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If the GM-SAAB-Koenigsegg-BAIC deal ever closes, Beijing Auto (BAIC) would be interested in taking the current generation Saab 9-5 and produce it in China once the 2010 Saab 9-5 is launched in Europe in April next year, Chinese media reports via Gasgoo.
Last September, BAIC had agreed to take a minority interest in the Koenigsegg-owned Saab. However, it is one in the many open and not closed China deals.
If the current Saab 9-5 moves to China, in could be produced wearing BAIC’s own Beijing brand, or it could be the start of a major expansion of Saab China, Chinacartimes reported.
13 Comments on “Made in China Saab 9-5?...”
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…or not, as the day wears on.
Amazing. The 9-5 was ahead of its times in 1998: maximum crash test score for both frontal and lateral impact, lateral airbags with head protection at a time when BMW and Mercedes were collapsing like chinese cars in similar impact.
Fuel efficient turbo engines with lots of torque at low rpm…and amazingly comfortable and ventialted seats.
Have we really moved the goalpost in 11 years ??
provided they keep both, the brand and the specs, that’s a chinese car I’d gladly buy.
How much re-engineering will need to be done to meet the safety standards of Chinese cars? I envision a team working feverishly to ensure that the 9-5 folds up like an empty beer can in a frontal collision, rather than its current design which leaves the passenger compartment intact.
Okay, I guess that thought was funnier (and more ironic) when it was still inside of my head…
Being a 2000 9-5 owner, I would say they can have it. It’s got the worst-designed electronics I’ve ever seen in a car. Multiple replacements on multiple modules. Including a $600.00 throttle body every 40k miles like clockwork.
If you think the 9-5 is a giant POS now, maybe it could get worse. Chinese DI Cassettes scare the shit out of me!
Funny you mention DI cassettes. I’ve replaced that at least 3 times. Chinese couldn’t be any worse – and might even be an improvement!
I am pretty sure the Chinese version of 9-5 will be “cheapened” a bit to meet the price point and other competitive constraints of the Chinese domestic car market. Still, not a bad acquisition for a Chinese company.
My experience is quite different than Contrarian, as are many, many others. The 9-5 isn’t perfect but my 2001 9-5 AERO with 140,000 miles is still an awesome car. Other than the SID (display screen) that looses pixels, I haven’t had any electrical issues. These cars have a few problem areas (name me a european car that DOESN’T), but when properly maintained, can be great cars and have a loyal following. Unfortunately that last refresh was big step backwards inside and out but doesn’t diminish the fundamentals of the car. It is long overdue to be replaced though.
Oh and the DI Casette, it was replaced once under the recall for free at 90,000ish miles. The old one didn’t fail me, nor has the replacement. Not nearly the problem the coils were on the 1.8T VW/Audi engine. I had multiple coil failures on the A4 I had even after they were replaced.
Yeah, the DI cassettes got/get to be tiresome, but the individual COPs on the 03+ 93ss/c have been flawless. Any new car would probably get that. Or one with NO ignition system….
BuzzDog: still funny, even out of your head, actually…
Ah, the DI cassette. The electronics. I loved my 99 9-5 wagon, but once it started with the mysterious “lose all power in the middle lane on the highway for no repeatable nor diagnoseable by even the best indy saab mechanic in town” syndrome with the wife and baby in it, it went away awfully fast.
And that’s where I learned my lesson about Saab trade-in values :)
The DI casette problems with the 9-5 may be caused by non-specific sparkplugs, they are quite fussy that way. My friend bought his Dad a 2001 9-5 with 130,00 on the clock and it has had no issues at all over the last two years. Get them looked after properly (which can be expensive) and they are great cars. Ugly looking and cumbersome, but a great car nonetheless.