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I translated this in a hurry, so please forgive any errors as English is not my native language. The comments in the video are more or less the same as what is written in the text.
-Certainly the SportWagon will be a success, Saab
The next 9-3 will be cooler and better looking – but will be two years delayed.
UDDEVALLA: At present, it only exists one single 9-3 SportWagon. Aftonbladet has, as first newspaper, made a test-drive. This is a ”real” Saab, with good handling, sporty and flexible. The new Saab is very modern. The car is quite large, and actually larger than it appears. The handling is the same as the ordinary Saab 9-3 SS, and is among the best in the class.
SportsWagon with an attitude
The design is much more individual than the ordinary 9-3 SS. The front is powerful, and the typical Saab-grill is in center. And if the ordinary 9-3 SS looks anonymous from behind, the SportsWagon really has it’s own caracter. Lots of glass and large tail lights makes the SportsWagon different from the crowd. The only problem is that the car doesn’t exist. When Saab’s losses started to increase further a couple of years ago, and last year’s loss ended around 4,5 billion Swedish crones, GM cancelled all investments and new projects. Not even projects that certainly would generate income (surplus) were allowed until the owners in Detroit had control of the situation.
”Go” from Detroit
That's why the 9-3 SportsWagon was delayed with two years. That's why the plans about a 4WD version of the SportsWagon have been put on ice. That's why the development of a new platform for the next 9-5 was cancelled, and why there will be no new 9-5 until 2008.
But these days Detroit has finally authorized Saab to start the SportWagon project. The 300 million Swedish crones needed to prepare the Trollhättan fabric for production are coming.
Perhaps was it the concept car in Frankfurt that was decisive. It got a positive reception, and that was sufficient.
Saab built some prototypes of the SportWagon already two years ago. A couple of them were destroyed in collision tests, one was collecting dust. In June it was decided to transform this prototype into a concept car that could demonstrate Saab’s future plans at automobile shows. The anonymous front was re-built into a cooler one, that will look like this in production, and the roof was sawed open to allow for a glass roof.
The Saab 9-3 SportsWagon Concept was built in record time, and on a record low budget. However, it was just the car needed to make the GM-bosses in Detroit approve the project.
Facts:
Price: Not yet decided. Should be about 10.000 Swedish crones more than the 9-3 SS.
Length/width/height: 466/180/155 cm.
Weight: 1580 kg
Picture texts:
-The backseat passengers will have their own stereo and video-screen. Lars Falk designs the interior, Anthony Lo the exterior.
-The instrument panel is a continuation of the Saab Night Panel. The steering wheel reminds you of Saab’s aircraft-heritage.
-The shape of the back lights will be like this also in production.
-The door handles have a more exiting design than those of the 9-3 SS.
-The Saab-unique bike-holder allows you to open the door even if the bikes are mounted.
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