However, with the recent details of the new 9-3 to arrive in 2012, that history of the hatchback, is expected to be continued.

The 28 year history of the hatchback began for Saab in 1974 with the Saab 99 Combi Coupe model and concluded in 2002 with the 9-3 model.

It is logical that Saab is choosing to offer the hatchback in their latest Saab 9-3 model, effectively picking up where they left off a decade ago, in a continuation of the same 9-3 model lineage.

I am very pleased to hear of this good news and look forward to seeing this model come to market in the near future.

How many of you will be interested in buying a hatchback once it becomes available? Please voice your opinions below.

Here are the known details of the new generation Saab 93, based on a new “Phoenix Architecture”

The following product segments will be available in this model which include a convertible, 3-Door Hatchback, Sedan and Sport Wagon. In terms of technical details, it should have an electrified turbo as we learned about at the Saab dealer conference in Boston, along with a hybrid powertrain option amongst its right-sized engine choices combined with an Interior & Exterior Designed by Jason Castriota

Saab will declare its independence as a carmaker with the launch of an all-new 9-3 in late 2012. Rebadged as the 93, the new model will also mark the reintroduction of a hatchback version reminiscent of the classic 900.

Saab is working on a new platform — known internally as the ‘Phoenix Architecture’ — that will underpin the next-generation 9-3 family as well as the eventual replacement for the latest 9-5, which has just been launched.

It’s expected that the first car based on the Phoenix Architecture will be the new 93 saloon, which is currently pencilled in for a 2012 launch.

Getting this new car into the showrooms is a priority for a company that badly needs to boost its sales and dramatically increase its cashflow.

A cabriolet and a three-door hatchback will follow hard on the saloon’s heels. The drop-top and hatch are closely related, being nearly identical to each other up to the doors and frameless window arrangement.

The 93 Sport Wagon will be the final model in the range, sharing the majority of its construction with the saloon.

Although the 93 hatch will be bigger than the Audi A3, it is expected to be priced at a similar level, starting at around £18,000. The new model should be Saab’s most credible driver’s car since the 900 Aero was launched in 1985.

The styling of the 93 family will build on that of today’s 9-5, but the company designers are likely to make more use of an aerospace-influenced, barrel-sided look for the 93.

Inside, the wrap-around dashboard theme will stay, but the expanse of bare fascia seen in the new 9-5 is likely to be watered down to avoid overwhelming the driver.

Saab engineers have the option of fitting the 93 with the sophisticated HiPer strut front and linked H-arm rear suspension systems that are already used on some versions of the new 9-5. The company’s highly regarded four-wheel drive set-up is also on the menu.

There’s still some mystery as to the source of the 93’s engines, but it seems highly likely that they will come from outside the General Motors family.

Sources say Saab might already have signed a contract with BMW to supply BMW-derived diesel and petrol engines that are set to make their debut in the forthcoming Mini Countryman.

The company is keen on what it calls ‘right-sized’ engines, which it can modify using its extensive experience in turbocharging and engine management technology.

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

New Design Director at Saab Automobile

* Former Pininfarina and Bertone designer joins Saab leadership team
* Will lead design for Saab’s product expansion program

Trollhättan, Sweden: Saab Automobile today announced the appointment of former Bertone and Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota as its new Design Director.

Castriota, 36, now takes the lead role in design at Saab, reporting directly to Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. He and his design company will be responsible for exterior and interior design and will lead the design activities at Saab as the brand renews and broadens its product range.

Announcing the appointment, Jan Åke Jonsson said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jason to our leadership team. He has an outstanding track record in automotive design and will help us take the brand forward. He will play a key role in expressing all that’s best in the innovative tradition of Saab design as we carry our brand’s roots into the future.”

“I’m greatly looking forward to joining such an iconic brand,” said Castriota. “Saab has a very strong and distinctive heritage which gives it great potential to develop. This is an exciting opportunity for me to help shape its future products.”

Victor Muller, Saab Automobile’s Chairman, added: “Bringing a young, highly-talented designer to Saab underlines the company’s determination to produce cars which stand out because of their unique aircraft inspired, Swedish identity. With Jason heading up Saab design, we will be making landmark cars for the foreseeable future.”

