- Saab is in talks with BMW to use Mini hardware to underpin its new 92 small car.
- The new 92 is yet to be officially financed or approved as part of the company's product plan.
- Saab's chairman says a decision on a partner for the project will be announced in the next 100 days.
TROLLHATTAN, Sweden — Saab is reportedly in talks with BMW about using the company's Mini hardware to underpin its new 92 small car. The deal could include the Mini platform as well as powertrains and electrical architecture, and it would significantly improve the chances that this new model will be joining the Saab range.
The small, teardrop-shaped Mini competitor is top of Saab Chairman Victor Muller's new product wish list, but has yet to be financed or approved as part of the company's product plan. Muller said at last week's Saab 9-5 launch that a decision on a partner for the project would be announced 'in the next 100 days.' If the project goes ahead, Muller would like to see the car enter production in 2012 but expects 2014 to be more likely.
The new 92 is partly inspired by the 1949 92, but it will not be retro. "We hate retro at Saab. It's a teardrop car and premium, but that's where the comparison ends," says Muller. The design, dimensions and specification of the new 92 have already been framed, while pricing is anticipated to be "Mini plus 10 percent."
Saab hopes that the new car would find at least 30,000 buyers annually, although it believes that there could be scope to sell as many as 60,000, a volume that would contribute significantly to Saab's viability. The company aims to sell 120,000 cars yearly by 2012, when it forecasts a return to profit.
Muller believes that the severe recession, which liberated Saab from GM, has also made it much easier to do deals with big players like BMW, which are more anxious to underwrite the profitability of their platforms with collaborative deals than previously, when such concerns tended to be overridden by the desire to protect intellectual property rights.
If Muller and Saab manage to develop and launch the 92, it is likely to coincide with a change to Saab's naming strategy, which will see the hyphen dropped from its model names so that they become 92, 93, 94X and 95.
Inside Line says: If BMW's price is right, the excellent Mini platform and hardware could prove a good basis for a new and profitable small Saab, as well as help speed up the debut of this new model. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
k55 says:
09:48 AM, 01/03/2011
I am actually considering a MINI ( and a VW GTI) and would consider the SAAB version ......one hold up would be the extent of the dealer network though...........I havent seen many SAAB dealers lately.
mlh says:
12:33 PM, 06/14/2010
A MINI that looks more like a classic SAAB (especially inside) sounds great to me!!
icecubefosho says:
05:44 AM, 06/13/2010
Not in general, they are not reliable. Experiences from two family friends, a quick search on user reviews for the 2008 model, Consumer Reports, Various automotive publications, and Mini forum searches show that in general, these cars generally suffer from the traditional British unreliability, even though they're German now. The drivers still have that same British car driver mentality where even though the car broke down, its still too attractive and fun to drive to get rid of it. Saabs also have this. (Not talking about those GM aberrations)
m3winsagain says:
09:39 AM, 06/12/2010
@ icecubefosho minis are very reliable
i had 1 and it was a gem
compressor says:
08:27 AM, 06/12/2010
akula1 - GM took that hint already. Would have been a great car if it's turbo lag characteristics weren't from 1980 and it was actually quiet. It is super reliable though.
rodger_victor says:
11:31 PM, 06/11/2010
I think SAAB's time is over. I mean why buy a car simply because the key goes in the center console? I'll take a Buick any day of the week over a SAAB.
icecubefosho says:
04:49 PM, 06/11/2010
Looks like if it shares Mini hardware, it'll have that traditional Saab unreliability!
akula1 says:
02:45 PM, 06/11/2010
They better use the new mini coupe for this Saab. Been a long time Saab fan and its up to Spyker to get this new Saab right . I think Spykers reign will be Saab's last chance. So show us that aeronautical and rally heritage w/ Saab character and Spyker flair already. I was last looking at a 2004 Saab 93 for its style and idiosyncracies, but in the end it lost out to my '05 Subaru Legacy w/ AWD, Turbo boxer engine, Japanese reliability and Lexus quiet.
Hint, hint!