Saab 99 Reviews

Since General Motors pulled the pin on it last year, it's recent history reads like a soapie that's full of financial lows and potential highs mixed in with a globetrotting search for a new shareholder.It was to be spun off from its single biggest shareholder Spyker, then failure to secure funds saw its suppliers shut the doors, abruptly ceasing production.Then there was an agreement with China's Hawtai Motors but that was scrapped after no-one could agree to the terms, then a rumoured deal with Great Wall Motors - denied by the Chinese - and now another China relationship.Saab overnight issued a press release saying it has signed a memorandum of understanding with car distribution company Pang Da Automobile Trade.Pang Da is the biggest public - it listed three weeks ago - vehicle distribution chain in China with 1100 dealerships. Saab says the memorandum commits the Chinese company to this month buy about $41 million worth of Saab cars and then another $20 million worth next month.Pang Da will also pay $90 million for a 24 per cent stake in Saab's parent, Spyker.For Saab, the deal represents a 50 per cent ownership in a distribution joint venture to sell Saab products. A separate 50 per cent stake in a manufacturing joint venture has also been agreed upon, though the manufacturing partner has yet to be named.The manufacture would be of Saab cars and Chinese-badged Saab "clones". Spyker and Saab CEO Victor Muller says the partnership would "create a strong business, initially in the distribution and subsequently in the manufacturing of Saab vehicles in China"."Pang Da is a forward-looking, profitable and well-capitalised public company that, as the single largest automobile distributor in China, sees enormous potential for our brand in their home market," he says.The CEO of Pang Da, Mr Pang Qinghua, says the deal will "further enhance the competitive position of the Saab brand in China"."With the new products Saab has launched since it became an independent car manufacturer early last year, such as the all new Saab 9-5 and the Saab 9-4X which have been widely acclaimed, and not in the least the upcoming successor to the current Saab 9-3, we believe the timing is perfect for Saab to enter the Chinese market,' he says in a statement."Our size, financial strength and competence in addition to our ability to move fast will be crucial to Saab's success in China." But it's not cut and dried yet. Saab says that some of the transactions are subject to "consents from certain Chinese governmental agencies, the European Investment Bank, GM and the Swedish National Debt Office."

..failing to secure the Beijing government's consent to go ahead. "Since it became clear that Hawtai was not able to obtain all the necessary consents, the parties were forced to terminate the agreement with Saab Automobile and Spyker with immediate effect,'" Saab's owner, Zeewolde, Netherlands-based Spyker Cars NV said in a statement. "The parties will continue their discussions about a possible cooperation, however now on a non-exclusive basis." Victor Muller, chief executive officer of Spyker, said. Saab's regional director for Asia-Pacific, Stephen Nicholls, told Carsguide today: "Three or four people in the world who know what's going on. Victor Muller is one and he's in Beijing." "My understanding is that Hawtai's exclusivity deal expired on May 13 today. As a result of that expiring and them not being able to complete the deal we're still in discussion with them but no longer exclusively so.'' The agreement was to allow Hawtai produce Saabs for the Chinese market, starting next eyar with the new 9-3. The deal also required the approval of the European Investment Bank and the Swedish National Debt Office, which is guaranteeing a loan to Saab from the EIB. "It's been reported that Great Wall are interested but Hawtai is still in there," Nicolls said. "We've no idea what the hold ups were but deals in China of this kind take some time. We have very few hard facts. "Our experience is that we only open our mouths to make fools of ourselves." He added a statement from Muller was likely in the coming days. Saab is still in talks with the European Investment Bank to complete a $41 million loan drawdown. The copmpany is also reportedly waiting on approval to sell some of its property, since the land is currently used as collateral with the Swedish National Debt Office. Having secured a $50 million Swedish government to stay afloat is still looking to strike a deal with Russian banker and former major shareholder in Spyker, Vladimir Antonov.

