This is good news as this vehicle must have a hybrid, but also must have a true hatch, so if we can continue to refer to the Saab 9-2 as a “Hybrid Hatch”, then we’ll see some significant demand for this long awaited segment. This vehicle has additional reasons to be promising as it will be the first official Saab model to have 100% Spyker and 0% GM influence!

Here’s the piece below by Autoblog’s citing Autocar.

The decision to green light the 92 will be made within the next 100 days. If the 92 gets the go, a hybrid model will definitely be available. The design for the 92 is all but finalized, as are the specs and dimensions of the vehicle, though Saab’s keeping this info under wraps. As Muller tells Autocar, the company targets 30,000 to 60,000 units per year at a price of “Mini plus 10 percent” with a release date of late 2013 or early 2014.

What really confuses me is that now Dagens Industri is not only mentioning Geely, but Koenigsegg once again, but this time, in addition they have mentioned U.S. investment companies. While they listed all of these parties, they excluded the Norwegian government though.

One of my favorite lines in the piece cover, for perhaps the first time ever, the Saab 9-1 compact car!

Below is a loose translation of the article thanks to Google.

This confirms a secure source of insight into General Motors, Saab and Deutsche Bank’s work to find a new owner of the Swedish car company.

“Representatives from Geely was with Saab for a whole day. They listened to a four-hour long presentation, looked at the factory and test drove numerous copies of the new 9-5 back and forth Grästorp,” said DI’s source.

The Chinese alleged to have been very well-informed sturdy and asked questions about, how safe it was to a new owner would have a long service agreement with GM on future production and technology.

According to the Geely is interested in American automotive technology also visited Volvo PV in Torslanda.

State-owned Chery is China’s largest car manufacturer with 411,000 cars sold last year. Chery recently received a loan of 80 billion kronor from the Import-Export Bank of China to the global expansion.

Among other visitors are also the Koenigsegg Swedish company that manufactures high-performance cars in very small quantities. Representatives of Koenigsegg visited Saab in the company of a venture capital company.

A number of global investment company based in the U.S. have also met in Trollhättan.

All reported to be financially strong and one of them has invested 26 billion in acquisitions in recent times.

“These investment companies was very positive and saw great opportunities to develop Saab’s model program and brand,” says DI’s source, stressing that it is among these invsteringsbolag as GM and Swedish government sees the biggest potential for a business.

DI’s source is more doubtful whether any of the Chinese companies can agree with the Swedish government for a loan guarantee. In government circles there is a hesitancy to contribute to sales to Chinese companies on Monday may not be secure guarantees of continued production in Sweden. Risk of technology drain is another argument.

Of the 27 stakeholders have ten selected. During the next week, they come back with detailed answers to what they want to do with Saab and highlight its continued interest.

“It could be if they want to undertake to develop a 9-1 model in the compact series, or just assume that the business plan is implemented,” said DI’s source.

If interest is sufficient appointed five four stakeholders to proceed with. These will be invited to submit a bid and the earliest sign a letter of intent so that negotiations with the state can get off to May 20. Then reconstruction would be completed and application for renewal must be made.

Saab informationschef Eric Geer is optimistic.

“There is a strong interest among the visitors. But of confidentiality reasons I can not comment on who they are,” he says.

Photo Credit: Jonas Hållén

Jonas HÃ¥llén of Nyteknik has written an article about Saab Automobile’s promising low-cost hybrid-electric solution technology that may see implementation in the new small car, known as the Saab 9-1, or 9-2 as they are referring to it as.

For all intents and purposes, I will continue to call it a 9-1 unless officially told otherwise, not to be confused with the 9-2x that was available in 2005-2006.

The Saab 9-1 may use this hybrid technology called BAS (Belt-Driven Alternate Starter), a take off based on GM technology (presumably originated at GM Engineering in Sweden no doubt?)

Three new models to make the Saab in Trollhättan profitable in 2011 talking CEO Jan Åke Jonsson on. But secretly developing Saab also has a small car with cheap hybrid electric solution, experiencing New Technology.

This is a new model, built on GMS smaller Delta platform, to be known as the Saab 9-1 or 9-2.

The new model will take up competition with BMWs 1 Series and Mercedes A-class. The weight and size will be approximately the same as that of its competitors, but by using a hybrid solution in the cart to Saab the increased drive down fuel consumption to about 0.4 liters per mil.

According to data to new technologies, it is an attempt to regain the former Saab strength: small, fuel efficient cars with driving pleasure. The basic design of the engine taken from any of the GMS smaller engines. They are available in both petrol and diesel models from 3-cylinder engines on January 1 liter and above.

The engine is complemented with an affordable hybrid solution. It is based on a GM technology called BAS (Belt-driven Alternate Starter) and consists of a combined starter motor and alternator, which replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator.

BAS is connected to the crankshaft with a strap and also connected to the existing battery or a separate battery. Remdrivningen is adapted to force flow in both directions.

At BAS stores braking energy in the battery (regenerative braking). When the car stops the engine shuts of and can then be launched automatically using the stored energy from the battery (start-stop function).

Moreover, the BAS return the saved energy to the engine while driving, giving the car a “sporty” feel.

The advantage of building a hybrid with this technology is that it takes very little space, meaning it can snap into an existing platform.

It will also be much cheaper than a traditional hybrid solution. Such are also in Saab’s future plans.

The company develops currently driveline with an internal combustion engine and standard transmission front and an electric motor together with a small gearbox on the rear axle.

The design is reminiscent of the Volvo would like to use on its mid-sized stadsjeep XC60.

Volvo is ahead in development, but Saab is aiming to be ready at the same time, that is, sometime in 2012. But this means that the cars can be 30 000-40 000 SEK more expensive for consumers.

The design that Saab now working on his folk model gives a hybridization to a significantly lower cost, in less time.

Smaller cars and hybridization are part of Saab’s plans for the future, confirms Saab Automobile Information Erik Geer. But in what form they come and when they are presented, he does not want to go into.

Photo Credit: Tagline / Flickr

A Saab Enthusiast has recently taken the initiative to create a rendering of a 2011 Saab 9-1 model. The Saab 9-1, inspired by the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept Car, is marked to be a premium compact model that is tentatively slated to be a 2011 model.

It is widely anticipated that the Saab 9-1, based off of the GM Astra platform, is a vehicle that will be delivered with Saab Automobile’s patended Bio-Hybrid “right-sized” powertrain, Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD) and a true hatch, something that enthusiasts have long awaited.

Saab Automobile has historically been a small car company, so until this vehicle becomes available for public consumption, the brand has not yet come around full-circle and embraced their once unique position in the automotive industry.

This is the eco-friendly “right-sized” practical vehicle that the global Saab community have been long awaiting, and I hope it comes delivered with all of the goods before not too long.