The original 1950s Saab 92
Saab are planning a premium compact car – The Saab 92 – for production by 2013. They will confirm details in the next 100 days.
Victor Muller – the man who saved Saab from GM’s closure plans – wants the company to build a compact premium car, something we’ve know since before he managed to close the deal to take on the troubled Swede. And it looks like that’s close to being confirmed as Victor declares that the decision will be made in the next 100 days.
Which sounds to us as if there is a deal in progress with another manufacturer to supply a platform. And putting 100 day limit on the announcement should help focus hearts and minds to see the deal through. We’ll see.
So what will Saab 92 be? In simple terms Victor Muller would probably consider it to be ‘The only Premium Car in its Sector‘. A line already tried by Audi for the A1, but perhaps the Saab 92 will be more premium than the Audi A1.
Saab will aim prices at MINI +10% and aim for a volume around 50,000 a year – enough for viability but not so much it suffers from ubiqiuity. The Saab 92 will not be a retro car – “Saab don’t do retro” says Victor – but will utilise the classic Saab ‘Teardrop’ design. In fact the car is planned, not just in Victor’s head but in every sense apart from the final platform.
We’re certain the Saab 92 will happen. This deadline is really just a clarion call to the parties involved to make this happen in the next three months, so Saab has a chance of getting the Saab 92 to market by the end of 2013.
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