saab Automobile USA to cover the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X event that will be taking place just North of Boston on May 20th & 21st, 2008.

This test drive event is the sequel to the premiere of the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X Test North American launch that also took place in Boston, Massachusets back on November 27th, 2008.

The limited edition and successor to the Saab 9-3 Viggen, is the2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X. The Saab 9-3 Turbo-X, is Saab Automobile’s new high performance vehicle and also the halo vehicle for the new all-wheel drive system XWD named “Cross-Wheel Drive”

I believe, that much like the previous event, it is again, very important that I capture the most complete coverage of this event through written, photographic and the increasingly important segment of digital video and get showcase it here on Saabhistory.com for us to enjoy.

I am hoping that with donations and preferably a sponsor, I can cover this event much like I have with the Turbo-X North American Premiere at the Boston Auto Show, thanks to Saab of Hunterdon.

I hope that enough donations can come in as well as a sponsor, so that I can not only cover the cost of filming this event, but cover my own costs as well. I look forward to your submissions.

Please contact me if you are interested in being a sponsor, so we can discuss the details and cost outlay for this coverage. As part of being a sole sponsor for this coverage, you will receive a DVD that you can use in your customer waiting room in order to illustrate the capabilities of Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD).

Please click on the paypal donate button below to submit your donation to support this cause (please be sure to type “2008 TURBOX TEST DRIVE” in the subject area so I know what this donation will be going towards).

Note: Many of you have been experiencing problems when trying to get to sending me a donation, please send paypal donations to donations@saabhistory.com

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

I thank you for your time and look forward to your support!

Sincerely,

Ryan / Saab History

On April 9th, 2008 at approximately 3:30pm, Marten Wahlstedt of Saab Automobile Canada Phoned Saab History. This contact was in response to a piece I had written on April 1st, 2008 pertaining to the communications and management of Saab Automobile Canada.

Mårten Wahlstedt is the Marketing Manager of Saab Automobile Canada and has been an employee of Saab Automobile beginning since 1995, where he began working right in Trollhättan, Sweden. Since that time he has held numerous positions in marketing and communications with Saab Automobile having lived in Göteborg, Sweden as well as Germany and he has now been working at his current position within Saab Automobile Canada in Oshawa, Canada near Toronto.

Prior to Mårten Wahlstedts employ with Saab Automobile Canada, another Swede by the name of Magnus Hansen worked in the same position. It is Mårten’s hope that this position will continue to be developed and will consist of the the same types of individuals that have been employed as of late as it has worked out well, although he admits “there is always much more work that can be done to improve all aspects of Saab Automobile Canada’s role in the market today”.

Our conversation began as Mårten Wahlstedt outlined his aforementioned history with Saab Automobile as well as the management structure of Saab Automobile Canada.

Saab Automobile Canada’s Management: Today, Saab Automobile Canada consists of Mårten Wahlstedt, and a few assistants who work exclusively full-time on the Saab Automobile brand while “leveraging the resources of GM Canada” as he indicated.

Saab Automobile Canada’s Advertising: Saab Automobile Canada align themselves with the global ad campaign “move your mind”, however they also utilize Saab Automobile USA television advertisements due to the close proximity of most Canadians to the United States border. Their advertising is best defined as a hybrid of unique messages to perspective Canadian buyers with the global ad campaign while also utilizing material from the United States as well.

Saab Automobile Canada’s Products: When it comes to Saab Automobile’s products, it was clearly communicated that pricing on all products are to be identical across all Canadian provinces, period. Secondly, Saab Automobile Canada’s products of course, continue to be produced with european specifications.

Saab Automobile Canada’s Retailers: It has been confirmed that the total retailers that Saab Automobile Canada work with are, the aforementioned 31 facilities that are all partnered with GM’s Saturn brand. These retailers believe that communication needs to be strengthened between Saab Automobile Canada and each respective retailer, and Mårten Wahlstedt acknowledges this and knows that this can be improved.

As we began to wrap up our conversation I passed along some suggestions for areas of improvement, of course beginning with strengthing communication between the customers as well as the retailers. In addition, I also suggested that the public communication channel be revamped, beginning with an official launch of Canada’s own section of the Saab Media website, http://media.saab.com as Canada currently does not have any presence here.

As of this writing, I now see that Saab Automobile CANADA now has presence on media.saab.com in both English & French versions! It is great to see some suggestions go directly to a solution now globally visible communicating all of Saab Automobile Canada’s information in a commonly known location.

It looks like after this substantial dialog, I am beginning to see more communication, more work along with more clarity on everything that is happening with Saab Automobile Canada.

Now all Saab Automobile Canada needs to do is keep this trend continuing consistently from here on out.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

Road & Track Magazine Reviews Saab 9-3 Turbo-X and their review is nothing but positive.

Now that Saab History has relocated from Washington, D.C. to New England, the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X on May 20th in Boston, Massachusetts cannot come soon enough.

Here is a snippet from Road & Track below:

2008 Saab Turbo X: Black Has Never Looked So Bright – Road and Track

Kiruna, Sweden — One hundred twelve mph is nothing to get overly excited about. That is, unless it’s on a closed, tree-lined mountain road blanketed with snow and under the cover of darkness. This would likely be a short-lived experience for most mortals, but with Swedish rally star Per Eklund as the designated driver, the incredible potential of this limited-edition Saab Turbo X was revealed without consequence.

To read more, visit their site directly: