Author: Linda Carter

As many people love the feeling of the wind whipping through their hair on a nice day, convertibles have been a major seller for the automotive industry. One of the more popular brands of this kind of vehicle is the Saab. Now, the automaker is celebrating its 25th anniversary of its convertible model, giving us a look into the style evolution.

Auto Blog reports that the car company is celebrating its 25th year of making convertibles, having manufactured more than 300,000 vehicles since the first Saab 900 droptop debuted in 1986. The news provider reports that when the car first debuted, it had a 12-month waiting list, causing company executives to see that they had something special. It’s biggest selling years were between 1994 and 2002.

Robert J. Sinclair, the president of Saab-Scania of America in the mid-80s, originally wanted to put a convertible on the market in order to drive sales. The car did just that and it has since been a major part of the automaker’s lineup.

Although the style of vehicle was boxy with harsh edges at its debut, the car has molded into a sleek luxury vehicle. The first model was a reflection of what most cars looked like for the time, as technology has revolutionized over the years, so have the looks of cars.

Over time, Saab began to base its convertible on other automakers, such as General Motors, whose Opel Vectra chassis served as the inspiration for the “New Generation” (NG) 900 SE. The convertible uses a 16-valve turbocharged engine, some models include intercooler, but there are certain markets that offer a naturally-aspirated 2.1-liter engine.

 

When a company is in trouble, it often looks to its more successful periods as a cue of what to do next. With some automakers still reeling from the economic downturn, a few may soon be rolling out updated versions of their classic vehicles.

Jaguar and Saab were recently sold off by Ford and GM, respectively. Now, both companies have announced plans that could see their classic models resurrected.

The Jaguar E-Type, also known as the XK-E, was a classic car that Britain’s Daily Telegraph once called “the most beautiful car of all time.” With Tata Motors now in charge of the company, the long-rumored successor to the E-Type, the F-Type, might actually see production. According to Wired, Tata is hoping to develop the car to compete with the popular Porsche 911.

Saab and its new parent company Spyker are taking a similar road with the update to their retro 92. This compact coupe was among the most aerodynamic vehicles ever made, and was surprisingly powerful for its small frame. An update to the car would slot it behind the flagship 9-3 model as a “9-2,” but Saab may also call the car a “9-1” in an effort to differentiate it from its predecessor.

The F-Type could be in showrooms by the end of 2011. While Saab has yet to confirm the 92 update, reports of Saab looking to BMW for small car parts and platform support have fueled rampant speculation that the Swedish automaker is planning to revive the car soon.ADNFCR-3028-ID-19855109-ADNFCR

After GM sold Swedish automaker Saab to Dutch car company Spyker, Saab fans across the globe have been hoping that the Dutch company can return Saab to its former glory.

Although Saab avoided the fate of other brands under the GM umbrella, like Pontiac and Saturn, the company’s sale to Spyker means losing the full support of an automotive giant. Still, fans of the cars are hopeful that Spyker will be able to engineer a turnaround for the brand as it prepares to debut a new fleet, according to DailyFinance.

The company has high hopes for the brand, unveiling the new flagship 9-5 luxury sedan this month. The vehicle, getting its first update in 13 years, looks to compete with cars like Audi’s A6 and BMW’s 535i.

Spyker has also announced that new versions of the 9-3 and 9-4 crossover will follow. The company hopes to hit the production total of 125,000 vehicles per year that GM was maintaining in 2007 and become profitable again by 2012.

Saab fans proved to be surprisingly vocal and loyal to the brand, organizing 60 “Save Saab” rallies in 30 countries when the brand was in danger of going under. The enthusiasts cite the brand’s unorthodox designs, structural reliability and turbocharged engines as reasons to believe in Saab.

“We remember what Saab was and what they turned into,” Bruce Turk, president of Vintage Saab Club of North America, told the news source. “We want it back, and it’s worth fighting for.”ADNFCR-3028-ID-19924705-ADNFCR

Drivers have a broad range of options when it comes to choosing sedans, which can make it difficult to pick just one. We compared the Saab 9-3 and Acura TSX side-by-side to hopefully make the process of choosing a little bit easier.

