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, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 21:25:38
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New 9-2 same size as Golf
A new Saab is on it's way. Saab is developing a third range of models, smaller than the present 9-3 and 9-5. The car will have a hatchback body, and shares heavy investments with other products from General Motors.
-Saab is not just another GM-car. And it's not just another european GM-car, but a Swedish quality-car.
Says Bob Lutz in an exclusive interview with Aftonbladet. Bob Lutz is legendary within the car-industry. He was hired last year, 70 years old, as main chief of productions at GM, Detroit.
Senior in the management
That a pensioner will lead the development of cars from the worlds largest producer of cars might seem like a paradox, but Lutz is a gigant who still have ambitions for the future.
-Saab is equal to quality and exciting driving, but perhaps most for is special design. A Saab shouldn't look common, but the design shouldn't scare people either. A design must appeal to more than 125 000 persons (Saab's current yearly production), he says.
-For Saab to be able to make money again, we must sell more cars. And it must become cheaper to develop new models, says Bob Lutz.
The two first Saabs developed after GM bought Saab in the early 90's were based on Opel-components. (Opel = Chevrolet in the US). 900(Classic 9-3 were based on too old body-parts from Opel Ascona/Vectra, and 9-5 on a mid-90's Vectra. 900/9-3 didn't were neither good to drive or very reliable, and 9-5 has been moderated a number of times in Trollhättan to reach the level of quality it has today.
The new 9-3 SS was however developed by GM in the US, Opel and Saab in common. In spite of this, Lutz considers Saab still used too much of their own solutions i the new car.
Like a Golf
The new 9-2 will have the shape of a shrinked 9-3X, and will be size of a Golf - or rather the new generation Opel Astra, with who it shares some components. The car will be higher than the other Saab-models, and will be a hatchback, like a "real" Saab. It's expected launch is 2006.
(Just ask if something doesn't make sense - I made the translation pretty fast)
posted by 213.236.213...
, Thu, 17 Oct 2002 13:34:07, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 21:25:38
, Sat, 19 Oct 2002 16:12:39, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:33:23, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 11:15:52
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