It has been a long time since I've driven a Saab and even longer since I've driven one I liked. So long, in fact, that I can't really remember if there was one at all.Under the stewardship of GM, the cars became bad, dull or hopelessly outdated. The previous 9-5 was a symptom of that regime. It lacked the upgrades needed to keep it relevant and fell behind the competition.DESIGNThis car has at least as much GM involvement and, in gestation terms, has been ready for 12 months or more. But it does have a couple of advantages. It's much larger than its predecessor; the previous 9-5 was too close in size to the smaller 9-3. This car has generous rear seat room and a capacious, if shallow, boot.Besides turbocharging, other Saab signatures are realised through the car's sheet metal, which has a distinctive cabin shape with visor-like glass. It looks like a Saab even without the liftback rear that used to be part of the formula.Inside, the asymetrical speedo, grid-pattern vents, shapely seats and cockpit-style centre console also echo brand strengths. It's a pleasant place to be.Trainspotters will notice the absence of a central ignition key slot and funky flip-out cupholders. Those will be a deal breaker for no one.TECHNOLOGYThe underpinnings are good. Although they're shared with lesser brands such as Opel, the car's composure and chassis tuning feel up to segment standards. It feels solid and substantial.VALUEIt's packed full of gear. There's not a lot missing from the spec sheet and an entry level car comes almost fully loaded. The list includes stuff that's now de rigueur, such as Bluetooth, as well as premium kit such as an informative head-up display. Active cruise control seems to be the main omission.DRIVEThe range has been rationalised. Previously, there were almost as many Saab variants as buyers. This time it boils down to three engines: the petrol four-cylinder, driven here, a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel and 2.8-litre V6. All have turbocharging, a Saab signature, and the petrol four delivers surprisingly adequate, if unspectacular, performance.Driving the front wheels via a six-speed transmission, it reaches 100km/h in 8.5 seconds. The V6 offers all-wheel drive but is a lot heavier.Some will question the ride quality, though, which rumbles and thumps over road details, and the tyre roar generated by unfavourable tarmac. But on a first taste the 9-5 exceeded expectations. In a very real sense, the only way was up.VERDICTThe 9-5 must redefine the brand for a new generation of buyers and it is at least in with a chance.Read more about prestige motoring at The Australian.

The Swedish brand has struggled for cash since it was sold by General Motors to the Spyker sports car company and its entreprenurial owner Victor Muller, but has now formed a strategic alliance with the Hawtai Motor Group. The Chinese company is investing a total of $203 million in Saab through a 29.9 per cent shareholding and a loan that matches an earlier financial boost from the Gemini group in Europe. The new money means Saab's production line at Trollhatten will begin operating again next week after a shutdown triggered by component companies that had not been paid. "Production is going to re-start at the earliest on Monday, and the latest on Tuesday," Saab chairman, Victor Muller, says in a telephone hook-up from Europe. He believes Saab now has the cash it needs to go forward, as well as a strategic partner that will produce the 9-3 in China and also handle distribution of other Saab models in the world's fastest-growing car market. "All things being equal, I hope we've seen the last of the growing pains," says Muller. He is enthusiastic about everything from the prospects of Saab's much- needed baby car, the 9-2, to the potential for a large SUV for China, but says it is too early to get into detail. "We're currrently putting together a business plan for the joint venture." Muller says Saab was approached by a dozen companies about some sort of partnership, but Hawtai was chosen because it is a similar size to Saab and has similarly aggressive management and growth plans. "We have been courted by at least a dozen individual mnaufa for cooperation in China.We chose this one for many reasons, but one in particular is that it is a very entreprenurial company. Their size is very attractive. So they are a very equal partner."

THIS is a handsome, well-mannered machine for the more genteel, more mature outdoors type.  Launched in Europe in early 2009 and based around Saab's 9-3 Combi, the X adds all-wheel drive, a little extra ground clearance plus some exterior cues to distinguish the wagon from stablemates.It is, says Saab designers, the machine for those who eschew traditional SUV styles; more Timberland than Blundstone perhaps.  