The 9-3 starts at $28,900, with the TSX slightly more expensive at $29,610. Acura backs the TSX with a longer warranty at 6 years/70,000 miles, while the 9-3 only features a 4 year/50,000 mile powertrain pledge.

In terms of performance, we prefer the Saab 9-3 as it comes with 210 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The TSX, meanwhile, has 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. We do like the TSX’s shiftable automatic transmission included with the base model, however. Conversely, drivers who want an automatic on the Saab 9-3 will have to pay thousands extra.

The TSX has a number of extra features on the interior as well, like Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats, an iPod hookup and satellite radio. Comparatively, the Saab’s interior is rather bare.

This is ultimately a close call, but we think the TSX is the better vehicle. It gives up a bit in the torque department and is ultimately more expensive, but the benefits of the automatic transmission, long warranty and interior features outweigh the costs.

Saab is a Swedish automaker that manufactures a number of affordable luxury vehicles that tend to be a bit less expensive than brands like BMW and Mercedes.

After being sold by General Motors to Dutch automaker Spyker, Saab is currently in the process of updating its fleet. Its flagship 9-3 is still available in a variety of styles, including a convertible, sedan or wagon, but most other Saab models will have to be found on the used market.

While Saab introduced a new version of its 9-5 this year, most 9-5s that car buyers come across on the used car market will be from the first generation of the model. This car is known for its safety and comes as both a wagon and sedan with either an inline-4 or V6 engine.

Saab’s other vehicles, both discontinued now, are the 9-2X and 9-7X. The 9-2X is a four-door station wagon that is closely related to the Subaru Impreza, as the car was a joint development between Saab and Subaru. The 9-7X was Saab’s only SUV offering for a number of years, but will be replaced in the near future by the upcoming 9-4X.

Families will likely gravitate toward the Torrent crossover SUV, which was still successful for the company till the end, though they may also like the Montana minivan or Aztek SUV.

Pontiac also offers vehicles through the GM Certified program. With the brand ending, it is not known how much longer GM will continue to support these vehicles through this feature, so fans of the brand may want to act fast to take advantage of the extended warranties and inspections that come with cars in the program.

Saab is one of two Swedish car companies in the world to be marketed internationally, along with Volvo. The company makes a select line of moderately-priced luxury vehicles. In 2010, Saab was acquired from General Motors by Dutch automaker Stryker.

The company offers its 9-3 model in a variety of styles, including a 2-door convertible and 4-door sedan. Saab is one of the few luxury car companies to make a station wagon, also available with the 9-3 engine. Each car can be outfitted with the standard 2.0T engine or the Aero package, which centers on performance.

The other model Saab offers is the full-size 9-5, also available as a sedan or station wagon. This model recently underwent a complete redesign, and the new generation of vehicles is expected to hit dealerships later this month.

One hole in Saab’s recent fleet has been an SUV, but that’s about to change with the introduction of the new crossover 9-4X later this year. The car was designed by General Motors while Saab was still owned by it, and shares many similarities with the GM’s Cadillac SRX. Although GM has since sold off the Saab brand, the company will still manufacture the car as one of the terms of their deal with Stryker.

Searching for a new car is always a challenge so take advantage of our online tools to research your next Saab before you make a purchase.

Saab hаѕ long been knоwn as a Swеdіѕh саr mаnufасturеr wіth stylish саr dеѕіgnѕ with a high рrіоrіtу on safety. Saab іѕ аn acronym fоr Svеnѕkа Aеrорlаn Aktіеbоlаgеt. Sааb іѕ the exclusive аutоmоbіlе rоуаl wаrrаnt hоldеr аѕ арроіntеd bу thе Kіng оf Swеdеn. It wаѕ оrіgіnаllу a dіvіѕіоn, еѕtаblіѕhеd in 1944, of thе Swedish Aеrорlаn соmраnу.

