I am in marketing and have a different view to this. Here is a quick 'marketing lore' story.

It is widely assumed that Miller introduce light beer with 'Miller Lite'. However standard Coors beer had always had fewer calories than any beer (even the new Miller Lite). What they never did is 'position' their beer as low calorie. They had to introduce an even lighter beer years later just to get into the market that they already owned.


The point of the story is we are now seeing a bit of a move away from SUVs and towards 'wagonesque' cars (Lexus, Toyota, Mercedes, Pontiac, Mazda and others are all selling new models along these lines) These are basically 4 door cars with a rear hatch (sound familiar).

Saab has owned this market and would be silly to abandon it as it is warming up again. I can only hope that the new 9-3 wagon is along the lines of a 'sport wagon' and not a boring wagon. (which basically comes down to the angle of the rear hatch to the roof line)

Regarding the 3 door (2 door hatch). Well this has always just been a Euro market and I suspect that saab will have an entry, but maybe not using the 9-3 line, but a new car.

by they way if you want to see a truly hot looking 'wagon' check out the new Alfa 156 sportwagonwagon. http://www.alfaromeo.com/



posted by 24.126.24...

• 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 <-- Viewing This Message
      • 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
          • 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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