And if anyone can combine practical solutions for conquering indifferent roads with practical and smooth design for family transport it ought to be the Swedes.The result here may have been late into the segment - when the likes of Subaru, with the Outback, and Volvo with the XC70  - had already beaten a track into this area. Even one-time stablemates Holden had tackled this niche with the Adventra, that Commodore-based wagon being usurped by the Captiva after a three-year production run.In fact this Saab 9-3 X - while carrying a very different body - has that Adventra approach with the black wheel arch extensions and skid plates, fog lights and such, dressing up the family wagon into an all-seasons, all roads machine.VALUEAt $59,800 the Saab is about line-ball in price with Volvo's petrol-engined XC70, a bit dearer than the top-of-the-tree Subaru Outback and around $20,000 ahead of Skoda's Octavia Scout. Audi's A6 allroad has moved up and out of sight, coming in just a tad over $100,000.The 9-3 X misses for little over these all-wheel drive rivals; all have the Swiss army knife approach to these designs - give 'em lots of gear and hidey holes and some talking points such as cup holders which fold out in ballet-motions from the dashboard. And there's plenty of leather and comfort features here though it could be hard for this Saab to match the resale values of the Subaru and Volvo.TECHNOLOGYUnderpinning Saab's all-wheel drive adventure wagon is the Swedish manufacturer's XWD system, designed with Haldex and allowing seamless transfer of torque to whichever wheel can find traction.It also allows up to 85 per cent of torque to be shared between rear wheels. And the system incorporates the usual array of driver aids - ABS, stability programs, traction control and emergency brake control.DESIGNThe current 9-3 style, tweaked here and there, has been on the roads for almost a decade. There's nothing wrong with that, these shapes are familiar and comfortable. And here, with the aid of the raised ride height (up 35mm) and the adventure-style add-ons - including more aggressive front bumper, dual exhaust pipes - the style still has attraction.Inside style is also smooth and familiar, right down to the ignition key mounted on the transmission tunnel between the front seats. Dash and instruments are most tidy and very legible. But it's not a big cabin and while the cargo area is a reasonable size, the back seat is best left to smaller people.SAFETYThe Swedes have long held trophies for safety in cars; other manufacturers may have caught up but the folk at Saab haven't backed away from driver and passenger airbags, roof rail airbags, side airbags and all those primary safety features to keep the 9-3 X upright and pointed in the right direction.DRIVINGThe Saab 9-3 X is a mature and very comfortable machine. It is a sure-footed wagon under all manner of conditions, torque is transferred smoothly and with little fuss on greasy and gravel surfaces. And it can be moved along a country road with confidence, without the high-riding drawbacks of traditional SUVs. The steering hasn't too much life but the ride is excellent in a wagon suited to cross-country cruises.But the performance-economy ratio with this petrol-engined Saab and its six-speed transmission drags the wagon back. It is a docile engine-transmission combination, adequate rather than adventurous.  Saab's claimed city consumption is 15.5l/100km; certainly this test, a mix of city, freeway and country, saw fuel figures closing on 12l/100km. While these may not be alarming numbers, drivers may expect a bit more punch for their petrol.SAAB 9-3X ***Price: $59,800Warranty: 3 years, 60,000kmResale: N/AService interval: 20,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 10.1l/100km;242g/km CO2Safety equipment: six airbags, ABS, ESP, ABD, TCSCrash rating: 5 starEngine: 154kW/300Nm 2 litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrolTransmission: Six-speed autoBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4690mm (L); 2038mm (W);1573mm (H with roof rails)Wheelbase: 2675mmWeight: 1690kgTyre size: 235/45 ZR18Spare tyre: 6.5x16

A new flagship is waving the Saab flag again in Australia. The all-new 9-5 is the first newcomer since the Swedish brand was released from more than 20 years of suffering under General Motors, and comes with the promise of value pricing, impressive quality and styling that breaks away from the origami school of creasing in European design.Now, if only they could get the ride and handling right... The 9-5 is a good looking car that's noticeably bigger than any previous model to wear the badge, and a bottom line from $71,900 - helped by a Luxury Car Tax break for an eco-friendly diesel engine - will help to get it on shopping lists against everything from the BMW 5 Series and Benz's E Class to the Volvo S80.Saab Cars Australia is planning a slow burn on the 9-5 - and the rest of its comeback plan - and is only predicting around 100 sales this year. "Our brand is not something we shout about. We want to talk to people individually," says Steve Nicholls, managing director of Saab Cars Australia. He says the point of difference for the 9-5 is the way it looks."All our communciations are based around design. That's the key message. It's not about kilowatts or how much you can fit in the boot," says Nicholls, who flew global design boss Simon Padian to Australia for the introduction of the 9-5.VALUEThe starting price of the 9-5 is helped by a diesel that comes in at 6.8 litres/100km, but even the petrol-powered Vector is affordable - for the class - at $75,900. The flagship Aero Turbo6 XWD is priced from $94,900 with all-wheel drive and most of the good luxury stuff, although a back-seat DVD system is an extra-cost option.Good stuff on the Vector includes a head-up instrument display and chilled glovebox in addition to the usual satnav, an all-speaker Harmon-Kardon sound system, leather trim, bi-Xenon lamps and more. The top-line car is boosted by park assist, sports seats cornering headlights and more. Every 9-5 comes with keyless entry and the start button is in the console between the seats, the traditional location for the ignition key in any Saab. "We've created a big gap now between the 9-3 and the 9-5," says Nicholls.TECHNOLOGYWhen Saab was part of the GM family, the way the company was treated was