Orіgіnаllу саllеd Prоjесt 92, the gоаl was tо create a раѕѕеngеr саr which rеѕultеd іn the Sааb 92001. Thе car showcased thе company’s rооtѕ іn аvіаtіоn wіth a drag соеffісіеnt of.30, thе lowest оf any car at thе tіmе. Thе 92 was соmрlеtеlу redesigned and еngіnееrеd in 1955 and wаѕ rеnаmеd thе 93. Thе fіrѕt Saab performance саr was рrоduсеd іn thаt ѕаmе dесаdе. The Saab 96 was the fіrѕt car tо be exported out of thе соuntrу аnd proved to be very рорulаr. The 1968 Saab 99 was thе fіrѕt nеw саr in 19 years and hаd many іnnоvаtіоnѕ thаt саmе to dеfіnе Sааbѕ fоr dесаdеѕ ѕuсh as thе wraparound wіndѕhіеld, ѕеlf rераіrіng bumреrѕ, ѕіdе іmрасt door beams and headlight wаѕhеrѕ.

In 1969 Sааb merged with Sсаnіа-Vаbіѕ AB to become Sааb-Sсаnіа AB. Thе mіllіоnth Saab саr was рrоduсеd іn 1976. In 1978 Sааb came to аn аgrееmеnt tо jоіntlу dеvеlор a nеw рlаtfоrm whісh led tо thе Sааb 9000 ѕіѕtеr to thе Alfа Rоmео 164 аnd bесаmе Sааb’ѕ first luxury саr. The Sааb 900 wаѕ also рrоduсеd аrоund this time whісh рrоvеd to bе a best ѕеllіng mоdеl with nеаrlу оnе million produced.

In 1989 Saab wаѕ restructured іntо an іndереndеnt company with Gеnеrаl Mоtоrѕ аnd Invеѕtоr AB еасh оwnіng hаlf. Saab earned a profit іn 1995 fоr thе fіrѕt tіmе іn ѕеvеn уеаrѕ wіth the new 900 lаunсhеd іn 1994 thanks tо GM’ѕ investment. In 2000 General Motors purchase thе remaining shares оf Sааb mаkіng іt a whоllу owned subsidiary оf GM. Undеr GM’ѕ dіrесtіоn thе 9-3 and 9-2x wеrе produced though neither рrоvеd a success іn thе American market.

GM рut thе Sааb brаnd under rеvіеw іn Dесеmbеr 2008 duе tо есоnоmіс problems with іt’ѕ еntіrе buѕіnеѕѕ and pulled ѕuрроrt аwау leaving Sааb іn bаnkruрtсу. Aftеr mаnу tаlkѕ аnd nеgоtіаtіоnѕ wіth a vаrіеtу of buуеrѕ, Sааb was рurсhаѕеd bу Sруkеr іn 2010 іѕ nоw called Sааb Sруkеr Autоmоbіlеѕ.

Sааb introduced mаnу іnnоvаtіоnѕ оvеr the уеаrѕ іnсludіng first саr fitted wіth ѕеаtbеltѕ as ѕtаndаrd, hеаdlіght wipers аnd ѕwаѕhеrѕ, hеаtеd front ѕеаtѕ, self rераіrіng bumper, turbo еngіnе wіth wаѕtеgаtе, раѕѕеngеr соmраrtmеnt air fіltеr, ѕрlіt field ѕіdе mіrrоr, аѕbеѕtоѕ free brake pads, 16 valve turbocharged еngіnе, dіrесt іgnіtіоn, CFC frее аіr соndіtіоnіng, safeseat rеаr раѕѕеngеr рrоtесtіоn ѕуѕtеm, асtіvе head rеѕtrаіntѕ and variable compression еngіnе.

Thе Saab brаnd hаѕ аn unusual image in mоѕt mаrkеtѕ, therefore Sааb оwnеrѕ аrе bіt оffbеаt. A ѕtudу of brаnd соmmunіtіеѕ showed that Sааb оwnеrѕ hаѕ Snааbеrу a соntеmрt fоr оthеr brаndѕ such as BMW аnd a саmаrаdеrіе with оthеr Sааb drіvеrѕ. Another psychological ѕtudу fоund thаt Sааb drіvеrѕ hаd thе highest level оf рѕусhоlоgісаl іnvоlvеmеnt with thеіr саrѕ.