Saab News

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are arguing for their share of the rescue money provided by the American government as they continue to suffer the biggest losses in motoring history.The Bush administration opposes their call for cash but a bill has been presented by the Democratic party to the country's Congress, which is also in transition following the landslide win by president-elect Barak Obama, to give them some short-term relief.If any deal is approved - which seems a longshot - it will include a provision that none of the money can be used to pay executive bonuses.These have been a multi-million dollar windfall for most senior executives at the Big Three for decades, but look to pass into history - at least until the river of red ink in Detroit is damed.The proposal for the $25 billion assistance package has created a political furore in the USA, where one side of politics says the Big Three only have themselves to blame and the other is trying to protect jobs and even the pension and health insurance entitlements of retired workers.A USA Today-Gallup poll shows the split, as a 47 per cent of adults said they believe loans and other help for carmakers is "not that important".Meanwhile, everything from paperclips to concept cars has been culled as General Motors fights for survival.The one-time world leader, which is now certain to be overtaken by Toyota on the 2008 sales charts, has slashed all non-essential spending and has even withdrawn from the Los Angeles Motor Show later this week.GM was planning to unveil a new Buick concept car and something exciting for Saab, but has pulled both cars and also decided to keep its senior executives away from the California car show.Ford and Chrysler are also expected to go low-key in LA, leaving import brands including Nissan and Mazda - which will reveal their all- new 370Z and Mazda3 - to make the running.But it is the GM cutbacks which are making news in the USA, as the company - which is losing billions each month - reduces spending on everything from stationary to company cars. It has cut all executive bonuses and raised prices for executive lease cars.GM has admitted it will run out of cash reserves by the end of the year.Chrysler has also eliminated bonuses and is pushing e-mail to save on paper costs, while Ford is not having any Christmas parties in 2008 and has slashed all non-essential staff travel. 

Ageing designs and even older platforms have seen many prestige car buyers cross Saab off the shopping list before leaving home. The 9-3 sits on eight-year-old underpinnings, while the 9-5 is even older with its Epsilon platform approaching 12, a true geriatric in prestige automotive terms.“There is no doubt we have suffered because we spent a lot of time telling people what the price of the car was rather than what the brand was about,” says Saab Australia boss Parveen Batish.“That approach has a negative impact as far as your residual values are concerned and it takes a while to dig yourself out of that hole ... and we're not out of that hole yet.”Batish was on hand at the launch of the limited edition Turbo X and Aero fettle for the TTiD diesels. Saab hopes these will turn things around. Despite sales evidence to the contrary, Batish says the brand is heading in the right direction.To the end of May, Saab sales have dropped almost 27per cent over the same period last year, with just 592 cars registered.“We have been talking about the brand a lot more over the past 18 months. We've got to tell people what Saab's about if we're going to be sustainable in the future. We can't just go on price ... people are willing to pay as long as they know they are getting the performance and value they expect from the brand that they are buying.”The poster car for Batish's vision of a brave new future is one that will do little to improve the bottom line in raw figures but will provide a point of reference for what Saab is going to become.The Turbo X (just 30 examples will make their way to Australia) is a showcase of technology for future models. The all-wheel-drive (cross-wheel-drive in Saab speak) 2.8-litre V6 with active limited-slip rear differential is a clear signpost on the road to the all-new 9-5 due by early next year.“To have a hero car we can point to is hugely important for a couple of reasons,” Batish says. “Firstly it gives everyone a boost, a lift, and that will show in the marketing. More importantly it allows us to talk to the people we want. We can finally say to those people who have been scared to drive a front-wheel-drive car because , `You can't put that much power through the front wheels', try this.