Saab Seals Engine Deal with BMW, gets 4 Cylinder Turbo Units from 2012

The BMW Group and Saab-owner Spyker Cars N.V. have come to an agreement for the use of the German automaker's petrol engines in Saab's vehicles from 2012 onwards. The long-rumored deal, which will ultimately help Saab further reduce its reliance on previous owner General Motors, currently the firm's only supplier of gasoline powerplants, was signed on Wednesday by Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and the CEO of Saab Automobile, JanÅke Jonsson, in Trollhättan in Sweden.

Under the agreement, BMW will supply Saab with 4-cylinder 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol engines, which will incorporate the Bavarian automaker's fuel-saving and emissions -cutting stop-start and regenerative braking tech. Saab said the engines will be adapted to meet the firm's specific requirements.

"We look forward to integrating this technology into our next-generation vehicles in a true Saab way," said Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson.

Though the two automakers did not go into any other details, it is believed that the petrol engines will be the same as the ones used in the MINI range, with at least one of them to be assembled at the BMW Group's Hams Hall engine plant in the UK. The 1.6-liter Turbo will be used on the next 9-3 (expected in 2012), as well as on the new 9-5 sedan.

Ian Robertson, Executive Sales and Marketing Director of BMW said: "Our engines have a clear lead over the competition when it comes to fuel consumption, emissions and performance and we are delighted to support Saab with our engine expertise."

Saab's chairman Victor Muller noted that both parties are open "to explore further opportunities in the future".

The two companies did not disclose any financial or contract volume details on the engine deal.

Saab Confirms BMW Talks on Engine Supply, 2012 9-3 May be the First Model to Benefit from the Deal

The next generation of Saab models may very well be powered by BMW engines if negotiations between the two automakers are successful. Following widespread media speculations on the matter, Spyker N.V., the parent company of the Swedish carmaker confirmed talks with BMW. Here's the official statement:

"Spyker Cars N.V. ("the Group"), a holding company that owns subsidiaries which produce and sell premium automobiles under the Saab and Spyker brands, has noted recent press speculation about the possible supply relationship with BMW. The Group confirms that talks are ongoing and will give further details once a final agreement has been reached."

A report from Bloomberg citing an unnamed person with direct knowledge of the matter said the first Saab to benefit from the proposed deal would be the next 9-3 model, due for release in 2012. According to the source, Saab will make use of a new 222-horsepower that BMW is developing and has not yet been introduced in any of the Bavarian automaker's cars. The same engine would find its way under the hood of the new 9-5.

The person said the two automakers are also in talks about Saab buying diesel engines from BMW as well as the possible use of the MINI Countryman's platform for the future 9-2 premium sub-compact.

A final announcement on the deal could be made as early as the end of this week. We will continue to follow this matter and will provide updates on any new developments.

Source: Spyker / Bloomberg

Saab 9-5 Convertible Design Study: What do you Think?

Courtesy of SaabsUnited, the people who provided pics of the nice but ill-proportioned 9-5 Coupe rendering (see here) we recently showed you, here is a look at a second possible 9-5 variant. It's a computer generated image for a large, 4-seater convertible that could compete with the Audi A5 Cabrio in the future world of what-ifs.

Using a traditional soft top and nicely-equipped with a turbo-six and all-wheel drive, this car could be a wonderful option for families looking to buy into the Swedish design scene and who also want a unique mid-size convertible that comfortably seats four.

Even better is the potential for Spyker to move itself down-range a bit and receive its own coachbuilt version of the car (and maybe even the 9-4X crossover).

What say you, dear readers? Is this 9-5 'vert an interesting niche vehicle for the Swedish niche brand, or is it simply a waste of time to hope for this?

By Phil Alex

Source: SaabsUnited , Via: Autoblog.nl

Saab Enhances 9-5 with New 1.6-liter Turbo Petrol, 190HP Diesel with XWD and Flex-Fuel Versions

Along with presentation of the tweaked 2011MY 9-3, Saab today also announced that it is broadening the appeal of the freshly launched 9-5 sedan with the introduction of three new engine options, including a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol, a 2.0-liter turbo diesel and a 2.0-liter turbo BioPower flex-fuel unit, which double the size of the premium saloon's powertrain menu.

The new 2.0-liter TTiD two-stage turbo diesel engine produces 190HP and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) from 1,750 rpm, and can be specified with XWD, making it the first Saab diesel model to be offered with the Swedish firm's all-wheel-drive system.

Saab said the diesel-powered 9-5 accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in under nine seconds, while returning a projected combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.0 lt/100 km (39.2mpg US or 47.1 mpg UK) and CO2 emissions of 159 g/km.

The 9-5's gasoline line-up is extended by the addition of a smaller displacement 1.6-liter turbocharged four-banger churning out 180HP and 230Nm (169.6 lb-ft) of torque from 2,200 rpm to 5,500 rpm. Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 7.8 lt/100 km (30.2mpg US or 36.2mpg UK) and 179 g/km respectively.

Finally, there's a new 2.0-liter turbo BioPower engine that is able to run on gasoline and/or E85 fuel (85% bioethanol, 15% gasoline) in any blends. According to Saab, it delivers an output of 220HP and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of peak torque regardless of the fuel type or mixture. The BioPower model is available with two-wheel drive or XWD in all model specifications.

