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Report: Saab cutting 200 jobs

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab, Earnings/Financials

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab may been been saved from an untimely death by Spyker, but sales have yet to rebound. According to Reuters, union representative Hakan Skott says the poor sales mean Saab will cut its workforce by 200 jobs, bringing overall employment at its Trollhättan complex from about 1,600 to 1,400. Skott claims this is no surprise, given that Saab’s sales forecast was revised downward from 45,000 units to between 30,000 and 35,000 for all of 2010.

Cutting nearly 15 percent of all factory jobs is a serious issue, but Skott feels (hopes?) sales will pick up in February or March. Saab didn’t comment on the report, though Spyker CEO Victor Muller reportedly told Dagens Industri that there was “no reason to worry,” adding that Saab still intends to build 80,000 vehicles in 2011. Muller added that temporary workers are the ones receiving pink slips.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeff Glucker / AOL

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Saab cutting 200 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video]

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Saab, Luxury

2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab is looking to move forward after its long relationship with General Motors. Saab CEO Victor Muller quoted Winston Churchill today at the LA Auto Show saying “If you’re going through hell… keep going.” Muller says that Saab has gone through hell and is seeing the light on the other side. The 2012 Saab 9-4X is the latest taste of what Saab now has in store for us.

2012 Saab 9-4X The 9-4X takes aim at the luxury crossover segment and is prepared to do battle withs some heavies, such as the Audi Q5, Lexus RX and BMW X3. The Cadillac SRX platform-mate arrives chock full of upmarket goodness like eight-way power adjustable seats, Bluetooth connectivity and a tri-zone climate control system; all part of the standard features list.

The exterior styling stays true to what we see with the Saab 9-5 sedan, and clearly states that the vehicle comes from a line of sporty cars. To match this style, the under-hood offerings come in two spirited flavors: a naturally-aspirated 265-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 that pumps out 300 hp. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that feeds all four wheels through Saab’s XWD system.

It wasn’t just the 9-4X on the menu at the 2010 LA Auto Show. We learned that the 9-5 wagon is set to make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next March, Saab is expanding distribution into China and Russia and all operations have officially been moved to Trollhättan. It’s also the first time in Saab’s history that the 9-3 convertible has been built on Swedish ground.

Hop the jump to find out more about the 2012 Saab 9-4X including a chance to watch the model’s first commercial, and stay tuned for more from this now-independent Swedish automaker in the near future.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeff Glucker / AOL

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video]

LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Saab to let buyers watch their cars get built online

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab

Saab 9-5 Production Facility

Thinking of buying a 2011 Saab? If so, you’ll soon have the ability to watch it come together before your eyes; Saab is installing cameras in its Trollhättan factory. Customers will receive text messages with photos of their cars as they reach certain points in the assembly line. Eventually, Saab plans to add a real-time video feed of the cars being built. This sounds way more interesting than most reality television shows.

In addition to the cameras going in, Saab will soon offer customers the opportunity to take delivery of their cars right from the factory. The automaker says it is moving back towards building cars with a more personal touch, by manufacturing cars to order rather than churning out a steady stream of vehicles.

[Source: What Car]

Report: Saab to let buyers watch their cars get built online originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limousine is long on charm

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Etc., Saab, Specialty

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine – Click above for high-res image gallery

Known as “The Classic” among brand fans, the first generation Saab 900 enjoyed a seriously long production run from 1978 to 1993. It was offered as a coupe, sedan, three and five-door hatchback and even a convertible version. One bodystyle the car car not offered in, however, was that of a stretched limousine. But that little omission apparently didn’t stop one determined Saab owner with plans for his 1985 900 Turbo. The mad scientist decided to add six feet to the 184.1-inch length of the original car. The result is a five-speed manual transmission equipped Saab 900 Turbo limousine, and it can be parked in (and possibly hang out of) your driveway for $12,500.

