Sure, there seems to be a movement by some automakers (Mazda's 5dr Protegé, M-B's CLK hatcback) for reintroducing hatchbacks at a time when SAAB seems to be moving away from them. But in general, the current crop of hatchbacks for sale inthe US are not meant to be volume sellers compared to their notchback counterparts. They are merely complementary models to a fully fleshed out lineup.

SAAB depended solely on the hatchback to sustain US sales-not a problem in Europe, but a problem here. Hatchbacks don't sell-rather, don't sell well in the US. That's why SAAB dumped the hatchback with the 9-5. It has peeved some 9k owners who may be looking to buy their next SAAB,but-it brought in new, 1st time buyers who would have never considered a SAAB before because ot the hatchback. And that's good for market growth-especially when you're an ultraniche player with total annual US sales equalling that of the Honda Accord's monthly US sales. And the wagon version is imminently more practical than the hatchback, too. That all the Euromakers save for Jaguar offer wagons, SAAB was smart to move on this.

With the US market being SAAB's largest market, it needs to offer the kind of cars that more people (non SAAB owners) are willing to buy. Hatchbacks just aren't it. SUVs are, but SAAB (thankfully) killed that notion for the moment.

That doesn't preclude SAAB from offering a hatchback down the road, though. I suspect the 9-3x hints at the future of the SAAB hatchback. But as the sole mainstay of its lineup? Nope. That kind of thinking almost turned SAAB into Peugeot/Alfa in the US...extinct.

posted by 68.14.46...

• I've seen first official pics of the new 9-3, Clawfinger, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 07:25:55
  • How come no one mentioned engine lineup?, JIM, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:43:33
    • Re: How come no one mentioned engine lineup?, Ron H, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:19:33
  • I betcha its all a fake........, Paul , Mon, 29 Apr 2002 11:34:55
  • I'll wait for the Hirsch 9-3 Aero....AWD 6 Speed n/m, Johnny del, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 00:25:36
  • Hatchback Reality, Sieglo, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 16:33:08
    • There will NOT be one (officially confirmed), Clawfinger, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 18:03:05
  • I'm in love but would like a hatch also and 3 spokes, Atul, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:06:43
  • Sweet, Sieglo, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:28:38
  • Re: I've seen first official pics of the new 9-3, Jonas, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:04:37
    • nah - check the wedge shape, John A., Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:47:12
      • that DOWN could read STRAIGHT (through), John A., Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:48:56
  • Awsome!, Coolknight, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 07:41:01
  • Good looking car! A hatch would've looked better! n/m, KS, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:45:41
    • Hatchback: the article says wait for 9-3 X, TimF, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:47:03
    • Hatchbacks are dead. Long live the hatchback., Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:06:53
      • One mans 4D hatch is anothers 'touring' or 'sportcross', TonyinLA, Tue, 30 Apr 2002 14:15:16
      • Agreed... sadly for me and my wife - hatchback lovers., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:12:28
      • Spot On Analysis!, Viggen Pilot, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:56:31
        • Amen, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:47:39
        • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, cbbc 3, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:04:27
          • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:32:08 <-- Viewing This Message
          • Re: Spot On Analysis! Disagree, reese, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:52:13
            • Mazda MP5, Toyota Matrix, Lexus IS300 hatch, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:17:14
              • You're onto something... Mercedes hatchback, Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:13:58
              • Re: Mazda MP5, Toyota Matrix, Lexus IS300 hatch, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:41:15
                • Ford Focus Hatchbacks sell like hotcakes..., IronJoe, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:35:27
                  • USA Auto Sales 101 - Volume, then Breadth. Sedan First., redirector, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:27:10
                    • Hallelujah, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:56:00
                • But why ditch the hatch totally?, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 14:05:53
                  • Because they don't SELL, that's why!, KQuigley, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:32:49
                    • They do sell, just not enough for future goals..., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:05:50
                    • What the hell is your problem?, Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 15:54:26
                      • Yes, it's abrupt and the truth hurts..., Scott Paterson , Sun, 28 Apr 2002 19:10:26
                        • Amen again, brother!, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:46:44
                      • Re: What the hell is your problem?, KQuigley, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 18:38:50
  • Am I the ONLY one who doesn't like it?!?, IronJoe, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:19:24
    • I agree with you., Tim S, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:34:54
    • Yup... You're the only one!, KQuigley, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:47:45
      • Now I'm the second one. :), Aaron Gilbert, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:38:48
        • Mazda already has in the Protege..., Craig, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:16:04
    • yeah, it's just you! ;-), Ron H, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 23:41:37
      • Re: yeah, it's just you! ;-), Henrik Wagner, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 07:22:26
        • You, my friend-are wrong about the engine options, Ron H, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:51:51
          • Re: You, my friend-are wrong about the engine options, Henrik Wagner, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 06:53:35
  • Any chance the Diesel will make it to N. Am.? n/m, Cannonball, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 18:59:40
    • No!, BillR, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:40:39
      • Diesel A Real Possibility !!, JEC, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 07:50:53
      • Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, Cannonball, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:01:12
        • Re: Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, JEC, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 07:54:25
          • Re: Perhaps diesels do not sell well here ? Not surprising, Dean, Mon, 29 Apr 2002 17:01:13
  • wait, did you say tabloid? :)......n/m, Quinn S. Kurz, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 13:37:57
  • looks nice, but looks like a BMW...n/m, Boris 88SPG, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:00:34
  • Now you can see it on the web!!! (Link), Clawfinger, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:22:02
    • Nice looking. Rough translation of info in the article, Notes, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:10:39
      • What's the picture of the rotating ring? Thanks. n/m, JWH, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:17:18
        • Article doesn't say. (nm), Hood, Sun, 28 Apr 2002 13:57:58
    • Roof line reminds me of the Audi A6 or VW Passat, Allen K, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:00:47
      • Doesn't Epsilon Come in a Hatch?, JWH, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:23:41
    • Wow, good job... and again, nothing like the spy shots., Scott Paterson , Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:56:35
      • Re: Wow, good job... and again, nothing like the spy shots., Rick D., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 12:45:19
    • handsome, John A., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:41:16
      • Re: handsome, MJP, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:23:45
        • Re: handsome, Leon Murphy, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 11:11:40
        • Re: handsome, Fredrik, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:26:44
          • better bumper incorporation - less jutting - both ends, John A., Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:49:26

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