basically just child abuse. That meant investment and development was always limited, so Saab is playing catch-up. Even so, its all-turbo engine philosophy is sound, it promises body strength and safety as good as anything in the class, and there is independent rear suspension - but not in the turbodiesel.Engine outputs are 118kW/350Nm for the diesel, 162/350 in the petrol four and 221/400 in the 2.8-litre V6, with all cars using a six-speed automatic gearbox. To put the 9-5 in its place, it's just over five metres in length with a wheelbase of 2837mm, has 513 litres of boot space and a full-sized spare.DESIGNThe shape and style of the 9-5 is a welcome move away from the creases-and-crunches, origami style of so many modern European cars. It even has a blacked-out A pillar to disguise the traditional bulk around the front of a car, and an aero-influenced curving windscreen."Because we're Saab we're allowed to be different. To be honest, I think if we followed the rest of the crowd we'd lose our soul," says Saab's chief designer, Simon Padian, in Australia to preview the 9-5."Saabs have always been durable, practical cars that are designed to be used. Our customers want cars that have meaning and substance." "The 9-5 is the result of a very conscious journey. We're always looking for a way to create more desirable products."So the body is smooth an distinctive, while the cabin has a driver-  focussed dashboard and the sort of quality final finishing you expect in a Saab.SAFETYThe 9-5 should easily clear the five-star bar at NCAP, but Saab says it wants more and is bringing everything from its 'black panel' dash - which blanks everything but the speedo on command to cut after-dark strain - to the head-up display. There are front-side-thorax-curtain airbags, ESP stability control and ABS brakes, as well as a rollover sensing system.DRIVINGThe look and feel of the 9-5 promises a lot. It's a classy car where you can see and touch the quality. The engines also respond well, from the quietness of the diesel to the pull of the V6, with a smooth shifting automatic - although there is no response to calls for a downchange when you tug the shift paddles in D, only in Sport.Based on a very short drive in a full range of cars, the 9-5 is fairly quiet - apart from some wind noise around the mirrors - the seats are very comfy and supportive, and the dash is well laid out with plenty of toys. The head-up display is the best we've seen but there is a silly extra display in the dash that means you can have three speedometers operating at once - main, head-up, and an 'altimeter-style' extra - and that's plain silly.The real problem with the 9-5 is the suspension. Regardless of the car, and despite running through 17-18-19 inch tyre sizes, the suspension is crude and fails to cope with Australian conditions. Saab says it wants a sporty feel, but the 9-5 crashes through potholes, is nervous on corrugations, and is generally not a nice place to travel. And there is torque steer and kickback, as well. The 9-5 is promises a lot but urgently needs to have its suspension fixed before it can be considered as a serious prestige contender in Australia.VERDICT: "Looks good, drives not so good."SAAB 9-5 ***1/2 

The baby 9-2 will have separate parentage and could easily be fostered by BMW Group, but everything else will be Phoenix under the skin. The news comes as the Swedish maker gets serious about an Australian comeback with its flagship 9-5, a classy looking prestige sedan that's priced from $71,900 and only let down by shonky suspension. "Phoenix is the future of Saab. It's the mechanical platform for everything we do, except for the small car. It's demonstrating our independence and capability to survive by ourselves," Steve Nicholls, managing director of Saab Cars Australia, tells Carsguide. Saab has already previewed Phoenix with a concept car of the same name at this year's Geneva Motor Show. It was cartoonish in some ways, but strip away the outrageous body bits and you reveal the 9-3 underneath. "The big news comes in 2012, probably quarter three, with the launch of the all-new Saab 9-3. That will be based very much on the Phoenix car that was shown in Geneva. The underpinnings we showed in Geneva are pretty much the car," Nicholls says. Saab will soldier through until then with a lineup of current 9-3 models and the 9-5, as the 9-4X SUV is twinned with a Cadillac for the USA and is not available in left-hand drive. Nicholls says Saab has limited sales aspirations at present as it rebuilds support in Australia and expands a dealer network that has shrunk to just eight outlets. "Our job is to tick over and then gradually grow. We've got our first few batches of 9-3 on the ground and the 9-5 launch stock is here." He admits he is also fighting perceptions of problems following a factory shutdown in Sweden last week and overseas reports of financial trouble for a company that is not long out of General Motors' ownership. "Would I have chosen to have this happen? Of course not," Nicholls admits. "The funding is there, but the cash flow isn't. We've had a couple of unfortunate hiccups. "We've had losses, but they were within the parameters of the business plan. Hopefully we'll be in a profit making situation in 2012. Once we have the new 9-3 we should be making money. "We're here to stay. Saab has invested to be in Australia, it's a significant market for us and we were always one of the top 10 markets in the world. The fact that we've set up as a factory distributor, and not gone with an importer, shows we're taking this seriously."

