I'm playing armchair CEO here. Here's my plan for the car to save SAAB:
Produce the 9-X with SVC and SCC engine.

You'd get a sport all-wheel-drive small sport activity vehicle with amazing power in a lightweight package. Couple this with the fuel economy of a 1.6 liter engine and reduced emissions and you can truely market this car as "eco-friendly". Market the car to environmentally-conscious customers with active lifestyles.

The Saab Variable Compression design would produce 240hp with its 5-cylinder 1.6 liter supercharged engine while reducing CO2 emissions by 30%.

The Saab Combustion Control would extend fuel economy a further 10%, plus reduce emissions low enough to meet ULEV2 requirements (like the Volvo XC90 V6).

The all-wheel-drive system would enable the car to apply that 240hp to the road.

The usual more-than-24-month requirement to bring a design to market would be significantly reduced as Saab already has the design for the 9-X and a prototype for each of the SVC and SCC. Press reports at the time stated that the SVC engine would cost around the same as an equivalent conventional engine once it started being produced in numbers. Saab could probably have this car ready for market in little more than a year, I'm guessing. Saab wanted a small "hot hatch" in a hurry and went with the Subaru WRX. A 9-X would certainly fit that niche.

Saab is known for several things: intelligent and sharp Scandanavian design, safety, economy, and fun. Saab should build on its core strengths and look within for inspiration. They already have some groundbreaking designs on the books. They just need to bring them to market, IMO.

posted by 66.81.247...

• Opportunity for SAAB to shine, Draken, Sun, 20 Mar 2005 21:53:48
  • Ethanol, hazelnut, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:00:48
    • What's the catch?, Draken, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:30:43
      • Re: What's the catch?, TML , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 15:06:12
  • SAAB gas mileage just isn't that much better, Rob in Atlanta, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 07:45:48
    • Re: SAAB gas mileage just isn't that much better, Scott Paterson , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:03:05
    • correct, jeff, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:15:25
      • That looked better than all...., Mike Lynch , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:34:34
        • true but, jeff, Tue, 22 Mar 2005 04:22:24
      • EPA figures don't tell the whole truth.., AdamB , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:43:11
        • EPA is pretty accurate IMO...., Mike Lynch , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:40:22
        • fueleconomy.gov, Draken, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:52:10
          • That's an interesting site...., Craig, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:37:59
        • do they?, jeff, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:35:49
          • Re: do they?, dmz789, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:56:12
            • anecdotes, jeff, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:02:45
              • Not anecdotes, dmz789, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:19:12
                • Re: Not anecdotes, jeff, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:51:01
                  • "Ecopower" does stand for something., dmz789, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:15:59
                    • Re: "Ecopower" does stand for something., AndyR, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:44:10
              • Re: anecdotes, TML , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:04:21
        • I've been under the impression that ..., Eric, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:07:54
          • Re: I've been under the impression that ..., compaqted, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:45:07
          • I'd say that you're right..., PGAero , Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:49:09
  • SAAB's killer app?, Draken, Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:29:43 <-- Viewing This Message
    • didn't I hear that..., matt 94 aero, Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:40:11
      • Amen on the 9x! just bought a Mazda3..sheer frustration, bamaSAAB, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:38:48
      • Re: didn't I hear that..., Draken, Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:46:43
        • The 9-6X was apparently deemed to be too ugly, AdamB , Tue, 22 Mar 2005 01:49:18
          • Re: The 9-6X was apparently deemed to be too ugly, Draken, Tue, 22 Mar 2005 10:57:10
            • I'm talking about the Saab version, AdamB , Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:28:19

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