“It is true that 30 cars is not a lot of conquests, but from here AWD will flow to other models, at least as an option, in the very, very near future. That is what I mean about giving those people confidence. We can do one job at the moment in terms of lifting the brand with the Turbo-X and then with cross-wheel drive in the future we can bring those conquests to us.”Even before the flow down of the AWD and LSD technology, Saab is working to get its cars back on the consideration list.“The conversion rate when we get people into the cars is fantastic, something like 50 per cent,” Batish says. “That tells me we have a product people like but we have to get them into contact with it.”To that end Saab will be pushing what Batish believes is the brand's unique selling point.“As a brand what we're going to focus on is responsible performance. The fact we have excellent diesel engines with an Aero diesel, the fact we have enviro-power-flexible vehicles with E85, the fact we have four-cylinder engines with great performance and fuel economy. All of this leads to responsible performance.“Everyone wants performance. When people buy a premium car that's what they want.“We think we have great cars with great packages, especially the TTiD.”However, for all the “responsible” banter it is going to be, initially at least, the performance of the Turbo X that will grab buyers by the throttle.Saab has opened its AWD strategy with a car of which it has built only 2000 - all of which are black and which Saab Australia holds only four firm orders for the 30 examples it has been allocated. There is little argument that it deserves a better reception than that, and may well get one once those looking in from the sidelines at the $88,800 starting price get over the sticker shock.With 206kW and 400Nm the Turbo X, in six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, is open to some suspicion. The 9-3 Viggen (the car, not Saab's jet interceptor) is remembered for its audacious torque and atrocious manners.The Turbo X shares none of that. AWD and electronic LSD means the 400Nm of urge is delivered in a controlled manner. So much so that the Turbo X was at its best on a loose gravel road with the torque delivery switching from front to rear and side to side with effortless efficiency. 

The high-performance model, which has already attracted deposit-paid orders in Australia, will introduce the AWD system which will appear on the Aero model later this year.The Swedish carmaker says just 30 Turbo X vehicles (25 Sport Sedan and five SportCombi) will be released to customers in Australia and New Zealand from June, starting from $88,800 and rising to $93,800.The Turbo X is the first model to offer the XWD AWD system, which can put 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque (between 2150rpm and 4500rpm) from the 24-valve 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 engine to the bitumen.The Saab XWD system is an active AWD system that continuously distributes torque between the front and rear axles, and between the rear wheels.To optimise traction at take off, Saab XWD incorporates an innovative pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels, instead of waiting for slip.Saab believes the system sets a new benchmark. It also allows the Turbo X to hit 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.There's also an active rear limited-slip differential as standard on the Turbo X, set to appear on the Aero's options list. This can transfer up to 50 per cent of torque between the rear wheels, depending on grip. The ultimate Saab performance machine, the Turbo X will start at $88,800 for the 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 manual Sport Sedan or $91,300 for the auto.Stepping up to the SportCombi pumps the price to $91,300 for the manual and $93,800 for the auto.Offered only in metallic black with some details in a grey titanium-like finish, the Turbo X gets the full aero body kit, making it the meanest-looking Saab in living memory. It sits on standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while optional 19-inch rims will add $2250 to the bottom line.The cabin has black leather-trimmed sports seats (or there's an optional premium, natural leather interior for an extra $4000), as well as a carbon-fibre finish to the fascia, door trims, glovebox and gear shift console.The driver gets a thick-rimmed, soft-grip leather steering wheel and an eyeful of a boost gauge that's a replica from the original 900 Turbo.Owners can also have a personalised greeting when they get behind the wheel and switch on the ignition. As well as a “Ready for take-off” message flashed on the main instrument display, the owner's name and personalised greeting also can be programmed by the dealer. 

