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Re: An Electric Saab - NEVS thought... Posted by Snowmobile [Email] (#686) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Snowmobile) on Thu, 10 Oct 2013 06:49:28 In Reply to: An Electric Saab - NEVS thought..., Scott Paterson [Profile/Gallery] , Thu, 10 Oct 2013 05:05:20 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
NEVS is already producing gas powered 9-3's as testers and plans to ramp up production for sales through the rest of this year. I believe it is based on the outgoing 9-3 but probably with some parts changes. While the 9-3 is old, there's probably a fair number of Saab owners at the end of the line on their cars and looking for another Saab, so I suspect there is more demand than they can supply at least early on.
I agree that they should not compromise the electric drive train to suit the old platform etc... but 2 things here: before NEVS, Saab already had an EV based on the 9-3SC developed to lets say an alpha or beta stage and in widespread testing. NEVS may be starting fresh from the ground up (eg to better integrate the batteries etc), but even if so, they still have the old 9-3 platform available. So the EV 9-3 and ICE 9-3 could be realizeable independently.
To me, making a luxury EV sedan should be up to BMW or Audi or Lincoln. Imho, Saab needs to make a high performing hatchback that can haul, like an SPG (and in fact styled analogously imho), that just happens to have an EV drive train... Saab needs to stand out or they will be dead in the water going the pathway of what GM set out for them... Everybody will have an EV (or plug in hybrid) sedan in 5 years.
Actually, the reason the Tesla S stands out to me is that it is *not* a sedan... it is a whole heck of a lot like a (modernized) 9000, and that is very appealing. The safety also is also very appealing. The cost is high for the usability. That to me is the main drawback. If Saab does not return, and the rest of the market continues to evolve in a mediocre way, Tesla S will (eventually) be very high on our list!
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