SAAB are back!

[Andy_Bangle]

The first 9-3 Aero sedans rolls off Nevs' production line today!

Saab's new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden, will begin series production of the 9-3 mid-sized sedan at its plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, today, almost two years to the day since the company was forced to file for bankruptcy.

The last cars produced by the automaker rolled off the production line in April 2011. Saab, then under the control of Spyker NV, filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 19 of that year.

"Yes, we will start the actual production on Monday," NEVS spokesman Mikael Oestlund told Automotive News Europe, adding that initial output would be at a "humble" pace with the possibility to increase the volume over time. He promised more details on Monday.

NEVS bought Saab out of bankruptcy last August. The production start became possible after NEVS reached an agreement with parts suppliers, Oestlund said.

Oestlund said the production car would be powered by a turbocharged gasoline engine and would resemble pre-series models built for testing in September. The car that comes off the line on Monday will closely resemble the last production 9-3s built at Trollhattan in 2011.

Oestlund said NEVS will begin production of an electric variant of the 9-3 in 2014. That car initially will be aimed at China and will likely feature a face-lifted exterior.

In August, Oestlund told Automotive News Europe that the new fuel-powered 9-3 will be sold in Europe and China initially, with U.S. sales possible later.


NEVS previously said it plans to build cars based on the Phoenix architecture developed by Saab before the automaker's bankruptcy. The company needed to modify the platform to remove the 20 percent of parts sourced from former owner General Motors.

NEVS is owned by Hong Kong National Modern Energy Holdings, which is run by Swedish-Chinese green energy entrepreneur Kai Johan Jiang. NEVS is 22 percent owned by the Chinese city of Qingdao following a deal earlier this year.

[Tipex]

I wish them well, but can't honestly see anyone buying what is, frankly, an outdated car now.

[Andy_Bangle]

a large/heavy out dated car at that. It was building big cars, that nobody wanted, which killed Saab in the first place

[Cuprabob]

I wish them well too but sadly I fear Dentists have moved on and buy German tbese days.I fear it's a futile exercise.

Edited December 2, 2013 by Cuprabob

[Mook]

Even if they turn out to be a great car, who in their right mind would buy one - not because it's a Saab, but because it's yet another a re-kindled manufacturer that'll likely die off within a year.

[Andy_Bangle]

But where will you be about to buy one from and get it serviced? it's going to turn into another MG, you've heard of them but never see them (thank god).

[Twinspark]

They need to restart 9-5 production. That was a great looking barge.

[cruiser647]

They need to restart 9-5 production. That was a great looking barge.

 

Yep - why use a 20 yr old design when a newer, better designed, less flexible 6 yr old one was available?

[theduisbergkid]

Who on earth has signed this off? No-one wanted them when they were still fairly up to date, but now, with Chinese owners and a hint of green nonsense on the agenda? I'm guessing some Chinese business is using this as a cover to get their hands on the GM 'thingy' platform that underpins the 9-3. I can't see any other reason why anyone would get involved otherwise.

[patently]

The architects of the world just breathed a sigh of relief.  As did the manufacturers of black roll-neck tops.

 

I always wanted a Saab.  Really, really wanted one.  Right up until the moment I test-drove a new 900 against an E36 BMW 323i.  My F-i-L and I got out, looked at each other, and quietly agreed that there was no contest.  

[Twinspark]

I came so close to buying a 9-5 Aero, the only thing that stopped me was finding our import 156 a couple of days later.

[garcon magnifique]

I considered a 9-5 Aero many moons ago. Quite the cool Q car, if you didn't need to actually go round corners. Epic understeer. Hilarious on boost acceleration (for 15 years ago...).

 

In the end two things put me off - a singularly unhelpful local dealer (who went bust a few months later) and discovering that its projected depreciation over 3 years was actually worse than an Alfa 166.

 

Basically pissing money down a drain.

[Twinspark]

I was offered one at less than a year old for £12,995. Or £13,995 for an estate - both were automatics, too - I recall that was exactly half the new price!

 

In the end, I saw our 156 advertised for £6,995 at 2 years old... (well, it's older than that, but was 2 years from registration, IYSWIM) - and offered £5.5k for it, which was accepted.

[patently]

A BMW salesman confessed to me that they hid when they saw a Saab turn up on the forecourt. They knew there was no chance if a sale - they would always have to disappoint the driver with their trade-in offer.

[DanG]

Bring back the 92x, only this time sell it in Europe.

 

Brilliant car with proper mechanicals, I very nearly bought one about 10 years ago when I was living in the US. Looking at pics again, it has aged really well.

 

HUGE market for it - given the current Subaru offerings, and sales.....

[Tipex]

Or you could just buy the Impreza that hides underneath?

[garcon magnifique]

The 92x was basically an Impreza 5 door of 4 generations ago. A 12 year old design. I never got to see whether the interior of the Saab variant was any better than the Korean cab interior of that era Impreza.

 

I still reckon Subaru will pull out of the UK market before long. Subaru UK offerings are now down to XV, Forester, Outback and (in numbers so low Morgan would be embarrassed) BRZ. It's pretty hopeless.