Castriota hails from New York and graduated from Emerson College in Boston before attending the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. In 2001, he left the college to join Pininfarina’s design studio in Turin, Italy. He took up the position of Director of Design at Stile Bertone in 2008 and then opened a design consultancy with offices in New York and Turin.

His recruitment is an important strategic step by Saab in its renaissance as a newly-independent carmaker.

Note to Editors:

Saab Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company) was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer and revealed its first prototype passenger car 10 years later after the formation of the Saab Car Division. In 1990, Saab Automobile AB was created as a separate company, jointly owned by the Saab Scania Group and General Motors, and became a wholly-owned GM subsidiary in 2000. In February 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands, acquired the company from GM as an independently-run business.

Saab cars reflect the brand’s unique Scandinavian design ethic, which is fused with its aircraft engineering heritage. The company is a global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation. It is recognized for its pioneering role in turbocharging, as well as occupant safety and the introduction of flex-fuel technology through Saab BioPower. Saab Automobile AB currently employs approximately 3,500 staff in Sweden, where it operates world-class production and technical development facilities at its headquarters in Trollhättan, 70 km north of Gothenburg.

http://media.saab.com/

Contact:
Saab Automobile Press Office
Tel: +46 (0)520 279797

Saab Automobile’s new Chairman, Victor Muller of Spyker Cars has recently spoken to Just Auto about his slightly different take on the future of EV’s in the automobile industry.

While Saab continues to develop it’s new era of independence, it must maintain it’s continued vision and passion for sustainable transportation solutions as a historical leader in technological solutions within the automotive industry.

It’s important to indicate that partnerships with companies such as Boston-Power, are just the beginning of this process.

As Saab Automobile emphasizes it’s interest to be a leader in this space, it will need to ensure that these products become a reality for consumers just as other manufacturers are doing, so that this global smart grid infrastructure powered by sustainable energy sources, can begin to take shape.

Muller is also skeptical about full electric cars, although he said Saab will run an electric test fleet when it launches the new 9-3.

“I lose sleep over electric cars – they are a contradiction in terms. They are only as good as the grid they get their electricity from.

“In Stockholm EVs are truly zero emission because the country has nuclear and hydro-electric power stations. You can’t say the same for New York because the car might have an electric motor but 500 miles away someone is shoveling coal into the generating station.

“We have to look at where the electricity comes from. There is a long way to go before EVs can be truly classed as zero emission. I see the future for now in hybrids, smaller, high performance internal combustion engines aided by electric solutions.”

In addition to this vehicle, Muller indicates that he would also like to build a premium compact vehicle known as the 92.

This is all very good news for future product development at Saab.

TROLLHÄTTAN, Sweden — Saab-Spyker chief Victor Muller says he would like the company to build a what he calls a 92, a compact, premium model drawing inspiration from the original 93, “though not a retro design,” he stresses.

The car would be positioned “somewhere north of the Mini” and would need a technical partner for Saab to be able to bring it to market. For this reason, it is not part of the business plan intended to return Saab to profitability by 2016.

However, Muller and Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson say they have been surprised by the level of interest shown by other manufacturers in selling Saab hardware and technology. Jonsson is also hoping to sell Saab expertise, including its experience with turbos, transmissions and gasoline engines.

Muller also says that the next-generation 9-3 is more than two years into development, “with basic engineering done, with two years in which to add more Saab DNA,” before launch. That will have allowed Spyker to get the fully engineered new 9-5, the 9-4X, the 9-3, and a re-equipped factory “for the price of a wind tunnel.”

Photo Credit: Saab History

As a follow-up to both my recent posting about Saab Automobile’s premium compact to be built by 2011, I have found a post back from June of last year stating that the next generation Saab 9-3 will be built in Trollhättan, Sweden.

I recall that this press release was posted in response to the media’s speculation that the NG 9-3 would be built in Germany, so to set the record straight, Saab Automobile AB issued this satisfying press release that I am reposting in order to keep us up to date.

