12/6/2003

Saab is considering the development of a two-seater sports car. Taking advantage of the Pontiac Solstice roadster project that has already spawned the Vauxhall Lightning concept car, the Swedish company is exploring the possibility of its own version of the roadster. The project is being hampered by Saab's lack of money, but if it goes ahead the car's core platform and components would be developed by General Motors in North America, which first created the car. Saab is wholly owned by General Motors.

GM high-ups are currently trying to find a way to make the project feasible, which is why the sports car's sales potential is being investigated by different brands. The car uses a unique rear-wheel-drive platform, and must therefore generate plenty of revenue to pay its way. If the company believes that sufficient sales can be generated under different brand names, the project will get the green light. So far, Pontiac - in whose name the car first appeared - Opel and Vauxhall have been linked to it, with Saab being the latest. All would share the same core components, but have individual styling.

Saab has made a pure sports model before, but not for many years. In 1956 it built six front-drive roadsters called the Sonnet, and followed these up in 1966 with a sports coupe, also called Sonnet, which sold modestly well until 1973. However, if this new roadster is built, it will be the first ever rear-wheel-drive Saab, and would almost certainly be manufactured in a non-Saab factory.

In other Saab news, insiders reveal that the off-roader Saab is developing from the next-generation Chevrolet Trailblazer will be no more than lightly modified in terms of exterior styling, but that there is much more scope to redevelop the interior and improve its quality. This is just as well, because American truck interiors fall well short of Saab cabin quality standards. The off-roader is solely for the US market, will be made in Ohio and is being developed as a stopgap while the Swedish company works to expand its range from today's 9-3/9-5 two-range line-up. Sized somewhere between a Land Rover Freelander and a Discovery, the 4x4 is due late next year.

Development of the Subaru Impreza-based 9-2, also for the US only, is further advanced. The car differs more significantly from its donor in terms of styling than first reported, while its interior will benefit from better quality materials. The basic cabin design will not alter radically, however. Saab chassis engineers are also reworking the chassis, which will be less sporting than in the high performance Imprezas. The car is being aimed at the Audi A3 and BMW Compact, models which have done well in the US. The next new Saab for Europe, following the launch of the 9-3 Convertible, will be the 9-3 wagon, whose styling has been influenced by the highly acclaimed 9-3X concept car.