The first all-paw performance car will be on the road in Australia by June and the 9-3 Turbo X will be followed by a full family of all-wheel-drive turbos. The upgrade to what Saab calls “cross-wheel-drive” promises an end to steering tug and torque steer, a negative for Saab since the 1970s, as well as opening a Subaru-style opportunity to re-position the brand as a performance and safety leader.The Turbo X is fitted with a 206kW turbocharged V6 performance engine, as well as a predictable range of body and cabin upgrades, and will be priced somewhere beyond $75,000. Only 30 cars will come to Australia, from a worldwide production run of 2000, with 25 sedans and five SportCombi wagons for local deliveries.The XWD system will be a key to Saab's future model development, once the outdated 9-3 and 9-5 are renewed and the all-new 9-1 compact and 9-4 crossover wagon join the line-up.“It's about performance. Bringing the Turbo X to life is about capturing the true spirit of Saab, which has a proud history of innovation and performance,” says Saab's spokeswoman in Australia, Emily Perry. “The original Saab turbo was the 99, which was first shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 1977. We want to get that spirit back into the brand.“Cross-wheel drive takes it to the next level. All-wheel-drive is used by different manufacturers for different reasons and for us it's all about performance.”The 9-3 Turbo X with XWD has just been previewed in Europe and Saab's rally drivers gave a wicked insight into its ability during an Australian passenger program beyond the Arctic Circle in the far north of Sweden. The Turbo X was impressive and even ordinary drivers coped handily with a first exposure to ice driving — with the help of studded tyres — during a variety of driving tests in a regular XWD Aero turbo wagon.The biggest difference between the Turbo X and the regular XWD cars is the high-tech E-differential in the back of the limited-edition car, although this is likely to be optional in Australia once the X cars are all sold.It gives the Turbo X a sportier balance and more driver feedback. Saab Australia is already planning for the arrival of the Turbo X — which will only be available with black bodywork — as part of the strategy for GM Premium Brands which includes Hummer and the introduction of Cadillac later this year.“We want to rejuvenate the Aero name, which happens when cross-wheel-drive is availableon the top-line Aero models. By the end of the year it will be available on the Aero, becausewe are expecting the Turbo X to sell-out pretty quickly,” Perry says.“So we will have the front-drive Aero with 188kW, or the cross-wheel-drive car at 206kW.”And Saab is thinking further down the track.“It will be available in the 9-4X, absolutely, and it has application for other new models as they come to life. But we cannot confirm any details around the new 9-5 or the 9-1X yet,” Perry says.“It is truly about the next generation of Saab. It's the first step. It's what you can't see that is driving the change within Saab.” 

The Swedish car maker has been idling in neutral for almost five years, backsliding on sales because of the age of its 9-3 and 9-5 models, but is about to get the newcomers it needs to surge forward.Its 9-4X crossover wagon has already been previewed at the Detroit Motor Show in January but the real breakthrough will come when its compact 9-1X is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in a fortnight.The all-new double act will add to the renewal of the 9-5 to give Saab a massively refreshed line-up, probably from the second half of next year.“2009 is going to be a very big year for us,” Saab Australia boss Paveen Batish says.The change comes as General Motors, which owns Saab, finally provides the cash and focus the company needs to move forward.The 9-1X will become a crucial building block as, just like the Volvo C30 compact which has put the zip back into its Swedish rival, it will be set to draw newcomers to the brand. The first official picture of the 9-1X, front-on and with detail, says very little away about the car. It shows a bold frontal treatment similar to the Aero X concept car from 2006 on a car which will be sized to compete with the C30, Mini, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, but not much else. But, based on Saab's existing product plan, it is certain to have an efficient turbo engine, will run on ethanol fuel and will have the company's all-wheel-drive system as an option.Saab is not confirming the 9-1X name yet as the car has been called the PCC (Premium Compact Car) through its planning. But it does admit it has a newcomer and that it will join the 9-4X wagon in the line-up. “Janake Jonsson, our global managing director, has publicly confirmed that Saab has been working on a premium compact car as well as a premium mid-sized SUV,” Mr Batish says.“The 9-4X that we saw in Detroit is very close to what we will see as a production car. Similarly, the Premium Compact Car, which will initially appear as a concept will also be very close to what the Saab fan base can expect to see in the next two years or so.”On the styling front, the 9-1X concept picks up the rounded windscreen design used for the Aero X show car, which gives a jet-fighter effect with a semi-pillarless look to the roof supports. Inside, it will pick up the same design cues, especially around the dash seen in the 9-4X.But Saab is saying nothing about the fine detail of the car, waiting until Geneva to reveal the new look, its powerplant and production plans. 