The owner has posted his turbocharged limo on SaabNet and states he states that the vehicle is very clean and runs great. It has 145,000 miles on the odometer, which for a 900 Turbo is barely middle-age. A first generation Saab 900 is pretty cool, and a turbocharged limo with a manual gearbox is certainly unique. We only wish we could see what has been done to the interior, but alas, there are no photos and with (what else) limo-tinted windows, there’s no peeking inside, either. The asking price seems a bit steep compared to what a normal 900 Turbo might command, but this might be the only limo that would be at home running the prom circuit as it would a Swedish forest rally stage, and that’s gotta be worth something.

The ad can be found in the SaabNet classifieds, scroll down a bit to find it.

Gallery: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine

1985 Saab 900 Turbo Limousine front three-quarter

[Source: SaabNet]

Online Find of the Day: 1985 Saab 900 Turbo limousine is long on charm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab marks 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC win with special 9-3

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Sedan, Saab, UK

Erik “Mr Saab” Carlsson and the Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson – Click above for high-res image gallery

Erik Carlsson, also known as Mr. Saab, is a rallying icon directly tied to the Swedish automaker’s lore. 50 years ago, Carlsson won his first British RAC rally title in a three-cylinder, 750 c.c. Saab 96. He went on to win the event two more times – in a row. Carlsson took podium positions for Saab in rallies around the world, and if you look at his racing history, it’s clear that Carlsson knows a thing or two about car control and motorsports. He has always driven Saabs and was even born in Trollhättan, the automaker’s home town. So, what better time to honor him than now with a limited-edition Saab 9-3? The Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson is being produced by Saab Great Britain and only 96 are going to be made, so U.S. Griffinistas are sadly out of luck.

The racing legend was honored during a luncheon at the RAC Club in London. The special-edition 280-horsepower 9-3 was announced and then displayed alongside a classic 96. A pleased Carlsson noted:

“This is a great occasion for me, it has been wonderful to see so many old friends again, including Stuart [Turner] who did such a fantastic job reading the maps. I wouldn’t have won without his help. I also feel very honored to have a car named after me. Anyone who loves driving and is as passionate about Saab as I am, will be excited about getting behind the wheel.”

Hop the jump for the full press release and check out the high-res images below.

Gallery: Rally Legend Erik “Mr. Saab” Carlsson

Rally Legend Erik

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Saab marks 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC win with special 9-3

Saab marks 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC win with special 9-3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Saab 9-3 ePower signals one way for ward for the Swedes

Filed under: Wagon, Paris Motor Show, Saab, Electric, Luxury

Saab 9-3 ePower

Saab 9-3 ePower – Click above for high-res image gallery

Unlike so many other electric vehicles introduced at the Paris Motor Show and throughout the year, the Saab 9-3 ePower doesn’t look like its vanity plate should read “Buck Rogers,” and it isn’t powered by dark matter or black holes or Neptunian vapor. It’s a 9-3 SportCombi with a plug in the back. That’s all.

But that means a lot for Saab. The ePower is a testbed for a 70-car fleet that will be evaluated next year in Sweden in preparation for a production electric vehicle. The aim is a 120-mile range in a car that provides real-world wagon convenience. Up front is a 184-horsepower electric motor, 26 hp less than the ICE in the production 2.0T, powered by a 35 kW lithium-ion battery pack. That gets the estate from zero to 62 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds and on to a 90-mph top speed.

Trials in Sweden will put the air-cooled batteries’ 30-degree Celsius operating temperature to the test, which Saab claims is ten degrees colder than other battery packs can manage. The 70 families invited to drive the car over the next two years will put its other attributes to the test. If all goes well, Saab wants to turn the knowledge it gains into a high-performance electric vehicle. There’s more to know in the press release after the jump, and plenty of high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Saab e-Power

Continue reading Paris 2010: Saab 9-3 ePower signals one way for ward for the Swedes

Paris 2010: Saab 9-3 ePower signals one way for ward for the Swedes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X leaks out ahead of production debut

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Saab

Saab 9-4X

Saab 9-4X spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Now that the fate of Saab is in the hands of Spyker Cars, future product plans seem to be moving right along. The new 9-5 is out on the road and the 9-4X crossover is scheduled to make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.

