Saab History

Saab 9-3x Print Advertisements Released

Posted on 26. Aug, 2009 by Ryan.

Saab Automobile AB have released a series of Saab 9-3x Print advertisements. Each of the five print ads features, Power, Control, Fuel, Inspiration & Safety. Three of them are displayed above as I have requested the two remaining ads from Joe At Saab in Goteborg.

These print ads have been launched in concert with the television ad also recently published.

The ads look good, bu only appear to be just for the European market at this time, so we’ll see what happens.

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Saab 9-3x “Changing Perspectives” Television Ad

Posted on 25. Aug, 2009 by Ryan.

Saab Automobile AB has just launched their latest tv commercial featuring the Saab 9-3x. This new TV ad is called “changing perspective”, complete with a soundtrack from Swedish Singer Asha Ali called “Time Is Now”

I wonder what market this will be played in, a quick guess tells me the U.K. with the voiceover, but then again, it would be great if this ad was played on tv as-is here in the United States.

This video is number 482 in the Saab History video archive.

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Saab 9-3x Cross Combi To Be Showcased At 2009 SOC

Posted on 13. Aug, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab 9-3x Cross-Combi will be showcased at the 2009 Saab Owners Convention as I have been recently informed.

This particular vehicle, launched in the United States this past April at the New York Auto Show that I covered, will be on display and hopefully, even available for test drives.

This product will be the first 2010 model year that Saab Automobile will be launching as part of the new Saab Automobile-Koenigsegg era.

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Saab Belgium Receives Another 2010 9-3x At Facility

Posted on 12. Aug, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Beherman European

Saab Automobile importer, Beherman in Belgium has provided Saab History with a nice photo of another 2010 MY Saab 9-3x that has been delivered to their facility for a customer. This photo visually illustrates the problem free ordering that Saab dealerships have in Belgium at this time.

On a side note, this photo was taken right outside of their facility, which appears to be an old aircraft hangar. This hangar, looks much like the one I identified as a great facility for Saab USA to relocate to at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wouldn’t it be suiting to get the big SAAB wordmark on this building too, and fit all of the Heritage Collection cars in it easily? Those cars will soon need a new home anyways. Here’s hoping the new Saab USA operations relocate to a facility like this and make it look like what Saab Belgium has done.

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Saab 9-3x To Be Showcased At 2009 SOC

Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

I just heard that some people have been receiving e-mails from Saab Automobile USA about the 2009 Saab Owners Convention that is just 2 weeks away.

Here it is below, it looks like some cars from the Saab USA Heritage Collection will also be present including a never seen before “99′ 92 Viggen”, but I am guessing they meant to say “9-3 Viggen”.

I am most excited to see the 2010 Saab 9-3x though, perhaps there will even be test drive opportunities?

As we weave our way through 2009, we anxiously await the one weekend where we can get together and celebrate all things Saab. The Saab Club of North
America’s annual Saab Owners Convention is coming. And we’d love for you to join us.

Held at Copper Mountain Resort – among the twisting, turning roads carved into the Rockies – this year’s convention takes place August 13-16. Highlights include a rare gathering of Saab heritage vehicles – a ’64 Wagon, a ’52 92, a ’56 Sonett I, a ’78 99 Turbo and a ’99 92 Viggen. These classics will also be joined by the 2010 9-3X, which is destined to join the ranks of the cherished. The festivities will conclude with a five-day road rally touring four national parks. Get the details.

Hope you can make it. See you in the Rockies.

Thanks for your continued interest in Saab,

Saab Automobile USA

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Saab History Eager To Test Drive 9-3x This Fall/Winter

Posted on 24. Jun, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab 9-3x, or the 9-3x Cross-Combi as I like to call it, is planned on becoming available at dealerships worldwide this fall.

This vehicle will be the next vehicle available for consumers to purchase, and I hope that I will some day get the opportunity to own this vehicle.

I love the idea of the 9-3x through and through and had it been introduced in 2002 as it was supposed to be, it would’ve been an incredible sales opportunity for Saab Automobile then.

However, fast forward seven years later and the year is 2009, and Saab Automobile is now being relaunched with it’s new owner, Koenigsegg. The branding of the company appears to be continuing in a systematic way, emphasizing the outdoorsy and independently minded owners and the 9-3x shall be the vehicle that best represents Saab’s brand pillars today as their effective transition vehicle into the new era for the company.

