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Saab borrows from Subaru on new models
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Posted by Edmund White [Email] (more from Edmund White) on Thu, 24 Apr 2003 07:51:53 Share Post by Email
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Saab borrows from Subaru on new models


Published April 17, 2003

NEW YORK -- Saab will expand its lineup by adding a pair of all-wheel-drive 9-2 sedans for the '05 model year, derivatives of the Impreza now sold by Subaru.

The base 9-2 will be based on the Impreza RS, the top-of-the-line Aero on the high-performance Impreza WRX.

Saab of Sweden is owned by General Motors. Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan, parent of Subaru, is a GM alliance partner. Saab and GM officials disclosed the product-sharing game plan and a sketch of the 9-2 at a media preview of the New York Auto Show.

GM bought a 20 percent stake in Fuji in 1999, and the partners began working on plans for Subaru to produce an all-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle/sedan similar to the Subaru Outback for GM to market through its Chevrolet or Pontiac divisions.

That project was scrapped, reportedly because Subaru wasn't as willing to share its AWD with giant GM as it is with the much smaller Saab, a GM subsidiary.

However, sources said, GM and Subaru are discussing three or four projects.

"The Saab 9-2 is a result of a collaboration between two like-minded brands. We both have a special aircraft heritage and a successful history in rallying, and our cars are known as dynamic, safe and fun to drive. It makes a lot of sense for us to combine our strengths in creating the next Saab and bring it to the market quickly," said Peter Augustsson, president and chief executive of Saab.

"We see an emerging segment in the U.S. for a premium, small car below the Saab 9-3 sport sedan," said Augustsson, who also is using the New York show to unveil a new Saab 9-3 convertible coming out this fall that's built on GM's new front-wheel-drive Epsilon platform. That platform will be shared with the '04 Chevrolet Malibu and '05 Pontiac Grand Am.

Saab said the 9-2 models will be priced below the current 9-3 sedan, which starts at $25,900, and be aimed at attracting new, active lifestyle, younger buyers. About 7,000 9-2s will be built annually at Subaru's Impreza plant in Japan. There is no talk about producing them in the Indiana plant, a joint-venture with Isuzu where Subaru builds Legacy models. Isuzu is another GM alliance partner.

The base 9-2 will be powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter, 165-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, and Aero will be powered by a 2-liter, 227-h.p., turbocharged 4, both Subaru engines.

Both will be four-door, all-wheel-drive hatchbacks.

Initially, the 9-2 will be offered only in the U.S., but sales in Europe and Asia are being considered, said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman for product development.

In addition to the 9-2 models, Saab is developing an all-wheel-drive crossover sport-utility/sedan off the 9-3 sedan that would seat up to five people. Epsilon is a front-wheel-drive platform that can be converted to all-wheel-drive.

Saab also is looking into a larger car-based crossover or sport-utility that could be derived from the Chevy TrailBlazer and seat more than five because dealers have been asking for such a machine. No firm plans and no target dates have been set.

GM is intent on using its alliance partners to help develop new vehicles to fill niches more quickly and more cheaply than it could on its own.

In February, for example, GM announced at the Chicago Auto Show that General Motors Daewoo Auto & Technology, the company formed after it acquired the assets of Daewoo of South Korea last year, would build and supply Chevy with a new $10,000 entry-level subcompact called Aveo for '04. The Aveo is based on the Daewoo Kalos and will fill the void below the Cavalier, where GM now has no offering to compete with low-cost Hyundai and Kia cars.

At the same time, GM said Daewoo will supply Suzuki, in which GM owns an equity interest, with a pair of South Korean-built cars: the compact Forenza and midsize Verona for '04.

Suzuki helped GM develop the compact Equinox sport-utility that Chevy will sell in '05, and Isuzu helped GM develop the midsize Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups that go on sale for '04.

Epsilon drop top: News of the 9-2 models overshadowed the unveiling of Saab's 2004 9-3 convertible that goes on sale this fall. Like the new '03 9-3 sedan, the drop top will be built on GM's FWD Epsilon platform being shared by the '04 Chevy Malibu and '05 Pontiac Grand Am.

With its new platform, the 9-3 convertible boasts a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase (108.1 inches) and 2 added inches in width (71 inches) while staying at the same overall length (182.5 inches) of its predecessor model.

It will be powered by the same 2-liter, 210-h.p., turbocharged 4-cylinder offered in the 9-3 sedan. A 5-speed manual will be standard, a 5-speed automatic optional. A 6-speed manual will be available in a new Sport package for the convertible.

The power top operation has been refined for '04 so that rather than have to unlatch the top by hand at the header, you touch a button and the top unlatches and retracts on its own.

The 9-3 convertible accounts for one of every five Saabs sold and 20 percent of the premium four seater convertible market, so it's an important entry in the lineup.

posted by 12.248.4...

Chicago Tribune Article

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