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Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 20:23:19 -0700
From: B&D <NO_SPAMnopsamCOM>
Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup


On 4/10/03 3:46 PM, in article v9bt0p44fdsm03nopsam.supernews.com, "pablo" <pabloNOSPAMnopsammplyhombre.net> wrote: > > I think re-defining the "sports" aspect is key to Saab's future image. Look > at what is making Nissan successsful, and boosting the image. It annoys me > that a brand like Saab, which reached the pinnacle of its reputation with > cars that combines performance with practicality sees its salvation in a > plain vanilla approach and in volunteering for anonymity by simply going for > a "me too" approach. It needs something that refreshes its image. The small > hatch is a better bet to achieve that than the SUV, I think. Everybody and > their dog has an SUV, and no one will ever claim they buy an SUV because it > instills them with a sense of driving passion. Dunno - they could re-define it the way they re-defined hatchbacks and small displacement turbos. If they were to be a bleeding edge company like they were with the 99 - then I would accept a SUV or whatever they came up with. > Saab needs something special. A new generation Sonnet would be utterly cool, > but GM would find a way to base it on the Pontiac Sunfire or something. As > long as they don't base the SUV on the Aztec, though... The problem GM has had is that they are a disparate group of companies that never really got along, and got a bit heavy handed trying to resolve disputes. Hence the re-badged trucks/cars across numerous lines. At their best they can bring really cool things to market like bringing the Australian Holden V8 to the US under Pontiac. At their worst we see the Chevy Trailblazer reincarnated 10 times with ugly plastic stuck on for each brand. A new generation Sonnet would be cool - provided they did actually do it, rather than make it a Pontiac Sunfire as you said. But they did a rather decent job of the 93 (except no hatch) and that was based upon the L platform. Sure it looks like an Opel Calibra, but we don't have those in the US, so here it is rather unique. I am a sucker for the wagons, though, and the 9-5 Aero stole my heart. Would have preferred a 9000 hatch, but, hey, the Wagon seems as good to me!

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