The elegant newcomer faces a huge challenge in rebuilding confidence and sales, but has a lot going for it - including a starting price of $71,900 with a turbodiesel engine. There are three models in the lineup - two Vectors and the flagship V6 Aero Xwd from $94,900 - and they join the 9-3s which have already being providing trickle sales during the start-up phase of Saab Cars Australia. "We're here to stay. Saab has invested to be in Australia, it's a significant market for us and we were always one of the top 10 Saab markets in the world," says Steve Nicholls, managing director of Saab Cars Australia. "The fact that we've set up as a factory distributor, and not gone with an importer, shows we're taking this seriously." The 9-5 is a very serious car, slightly bigger than an E-Class Mercedes-Benz, and loaded with standard equipment from a six-speed automatic gearbox and leather seats to a head-up display for major instruments. In classic Saab style, the new-age push-start button is located in the console between the front seats, the traditional location for the company's ignition keys. The design of the 9-5 finally breaks away from the origami-style angles and creases favoured by so many European carmakers, with a number of smart visual tricks including a huge wraparound windscreen, a prominent grille and a wide-opening sedan boot. Cabin space is good and the final finishing work is what you expect in a Saab. But the 9-5 runs into some tough opposition in Australia, from the E-Class and BMW's brilliant 5 Series to the new Audi A6 and the Jaguar XF that's doing so well in Australia. Saab has had problems at its Swedish factory this week, culminating in a temporary shutdown at Trollhatten to sort problems with some suppliers, but Nicholls says it is only a hiccup. "We've got the funds we need. The company is well funded into the medium term. Cash flow is the problem.  This week we've been stopping and starting. So we've decidd to stop the factoyr this week, sort everything out, and start again next week," he says. Saab is targeting around 100 sales of the 9-5 this year, with 25 already on the ground of its small network of eight dealerships - although this will grow - and a similar number on a boat to Australia. The first Saab after the General Motors' disaster - first 20 years of neglect, then a fire sale - promises a lot.  The 9-5 looks good, is roomy, nicely designed and well finished. The diesel and four-cylinder Vectors are well equipped, and the flagship V6 has everything you expect at nearly $100,000.  There are some nice touches, too, including an effective head-up display - although this means you can actually have three different speedo readings from the regular speedo, head-up system and a rolling 'altimeter' that's a bit of a gimmick. All three cars get along well enough but there is a giant flaw - ride comfort.  Saab says it has always had a slightly sporty suspension tune but the 9-5 is harsh and jiggly on any surface, regardless of the suspension or tyres. Carsguide tried 9-5s with 17,18 and 19-inch tyres and standard and adjustable suspension, but nothing helped. There is also kickback in corners and some torque steer.  The suspension is a real pity because it is a nasty shortcoming in a car that otherwise does a good job. SAAB 9-5 2011 Price: from $71,990 Warranty: 3 years/100,00km + Roadside assist Engines: 119kW/350Nm (Vector TiD4), 162kW/350Nm (Vector Turbo4), 221kW/400Nm (Aero Turbo6) Body: Four-door sedan Weight: 1725-2065kg Transmission: 6-speed auto Drive: Front or All-Wheel-Drive Thirst: 6.7-11.3L/100km Fuel: Diesel or +95RON CO2: 177-262g/km

Just like the mythical bird that rises from the ashes, the Swedish PhoeniX is intended to help Saab rise from the collapse of General Motors and soar again as an independent brand. The PhoeniX was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and is as radical as anything that has ever worn a Saab badge, with futuristic coupe styling that taps a new vein of Swedish creativity. Just as importantly, the PhoeniX - the name taps the X-car models in the Saab range including the latest 9-4X SUV - is built over the mechanical package that will be used for the upcoming replacement for the brand's bread-and-butter 9-3 range. Saab knows it faces a tough battle back from the troubles of recent years, but company chief Victor Muller - who sold his Spyker sports car company to inject cash into Saab - says the brand has the strength to survive. Muller says the PhoeniX is still only a concept but provides "a pointer to the future”. He doesn't see it making the step to production, but believes key design elements will soon be used on Saab's production cars. The freehand design of the PhoeniX - a metal-finished, distinctly aero coupe that disrupts the eye with its unusual lines - was unveiled in Geneva by stylist Jason Castriota. The most radical design twist on the car is C-pillar