After more false starts than any season of trackwork, the Swedish prestige division of General Motors has finally been cleared for something new. However, it's not the much-needed replacement for the 9-5 flagship, or even a revamp of the underdone 9-3, but an all-new family wagon.The 9-4X BioPowerConcept was unveiled at the Detroit motor show with the promise of a very early go-ahead in a joint development program that will also spawn a new compact Cadillac wagon called the BLX.The full production version of the 9-4 will be ready to roll before the end of 2009, although it will probably not make Australia before 2010.When it does, it has the potential to do for the brand what the Porsche Cayenne — which has driven record sales and profits — has done for the German sports carmaker.“New products drive sales. They rejuvenate the brand, they help with the direction you are going,” says Parveen Batish, director of GM Premium Brands in Australia.“It will be great to have a car that's all new and in a new segment. It opens up a group of customers who were not available to us before.”Batish will not confirm any production plan for the 9-4X, even though other GM sources at the Detroit show say it is a definite goer, but the details are obvious and promising for Saab.The concept car has a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that like a growing number of GM vehicles can run on E85 ethanol fuel with a power output of 221KW and 400Nm of torque. That means a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.0 seconds and fuel economy of 10.5 litres per 100km.The 9-4X is a five-seater wagon with all-wheel-drive, built up over a similar mechanical package to the one already used for the 9-3. It is expected to be built in Mexico as its key target is the US.In Australia, Saab rebounded slightly last year after bottoming this decade at less than one-third of its late '90s peak. Last year's showroom total was 1911 cars and the company has a target in the 2500 range for 2008.“We were up by 16 per cent last year. We have grown faster than the industry, and that's a good result,” Batish says. But he denies Saab is underdone on the product front, even though the 9-3 and 9-5 are old by industry standards and the two models used to keep sales ticking in the US — the awful Subaru-cloned 9-2 and the 9-7 badged from the 9-7X — never came here. Saab has shown concepts in the past but before the 9-4X none made it close to showrooms.“We've got the new 9-3, which is externally 90per cent new,” he says. He is much happier talking about the 9-4X and a planned compact.“We showed a concept car,” Batish says. “We want to gauge public reaction to the 9-4X. And it has been good.“We'll be really pleased if it comes to fruition. We know there is new product coming and it will happen when it happens. We have announced we're looking at another new segment, with a smaller car called 9-1.” 

While the world's largest carmaker is convinced ethanol could finally save the world from its reliance on fossil fuels, General Motors has conceded that motoring beyond 2020 will be with electric vehicles that are either plug-in hybrids or run on hydrogen fuel cells.GM used the North American International Automotive Show in Detroit to reveal a new process for producing ethanol, which is far more efficient and removes any conflict with food crops.GM chairman Rick Wagoner said the carmaker believes the process could turn ethanol into the miracle fuel of the 21st century. Developed by Coskata Incorporated, the process allows ethanol to be created from almost any source material, including agricultural waste, municipal waste, discarded plastics and old car tyres.GM is convinced ethanol can provide a more-immediate solution for transportation and wean the world from its 96 per cent reliance on oil for automotive energy.Mr Wagoner was speaking on the opening day of the North American International Auto Show, the first major motoring event of 2008.He touted the potential for ethanol to overcome the world's short-term need for petroleum and stressed that the fuel plan is not just a knee-jerk reaction to soaring oil prices. He said it worked because it could be used in various combinations with gasoline or as pure fuel in existing engines.“Ethanol offers a cleaner alternative to petroleum. It's adaptable to our current refuelling infrastructure, it doesn't have to be imported and it requires little change in consumer behaviour,” Mr Wagoner said.“What's more, Coskata's process is expected to use less than one gallon of water per gallon of ethanol produced.“That's compared to three-to-four gallons of water to make a gallon of grain-based ethanol.“In a well-to-wheels comparison . . . the Coskata process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 84 per cent compared to gasoline.”GM unveiled two concept cars in Detroit: a compact Hummer and a Saab four-wheel drive that have flex-fuel engines, which are ethanol compatible. 

