Saab Automobile Chosen As Overall Best Brand Buy

Posted on 19. Sep, 2008 by Ryan in 2000-2009

Saab Automobile Chosen As Overall Best Brand Buy by a writer for Autotropolis.

I like the opening line, where writer Sheryll Alexander states that Saab is often overlooked, so the question here is why? Saab has been a leader in safety and fuel efficiency with over 30 miles to the gallon for the past 60 years!

“It’s too bad Saab is often an overlooked brand because this GM-owned Scandinavian automaker has it all: fun to drive, above average fuel economy, safety that rivals its nemesis Volvo and even sexy good looks.”

Here is another passage from her piece about her experience at the Saab 60th Anniversary event in San Diego, California last February that I also had the opportunity to attend, thanks to Saab Automobile USA.

Last year, I spent a few days with Saab executives at uber hip Tower 23 on San Diego’s Pacific Beach. There, I unknowingly met legendary Swedish racer Erik Carlsson in the elevator. “My knees hurt,” says this old, yet spry guy as we were lifted up to the ocean view third floor. Only later at the hip poolside cocktail party did I learn why Carlsson’s knees blew out: decades of driving his big frame in Saab rally cars with a string of wins including back-to-back victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963.

That history of performance via Saab’s jet and racing roots now features cross-wheel drive (XWD) technology. “True to its Scandinavian origins, Saab has built a large part of its reputation on excellent road manners under difficult driving conditions like rain, sleet and snow,” says Saab general manager Steve Shannon. “Our new cross-wheel-drive technology, which delivers unprecedented levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control, further illustrates Saab’s commitment to offering active safety in sporty, efficient and driver-focused vehicles.”

In the rest of her review, she mentions Cross-Wheel Drive as XWD, and then CWD, which clearly was a typo, there is nothing called CWD, just XWD.

For her entire review, please read her piece on Autotropolis directly.

Tags: cross-wheel-drive technology, Driver, Erik Carlsson, general Manager, leader, racer, Saab Automobile Chosen As Overall, Scandinavian automaker, Steve Shannon, writer