Saab Fan Renders New 9-5 Coupe

Even though a coupe version of the new 9-5 saloon isn't among the Swedish automaker's top priorities, the idea has been circulating around Saab enthusiasts for a while. This here photoshop of a 9-5 Coupe was crafted by a reader of the 'Saabsunited' website. Technically speaking, the artist's rendition is quite good, but style-wise, the 9-5 Coupe doesn't quite make the cut. It could be improved though with a few tweaks here and there including a longer set of doors and larger alloy wheels. Make sure you tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Source: Saabsunited

VIDEO: Saab Design Chief Jason Castriota Drives the New 9-5 Saloon

Saab's newly appointed design boss, Jason Castriota of former Bertone and Pininfarina fame, wasn't around when the Swedish automaker crafted the all-new 2010 9-5 saloon, so it's interesting to see what he has to say about the styling of the premium sedan. In this video, as well as sharing his insight on the 9-5's design, Castriota also took the car for a quick spin.

The first official assignment at Saab for the 36-year-old Italian-American who is known for his work on the Ferrari P4/5 one-off special, Bertone Mantide and Maserati GranTurismo, will be the redesign of the Swedish firm's 9-3 range, which is expected for release in 2012.

VIDEO: Saab Tester Takes New 9-5 for a Spin on the Track

Saab continues to publish new promotional material on its freshly revealed 9-5 sedan. This time the Trollhattan-based automaker has released a video with Stefan Runquist, Vehicle Dynamics manager for the new 9-5, behind the steering wheel. Runquist took the executive saloon for a spin on a Swedish test track and offered an overview of the 9-5's ride and handling characteristics. Watch the clip after the break.

Saab Releases New Promotional Video for 2011 9-5 Sedan

It's been a tough year for Saab, but for time being and with the help of its new owner, Spyker Cars NV, the Swedish carmaker seems to moving on to better days. By far the company's most promising asset is the all-new 2011 9-5 sedan that goes on sale in the U.S. this summer. Saab has already started promoting the 2011 9-5 with a new online commercial that you can watch right after the jump.

Saab's U.S. Boss Talks About the Future and How the Brand will Tackle the Perception that the Brand is Dead

Automotive News recently had a chance to sit down with the COO of Saab North America, Mike Colleran, and discuss the future of Saab. perception

One of the first questions posed was the extent of damage to Saab's brand image during the past year and a half and how the Swedish automaker plans to improve its image in the near future.

"It is difficult to understand the complete depth of that damage. Certainly the brand did suffer" said Colleran. "I think there are a number of consumers who have the perception that Saab is gone."

Saab's North American boss believes that the company's image will be significantly improved with the launch of new products such as the all-new 9-5 in July as well as through the use of social media marketing (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) and traditional advertising venues like TV, news print and radio.

Colleran also went into a few of the details regarding the future of the Spyker-owned brand, including its remaining connection to GM and plans for modernizing the lineup.

Regarding the connection to its previous owner, Colleran said Saab will "rent back" certain services like IT/database management and dealer-support networking, because "you just can't reinvent those overnight."

Also, Saab's upcoming 9-4X will be built by GM in Mexico. None of this results in any control by GM, though.

After the 9-4X bows next April, a new 9-3 should arrive in 2012. Colleran in no uncertain terms says that by then, the new 9-5 will be the old news in Saab's lineup.

In the interview, the 9-5 also had its official target set: Audi's A6. Other competitors will be the 5-Series and S80.

Considering the old 9-5 and 9-3 had an bit of an overlap, Saab was quick to address this. The new 9-3 and 9-5 will be more distinct in price and size, allowing for a wider consumer base. With the 9-5 being set against the Germans and Volvo's S80, the 9-3 is going to be locked onto the 3-Series and S60.

Future success wasn't to be jinxed, though; no official sales goals were released, although Colleran did mention that Saab can build up to 15,000 units this year.

Attractive product, aggressive marketing, and a competitive drive. Fans will be happy to have a Saab brand worth following.

By Phil Alex

Via: Autonews [Sub. Req.]

New 2010 Saab 9-5 Configurator Goes Online

Saab has opened up the doors to customizing its new 9-5 with a configurator, albeit a bit of a teaser version. With only colors and wheels available to choose from at the moment, there's only so much fun to be had.

As soon as the full configurator gets online, buyers will be able to get a better look at how they're going to justify a $50,000+ Saab. With a model that looks as funky and feels as Swedish as this, I can't wait.

By Phil Alex

Link: Saab

China-Made Saab 9-5 by BAW: First Photos and Video

Earlier today, we showed you a bevy of pictures of the Beijing Automotive Works' (BAW) Saab 9-3-based C60 mid-size sedan. Now we have the first photos of the Chinese firm's reworked Saab 9-5, the C71 saloon, as well as a video showing both cars as they were being transferred to BAW's Beijing Motor Show stand.

As with the smaller C60, the most notable differences between the C71 and its Saab stablemate concern the styling of the front and rear ends.

As a reminder, in late 2009, BAW's parent company BAIC brought the design rights for the previous generation Saab 9-5 and certain 9-3 models along with some powertrain technology and tooling equipment from GM for about $200 million.

Both the BAW C60 and C71 are pegged to go on sale in China early next year.

Via: Bitauto & Che168

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