A hectic 2007 proved to be lucrative for the car industry with a plethora of new cars launched and more than a million sales throughout the year. And there's no indication that it will be slowing down in 2008.AUDI The new A4, to rival the 3 Series and C-Class is expected here about April, while July will see the hot sports wagon, the RS6 Avant and the A3 Cabrio. Extra A5 variants will follow. BMWBMW has a busy year ahead, starting with the 320d and 335i touring this month. The 1 Series Coupe will go on sale around April, followed by the convertible in May-June. But its big one for the year will be the new X6 Sports Activity Coupe, arriving between July and September. It comes with three engine variants, all twin-turbo, an in-line six, a 3.0-litre diesel and a 300kW 4.4-litre V8. Pricing is expected to start at just under $100,000. And the X5 scores a new engine in February, with the first variable twin turbo diesel offered in the range. CHRYSLER/JEEPJanuary will be a busy month for Chrysler, with the Sebring Cabrio and Grand Voyager people mover both arriving in Australia. The Jeep Cherokee will also get a total makeover. CITROENBased on the C4 Picasso, but bigger and better equipped, Citroen will introduce the Berlingo van between July and September, with a mainly diesel range. This will make room in the line-up for the new Nemo small van mid-year. The C5 will also get a new V6 diesel engine.FERRARIDeliveries of the exquisite F430 Scuderia, priced at about $550,000, will start mid year. Only about 40 will come to Australia and New Zealand. FIAT The reincarnation of the 1960s Bambino will arrive in March, but Fiat has already sold the first four months' supply. The new Fiat 500 will have three engine choices, a 1.2-litre petrol, a 75kW 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 56kW 1.3-litre turbo diesel. Pricing is expected to start from $22,000. The new Ritmo will join the Fiat 500 in March with pricing from $30,000. FORD One of the biggest launches for the year will be the new Falcon. Ford will release details of the new model in February and it's expected to be followed by an unveiling at the Melbourne motor show in the same month, with the official launch around May.FPV FPV will start the year with a new model, the hot turbo Territory, known as the F6 X model. It's the first non-Falcon model from FPV, with 270kW and 550Nm. The FPV Falcon range will also arrive this year. HOLDEN/CADILLACWith Ford's big year planned, you can't expect Holden to keep quiet. But so far, Holden has only announced it is expecting the VE Sportwagon, due in the first half of the year. GM-Holden is also introducing Cadillac with the first model due late in 2008. HONDA Honda will start the year with the new Accord model, due to be launched in February. The small Jazz is also getting an update after the middle of the year. Details on the new generation will be released closer to the launch. The Accord Euro is also expected to arrive later this year. HYUNDAI No big launches just yet, although an upgraded Sonata is expected mid year. JAGUARJaguar's major release for the year will be the new XF in June, with pricing expected to start from $105,000. It will be available in a V6 diesel, as well as a V6 and V8 petrol. KIAPreviewed at the Sydney motor show last year, Kia will launch its new seven-seater Rondo crossover in February. It is expected to start from as low as the mid-$20,000 mark. LEXUSNew for Lexus will be the LX570 around April or May, followed by the IS-F towards the end of the year. Details still to come. MAZDAThe second-generation Mazda6 will go on sale at the end of February with pricing from less than $30,000. It will be powered by a 2.5-litre, four cylinder engine, with 125kW and 226Nm.MERCEDES-BENZThe first arrival for Mercedes-Benz is expected to be the C 63 AMG in mid March. It will be followed by the S 320CDI, priced at $189,874 and the C-Class wagon, which will carry a $3000 premium over the sedan, coming in just under $60,000. MINIAnother new version of a 1960s cult car is also headed our way, with the Mini Clubman launched in February. The modern successor of the Morris Mini Traveller, the Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate won't get into showrooms until March or April. Pricing will start in the mid-$30,000 area. MITSUBISHIMitsubishi will release two turbocharged Lancers this year. The top-level Lancer Evo X GSR will be here in April and sell for about $58,000. The 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo engine pumps out 200kW and 422Nm. Joining it will be the detuned version in the Ralliart all-wheel drive, at about $40,000. NISSANNissan's first addition for the year will be the all-wheel-drive wagon, the Dualis. Starting at $28,990 and stretching to $35,990, it's powered by a 102kW, 2.0-litre engine. PEUGEOTThe big launch for Peugeot will be the 308 replacing the 307 range, which will start with the 308 hatch in February in both petrol and diesel guises. The touring will follow