The Saab 9-3x, utilizes a recently available & proven cross-wheel drive system abbreviated as XWD. The 9-3x compared to its counterpart SportCombi sibling, stands a bit taller, more agressive exterior styling and thus has better positioning to outsell the competition such as the Subaru Outback, Audi Quattro Wagon & the Volvo All-Wheel Drive Cross Country Wagon.

Fortunately, now living in New England where all of these cars are ubiquitous, we will see the real test for Saab, a vehicle that should serve this demographic well. So it’s all up to the funding and an all-out marketing blitz to get former Saab loyalists as well as conquest sales behind the wheel of the 9-3x this fall & winter 09/10 season.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the North East has historically been the hot bed for Saabs as we know, and should do well with this XWD equipped in a recognizable raised wagon form as an option for those sick of the typical Subaru/Audi/Volvo or SUV/CUV options. While the Turbo-X was the halo vehicle for the technology packed in a performance oriented product, the 9-3x will be the renaissance vehicle for Saab’s XWD, reflecting all of company’s virtues, most notably, utilitarianism outfitted in a right-sized, and Swedish designed yet agressive form.

I have test driven many cross-wheel drive Saab vehicles beginning with a 9-3 XWD prototype, then later, the 9-3 Turbo-X, and more recently a 9-3 SportCombi with XWD & eLSD and I must say the latter was by far the best, but I don’t see it ending there. It is my hope that I can test drive the 9-3x Cross-Combi this winter season here in the North East through some real snow and inclimate weather and send the message that Saab is here, their products are ready for the consumer and they’re on the move as they say in Sweden.

If I start seeing Saab 9-3x Cross-Combi’s in my neighborhood here in the next year, then I’ll finally be able to convince myself, that people are listening, learning and responding to this new era for the company. The specific region that I live in here in New England is all about the outdoors and all-wheel drive, so if this vehicle is not a hit here, Saab’s marketing in the United States has failed because the car is a winner, period. Here’s hoping this year’s marketing blitz sets the tone for the best advertising we’ve seen yet.

So, here’s hoping we begin to hear more about the 9-3x arriving at dealerships this fall, specifically what options they will come with, when exactly they will be here in the fall and so forth. I am hopeful that one of my site sponsors will receive one of these in the not-so-distant future and could provide me the opportunity to review it here on Saab History.

I am excited and eager along with my supportive Wife as we have our Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes & our recently acquired LL Bean tent, ready for a weekend real-life test drive & Saab adventure to report on here on Saab History.

For more information on the Saab 9-3x, please visit my archive, there are nearly 50 posts related to this product alone.

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Saab Automobile AB Continue Filming New Ad Campaign

Posted on 18. Jun, 2009 by Ryan.

Saab Automobile AB recently published photos of their advertising arm, Lowe Brindfors, filming their new advertising campaign.

In these photos you can see the Manager of Interactive Marketing and Advertising Johan Grundin, Simon Padian, the Saab Brand Design Chief and Kaj Zachrisson all in the studio amongst other staff preparing for the filming of yet another tv ad, promo or some other content.

If you have not already seen the first tv ad in this campaign’s launch that debuted back on March 13th, please take a look at it here.

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Saab 9-3x Launch In Paris Coverage From Last Weekend

Posted on 11. Jun, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile France

It looks like the Saab 9-3x launch event at the Jardin Garden in Paris went over quite well according to the Saab Newsroom blog.

I encourage you to take a look at the other photos below from the three links for more details.

Here are some highlights below.

Jardins Jardin is an event that took place in the heart of Paris last weekend in the famous garden Jardin des Tuileries. “Jardins, Jardin” is a unique and original event associated with the values of creating the landscape, environmental protection and sustainable development.

The theme for this year´s event is the latest trends in outdoor design and temporary gardens are created by landscape architects, artists, creators.

Surrounded by trees, plants, water and flowers the all new Saab 9-3X was exposed in France for the first time. This green BioPower car in white fit very well in the garden!

Click on these articles to find out more and see pictures
JardinsJardin
Eve-Auto
Xelopolis.com

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