This is in today's Car Conncetion.
Any college professor's out there?


NEW SUV AND PERFORMANCE SEDAN FOR SAAB?

General Motors may soon approve a seven-passenger sport-utility vehicle based on the Chevy TrailBlazer for its struggling Saab division. And GM sources say a go-ahead has been granted to give Saab a performance subcompact based on the Subaru Impreza WRX, an announcement of which may come next week at the New York Auto Show. Last year, Saab canceled plans for a mid-size SUV based on the upcoming Cadillac SRX due to concerns that it would be difficult to make a Saab version that didn’t strongly resemble the SRX. And GM didn’t want two such similar vehicles in its premium segment. GM has lately begun touting its “luxury” sales and market share in terms of Cadillac and Saab. And Saabs are sold alongside Cadillacs in many U.S. dealerships. The SUV could be named 9-8, and would be manufactured at GM’s Moraine, Ohio plant. Saab said in November it would cut 1300 jobs, or about 20 percent of its staff. Saab lost $120 million through the first six months of last year, and Saab losses for all of 2002 totaled about $500 million. GM executives are not worried that a rebadged TrailBlazer will dilute Saab’s brand identity, which has long been seen as a bit quirky and offbeat by Saab devotees. “If those people don't like it, they won’t buy it, but I don't think it will put them off the passenger cars if they like them,” said one GM executive. “Besides, the whole Saab quirky car for college professors thing has made them a money loser...it needs more mainstream product to build volume and profit.” —Jim Burt



posted by 198.240.13...

• From Car Conn: Saab quirky car for college professors, JTMav, Tue, 8 Apr 2003 09:47:39 <-- Viewing This Message
  • I've had 2 profs that drove (drive) saabs, saabgirlie , Wed, 9 Apr 2003 00:32:48
  • Well, cars do have images, phred, Tue, 8 Apr 2003 14:05:14
    • odd,, nt moore, Tue, 8 Apr 2003 15:57:41

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: (none)
• Next by Date: I must say, Honda has a good idea with this one..., Richard P., Tue, 8 Apr 2003 09:50:54
• Main General Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)