in June or July, with the 308cc model a prospect for late 2008 or early 2009. PROTONProton has announced the Persona, based on the Gen2 hatch platform, will make its debut at the Melbourne motor show in late February, going on sale in March. It will be priced around the mid-teens. The Gen2 will also get engine updates and minor styling changes. RENAULTThe all-new Laguna will go on sale mid-year with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. SAABJune sees the arrival of the Turbo X AWD. SSANGYONGThe South Korean company will go completely diesel in 2008, with no more petrol engines on offer in Australia. SMARTThe new Fortwo arrives in Australia in February. The one-model brand will get both the 52kW and 62kW models, in hatch and cabrio, being bigger than the current models. SUBARUThe star WRX STi comes in February with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, although pricing is still to come. The third generation Forester arrives in March. SUZUKIFebruary's proving to be a busy month, with Suzuki also launching its Grand Vitara diesel. TOYOTAAfter a big year in 2007, Toyota is expecting a quiet year, with only the TRD Hilux due to be launched in April-June. VOLKSWAGENVolkswagen will kick off the year with the SUV, the Touareg R50, to be released in April. It's powered by a 258kW V10 TDI engine. The Tiguan also arrives about October.  VOLVOThe recently launched XC70 arrives in showrooms this month, joined by the C30 diesel also in January. It's priced at $43,950. A base model C30 will also enter the line-up, at $34,450. A 3.0-litre six-cylinder engined V70 will arrive in March. 

Companies as varied as Volvo, Citroen, Nissan and several truck manufacturers have come up with systems that alert the driver by shaking their seat, steering wheel or sounding audible alerts if the car or truck swerves from its lane.However, Saab is now developing a system that prevents the driver swerving in the first place.Their Driver Attention Warning System (DAWS) is designed to counter two of the most common causes of road accidents; driver drowsiness and inattention at the wheel.DAWS alerts the driver by using a combination of text and voice messages, or vibrations in the seat cushion, as soon as the risk of drowsiness or inattention is detected by infra-red cameras.Research has shown that not only are more than a quarter of accidents in Australia caused by fatigue, but death tolls from sleep-related incidents are three times higher than other accidents, presumably because the drivers do not swerve or apply their brakes.A driver who gets behind the wheel after 17 hours without sleep is impaired to the same extent as if driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.05.Unlike the Citroen and Volvo systems, DAWS does not rely on measuring an erratic change in the direction of the vehicle. It is designed to detect the cause, rather than the consequences.It uses two miniature infra-red cameras, one installed at the base of the driver's A-pillar and the other in the centre of the dashboard, focused on the driver's eyes.Software measures the driver's rate of eye blinking. When the cameras detect a pattern of long eye-lid closures, indicating drowsiness, a series of three warnings is initiated.The first warning is a chime and a text message “Tired?” displayed on the instrument panel.If the driver's eye-lid movement does not immediately revert to a normal wide-awake pattern, a speech message “You are tired” is delivered through the car's audio system.If there is still no response, a stronger warning tone and the message, “You are dangerously tired, stop as soon as it is safe to do so!” will come over the audio.This can only be cancelled when the driver presses a reset button. The system is then immediately reactivated.The cameras are also able to monitor the driver's eye-ball and head movement.If the driver's gaze moves away from the windscreen, a timer starts counting.If the driver's eyes and head do not return to the straight ahead position within about two seconds, the driver's seat cushion will vibrate. This will stop once the driver's eyes and head are consistent with the vehicle's direction of travel.However, the system software can detect when the driver is looking in the rear-view mirror, the door mirror or turning a corner, but retaining peripheral vision of the road ahead. On these occasions, it allows a slightly longer time before vibrating the seat.However, the system will differentiate if the driver is distracted by other passengers, using a mobile phone, or changing a CD or radio station.The system has been installed in a Saab 9-3 SportCombi for an eight-month test; supervised by the Road and Transport Research Institute in Sweden.It is part of a development and validation process that could see the system become available in future Saab cars. 

Petrol, diesel or now renewable bio-ethanol. Saab is the first car maker to release a bio-ethanol-powered vehicle in Australia. The BioPower 9-5 is on sale.