SO, TALK of Saab’s death proved premature. The Swedish carmaker is now planning a new future with new owners – Dutch firm Spyker Cars – and looking to the future to build a small Audi A3 rival, called a Saab 9-2.
“It’s historically where we started and where we need to go back to,” commented Jan Ake Jonsson, boss of Saab.
In the meantime, Mr Jonsson said he was anticipating the launch of the new Saab 9-5 saloon and estate through a new network, while predicting that Saab would break even next year and return to profitability in 2012 when the full affect of new 9-5 and its 9-4x crossover would be felt.
The new Saab 9-5 features an all-turbo powertrain line-up. At launch, the four-cylinder choice will be a 160hp, 2.0-litre turbo diesel with CO2 emissions of just 139 gm/km; and a 2.0-litre petrol turbo developing 220hp.
A top-of-the-line 2.8-litre V6 turbo, generating 300hp and 400Nm of torque, will be available with Saab’s four-wheel drive system called XWD and with automatic transmission.
Shortly after launch, a 1.6-litre petrol turbo with 180hp will be introduced, together with a 2.0-litre turbo BioPower E85-capable engine. A powerful 190hp, 2.0-litre twin turbo diesel, generating 400sNm of torque, will complete the powertrain line-ups.
Saab 9-2 is on the cards for saved Saab firm