supports at the tail of the car that act as vertical spoilers. "The wings are there for a purpose. They help aerodynamics," Castriota says. But he admits they will never make it onto anything in a Saab showroom. The car also has butterfly wings that open up-and-out for access to the two-plus-two cabin, as well as pumped-out guards and a super-low roofline with a small glass area. "The PhoeniX establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design," says Castriota. The concept uses a 147kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine bought in from BMW and has all-wheel drive using the engine for the front wheels and an electric motor for the rear. It's a potential pointer to a product tie-up with the German company for Saab as it cuts its ties to the GM world, including its previous product partners at Opel in Germany. The bottom line for the all-wheel drive coupe could be fuel economy in the 4.9 litres/100km range with CO2 emissions of just 119 grams/kilometre. Muller is clear on the work that has gone into the PhoeniX and admits the mechancial platform is destined for the new 9-3 and, within five years, the next 9-5 and 9-4X SUV. The platform is flexible enough to cope with Saab's large model range but Muller says the architecture is "too expensive” to shrink for the planned smaller, 9-2 vehicle.

The drama of Spyker - which bought Saab early last year - unfolded in Geneva when Saab chairman Victor Muller exposed the teetering financial condition of both car makers."One year ago Saab was in liquidation, had no cars in production, a supply chain in tatters and all its new models on hold," says Muller.  "Now we have a milestone for the company. We have celebrated our 12 months of independence."In fact, it's a double independence. One year ago General Motors sold Saab to Spyker for $400 million.  Unfolding over the past few weeks, new owner Spyker found itself unable to swim in a sea of debt and has cut itself adrift. At the same time, it revalued Saab at $200 million - half of what it paid."Spyker needs cash," Muller says.  "It needs euro 25 million (about $36 million) to keep going.  "We can get that by issuing new stock in the company but that would dilute existing shareholders by 22 per cent."That is unjustified. The only solution was to split Spyker and Saab."  Saab and its parent Spyker will now go on different roads with a change of the board of directors.  They will, however, be linked. Muller, for example, is to remain chairman of both companies. But the divorce allows each to concentrate on their specific paths.Saab is quickly out of the blocks running solo. To celebrate its single status, Muller says it will introduce a limited edition of 300 cars.  "Next year, we will celebrate the second year of independence with the launch of another series of limited edition models."And we will keep this up, year after year, until infinity."  Concurrently, Saab next month starts building its new 9-4X SUV in the US and plans to expand production of its 9-5 Sport Combi - a car Muller says "is extremely important to us in Northern Europe and especially Sweden"."Seldom have we been able to introduce so many products," says Muller.  "In 2012 we will have the new 9-3. New products will be based on flexible architectures and we will offer vehicles designed for drivers."Small displacement engines with turbocharging will become our cornerstone for the future for Saab."  Powertrains for the 9-4X and 9-5 come from GM but the 9-3 gets a BMW turbo-petrol engine.The platforms come from the Phoenix architecture that formed the basis for Saab's Phoenix show car at Geneva.  This architecture for the 9-3 can be stretched for 9-5 but, says Muller, would be too expensive to be cut back to create a proposed 9-2 small car.Saab employed designer Jason Castriota to style the Geneva show car, the Phoenix.  The coupe is a metal-finished, distinctly aeronautical coupe that bristles with unusual lines.Muller says its a concept "a pointer to the future" and while he doesn't see it as making the step to production, he believes key design elements will soon be used on production cars.The concept uses a 147kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine from BMW and has all-wheel drive using the engine for the front wheels and an electric motor for the rear.Spyker, which makes the short wheelbase C8 - as a Spyder and Laviolette coupe - and its newer Aileron exotic sports cars, will become an asset of UK-based Coventry Prototype Panels (CPP).CPP - which is owned by Russian investor Vladimir Antonov - has been making body panels for Spyker cars for about 10 years. It also makes panels for other manufacturers, including the multi-million dollar Aston Martin One-77.Spyker spokesman Sander Van Dijk says it has 38 dealers and makes about 50 cars a year.  "But we are ramping up production of Aileron and plan 90-100 a year from 2012," he says.