2008-06-19

Trollhattan plant to build next generation Saab 9-3

General Motors has allocated production of the next generation Saab 9-3 to the Trollhattan plant in Sweden. This morning the Saab staff was informed by GM Europe President and Chairman of the Saab Board Carl-Peter Forster.

“This is obviously extremely positive news for our organization and the region and a clear signal of the confidence in our ability to deliver world class production quality and efficiency”, says Saab Automobile Managing Director Jan Åke Jonsson.

“Since we had been allocated production of the next generation global Compact Vehicles in April of 2007 it’s really good to know we can start focusing on building a range of next generation Saab 9-3 vehicles”.

To achieve leading competitiveness the Trollhattan plant has introduced the GM Global Manufaturing System GM-GMS with strict standards related to quality, involvement of the employees, continuous improvement and short lead time in the production process.

The plant currently has roughly 1700 employees.

CONTACT(S):

Eric Geers
Director Communications Saab Automobile AB
+46 (0) 520 85 110

Frank Klaas
General Director GME Corporate Communications & TV
+ 41 44 828 25 88

Since Saab Automobile AB in Trollhättan, Sweden already got the go ahead for production of this premium compact car in early 2007, it will be interesting to see if there are any prototypes on the road sometime next year.

I also understand that both of these vehicles will be hybrid models, with the convertible having some ingenius canopy roof system as well, so it will be interesting to see these models designed and built in their home market, I just hope they are not too late.

If this timeframe continues to hold true, it should be mentioned that Saab designers at the GM Design Center in Germany state that conceptual designs go from the digital drawing board to production in about 18-months time, which would put these models at about 2011. This marks another question, will the existing Saab design center in Sweden be able to do this as well, in the same time or less with all facilities right in the immediate Trollhättan region, once the transition to independence begins for Saab Automobile to depart from GM?

For all intents and purposes, this model lineup designation originally planned to be touted as the Saab 9-1, has been designated as the next generation Saab 9-3 (9-3 NG) here on Saab History for the time being according to all references as of late.

I am hopeful about this model as well, following the Saab 9-4x (2010), next generation Saab 9-5 (9/2009), and 9-3x Cross Combi (3/2009) models.

In the meantime, here’s a quote from U.S. news about this recent reference.

“The first Saab to be free of GM influence may well be the next 9-3. A redesign of that car was cancelled last year when Saab determined that it wouldn’t meet strict 2011 European emissions standards. They scrapped the effort and decided to start from scratch on a smaller 9-3 with a new design effort this year.”

“A return to domestic ownership and the ability to conduct its own R&D and design future products like the long overdue 9-3 replacement are exactly what the brand needs.”

U.S. News

Photo Credit: Saab History

This official press release just in from Saab Automobile Sweden now makes it a fact that the next generation Saab 9-3 will be built in at the Saab factory in Trollhättan, Sweden.

For the record, this now negates the previous news about the next 9-3 to be built in Germany.

This is excellent news with the Saab model lineage continuing to be built in Sweden from here on out.

2008-06-19

Trollhattan plant to build next generation Saab 9-3

General Motors has allocated production of the next generation Saab 9-3 to the Trollhattan plant in Sweden. This morning the Saab staff was informed by GM Europe President and Chairman of the Saab Board Carl-Peter Forster.

This is obviously extremely positive news for our organization and the region and a clear signal of the confidence in our ability to deliver world class production quality and efficiency, says Saab Automobile Managing Director Jan Ã…ke Jonsson.

Since we had been allocated production of the next generation global Compact Vehicles in April of 2007 is really good to know we can start focusing on building a range of next generation Saab 9-3 vehicles.

To achieve leading competitiveness the Trollhattan plant has introduced the GM Global Manufaturing System GM-GMS with strict standards related to quality, involvement of the employees, continuous improvement and short lead time in the production process.

The plant currently has roughly 1700 employees.

CONTACT(S):

Eric Geers
Director Communications Saab Automobile AB
+46 (0) 520 85 110

Frank Klaas
General Director GME Corporate Communications & TV
+ 41 44 828 25 88