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Spyker, proud new owner of SAAB, is overwhelmed. Victor Muller is looking at what’s on his plate and is having an anxiety attack. “How will I ever get that done?” (And with what money?) Spyker needs serious help.
That’s why Spyker is talking to BMW. The Bavarians are supposed to assist Saab with the development and production of new cars, says Sweden’s Dagens Industri.
BMW engines and transmissions could be used in the new SAAB 9-2.
The new old retro-92 could be built based on a BMW Mini.
BMW diesel engines could power the 9-4X crossover, scheduled for 2011.
15 Comments on “SAAB Needs Help. From BMW...”
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This will go well.
Agreed. They are culturally similar.
I should have made it more obvious that I was being very sarcastic.
No, I got that vibe right off the bat :-)
Makes sense.
Wasn’t BMW trying ton monetize it’s new FWD platform? It would make sense for both BMW and SAAB to share platform and technologies.
I’ve been saying for a while that in 2-3 years, if the market clears up, BMW might buy SAAB. A FWD 9-3 could be slotted in right below the 3 series. The SAAB factory is well run and being outside the euro is also helpful. BMW does a good job managing brands. What BMW doesn’t need, however, is dealers.
Getting BMW/Peugeot engines for a future 9-2 would also be a win. Very natural fit. I don’t see BMW kicking in money to develop the 9-2 however, which is what VM really needs.
What BMW doesn’t need, however, is dealers.
That should be a problem in the states! In the 3 years I’ve owned my Saab, Houston has gone from four dealers to one. Who isn’t even technically in Houston.
Mr. Schmitt,
I have always been and will always be a fervent reader of any of your posts, but I think, this time you’re not telling anybody anything new.
SAAB needs help to build the new 9-2?
So what? And who expected anything else?
SAAB are getting in touch with BMW to talk about a possible cooperation?
Well, maybe some people thought they should have chosen Ssangyong! Not me, though.
Saab will need engines and platforms to continue. BMW is a player who might be interested to provide for what SAAB need.
As long as SAAB stay connected to the SAAB heritage, that’s all fine with me.
And by the way, I am exactly what “Autobild” would call an “Oberlehrer” in their online issue.
I think the new 9-5 is just great. Even if I ought to know better.
Yours,
saabista63
@Saabista63:
Ok, here we go:
“Saab needs help..” – correct, there is only one Saab
“Saab are getting in touch..” – wrong, only one Saab
“As long as Saab stay connected..” -wrong, still only one Saab
@tsofting
Some of us follow the English rules of grammar, rather than the American set.
With Mini coming out with 3 new models, I’m not sure they’ll want to be sharing platforms with a potential competitor. On the other hand, by the time the 92 is ready the new MINIs will be getting old, might be a smart move to keep the factory busy.
I’d love to see a mini-based 92, personally. Although if I owned a MINI dealership, I wouldn’t be so enthusiastic about it.
a. On 4-cilinder diesels: Is there a ban on using the diesels from the GM-Fiat deal for the 9-4X? If not that is not the worst choice.
b. On 6-cilinder diesels: How do they think they are going to fit the inline 6 in an engine bay constructed for 4-cil or V6?
I can believe the talks on the Mini platform, but the engine deal for the 9-4X? Not for the near future.
Isn’t this Saab’s historical modus operandi? They have never been a company that can develop an entire car themselves, they had been sharing platforms and engines with various bedfellows for years before the GM era, and now it is renewed with BMW. That’s they way I see it, but I know other commentors have so much more historical knowledge than I do.
Exactly correct. The two stroke was heavily copied from DKW. The V4 was wholely bought-in from Ford. The inline 4 (99 to old 9-5) was bought-in from Triumph (via Ricardo Engineering), then re-engineered over the years piece-by-piece. All three V6s were/are bought-in from GM (first two Opel, last one Holden). The closest thing to a truly Saab engine is actually the Ecotec 4! That is, for all intents and purposes, a clean sheet of paper Saab engine that GM uses globaly. Note that the Ecotec 2.0L Turbo is far and away the most reliable drivetrain Saab has ever had. The old 900 16V H-motor was pretty good, but the transmissions it was bolted on top of sure weren’t!
I always find it hilarious when people ask if the 9-3 has a real Saab motor or some junky GM thing.