Our friends at Saabs United managed to snag some shots of a pre-production 9-4X, giving us a glimpse of the automaker’s new CUV before we see it in person later this year. The 9-4X was initially conceived under Saab’s General Motors ownership, meaning its underpinnings are shared with the Cadillac SRX crossover. Word on the street is that the production taillamps will look slightly different than the ones on this early model, but that aside, don’t expect things to change much between now and November.

Because the 9-4X is closely related to the SRX, we fully expect the 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 to be under the hood. Don’t rule out the possibility of the 9-5’s 2.0-liter turbo four being offered, as well. Both engines will more than likely be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and as the “x” in the name suggests, all-wheel drive will be on hand.

Until we get the official word in Los Angeles later this year, scroll through our gallery of spy shots below, and head over to Saabs United for all things Griffin.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X

[Source: Saabs United]

Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X leaks out ahead of production debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Sweden asks collector to pursue $15.9M Saab bill

Filed under: Saab, Earnings/Financials

According to Reuters, the Swedish government is pursuing a $15.9 million debt that it says is owed by Saab. The country said that if the carmaker’s newest owner, Spyker, didn’t turn over the funds by September 20, that it would leave the matter in the hands of its official debt collector. Since that date has already come and gone, we can only imagine that there’s a crack team of burly looking Swedes threatening to break some kneecaps in Zeewolde as you read this. Meanwhile, Spyker CEO Victor Muller has said that the issue is nothing more than a legal dispute and that it will be handled through the appropriate channels.

So where does this alleged debt originate? According to the report, the Swedish government paid Saab’s worker’s wages while the company was transitioning between General Motors and Spyker ownership. In the past, both Saab and Spyker have said that the carmaker should only be held responsible for a portion of the debt. From the looks of things, the Swedish government begs to differ.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Sweden asks collector to pursue $15.9M Saab bill originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab to debut ePower EV prototype in Paris

Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Saab, Electric

Saab ePower EV Prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab is planning to introduce its first real foray into the EV world at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Called the ePower, the long-roof Swede is the prototype for a test fleet of 70 vehicles set to be launched next year. The company is shooting for a range of around 124 miles thanks to a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, though the range figure number is somewhat fluid due to the fact that it will be largely dependent on driving habits. Power is supplied by a 184-horsepower electric motor mated to a single-speed transmission.

With all of that grunt on tap, Saab says the ePower will be able to get to 60 miles per hour in around 8.5 seconds. That’s not exactly slow by anyone’s measure. Top speed is a more than capable 93 mph, too.

The company says that its battery tech should allow the cells to survive up to 10 years of regular charge and discharge cycles, and that the ePower can be fully charged in as little as six hours using a “domestic mains” supply. Don’t worry – we aren’t exactly sure what that means, either. Stay tuned for more information from the Paris Motor Show later this month. For now, click past the jump for a look at the full press release.

Gallery: Saab ePower EV Prototype

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Saab to debut ePower EV prototype in Paris

Saab to debut ePower EV prototype in Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Muller in talks with three automakers about Saab 9-2 revival

Filed under: Saab, Spyker

Eduard Gray’s Saab 92010 Sixten concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab has already talked up its hopes for entering the forthcoming 9-2 in a future installment of the World Rally Championship. But before it can, the 9-2 needs to exist. And before that can happen, Automotive News reports that Saab needs the technology and money from a partner automaker. A recent rumor surfaced that Saab was talking to BMW about building the 9-2 on the Mini chassis. At the same time, another rumor came to light that Saab was discussing using Mini engines for the next 9-3.

Now word has it that Spyker’s Victor Muller is in talks with three companies about getting the help necessary to build the 9-2. Muller hasn’t disclosed the companies’ names, but we assume one of them is BMW. The hook is that the cost of the 9-2 wasn’t included in the turnaround plan, so Saab needs its chosen partner to injects some cash as well. The model has yet to be officially confirmed, of course, so at this point, it isn’t even clear that a teardrop Saab will get off the ground at all.

Gallery: Saab 92010 Sixten Concept by Eduard Gray

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Report: Muller in talks with three automakers about Saab 9-2 revival originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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