SAAB 9-2 (mini rival) with BMW

mumblin deaf ro

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/254998/saab_bmw_to_build_92.html

This story has been lingering for a while but seems to have been confirmed now. I'd be surprised if the eventual car looked as Mini-like as the photo though.


Two-seater sonnet-type sports SAAB on the way based on a coupe 9-3.

Saab Ed

I woulnt mind Auto express , they're the Sun of motoring mags. The info will be 50% correct if we're lucky and they just make the pics themselves

This might be closer to the truth ....

http://www.worldcarfans.com/110061426806/saab-92-could-share-bmw--mini-platform

mumblin deaf ro

On further digging it seems SAAB are denying this or maybe they're just not ready to go public yet?

http://www.saabsunited.com/2010/08/auto-express-and-the-saab-92.html

Owen

Looks like the love child of a Beetle and a C30. The amount of 'mini rivals' that have popped up in the past few years is large, there's the Mito, the 500, this, the DS3, the Suzuki Swift complete with white roof and stripes, and on and on!

The problem is that the MINI isn't just a small car with cheap bits and pieces, it's built pretty well with a very stiff chassis and excellent handling, tied in with engines that win awards year after year. It's one of the only small cars you can choose to have heated leather seats in, navigation, harman kardon sound systems, panoramic roofs, limited slip differentials, comfort access, etc. Plus, whatever about our whacky Irish prices, it's still holding ridiculous residual values in the UK.

The only plus in MINIs favour is that every single car is unique. They may look the same, but only 1 in 10000 has another one with the same options on the road.

Until other manufacturers do the likes of this, they'll end up with a car which may look like a MINI, but it won't have those benefits, which will ultimately end up in a fail.

Yes, it's a ranty rant. Sorry about that.

mumblin deaf ro

Yeah - false start of a thread - sorry guys.

Eric Cartman

i was planning on buying a 9-5 aero at some point , ill have to see the outcome of this, if they make this saab will be losing a sale

mumblin deaf ro

I think the profusion of Mini rivals has a lot to do with the EU requirements for lower CO2 emissions across the range. In SAAB's case, they can't just keep making two saloons and need smaller cars. Also it seems to be a strong market segment to be in and given the changing demographics across Europe over the next twenty years, smaller cars for older drivers are going to be big sellers - especially good quality smaller cars for people who have driven exec saloons all their lives.

mumblin deaf ro

Eric Cartman wrote: »

i was planning on buying a 9-5 aero at some point , ill have to see the outcome of this, if they make this saab will be losing a sale

You thinking of buying a new SAAB 9-5 Aero? Do you mind me asking how much they are going for - I didn't think the pricing was out yet for Ireland.

Eric Cartman

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

You thinking of buying a new SAAB 9-5 Aero? Do you mind me asking how much they are going for - I didn't think the pricing was out yet for Ireland.

this is a long way off dream man , this wont be for 4-5 years

Tragedy

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Looks like the love child of a Beetle and a C30. The amount of 'mini rivals' that have popped up in the past few years is large, there's the Mito, the 500, this, the DS3, the Suzuki Swift complete with white roof and stripes, and on and on!

The problem is that the MINI isn't just a small car with cheap bits and pieces, it's built pretty well with a very stiff chassis and excellent handling, tied in with engines that win awards year after year. It's one of the only small cars you can choose to have heated leather seats in, navigation, harman kardon sound systems, panoramic roofs, limited slip differentials, comfort access, etc. Plus, whatever about our whacky Irish prices, it's still holding ridiculous residual values in the UK.

The only plus in MINIs favour is that every single car is unique. They may look the same, but only 1 in 10000 has another one with the same options on the road.

Until other manufacturers do the likes of this, they'll end up with a car which may look like a MINI, but it won't have those benefits, which will ultimately end up in a fail.

Yes, it's a ranty rant. Sorry about that.

90% of Mini's I see are young girls in late teens/early 20's. I really don't think they care about stiff chassis, LSD and award winning engines.

Elsewhere though, I'm sure they do. Just not in Ireland

Eric Cartman

Tragedy wrote: »

90% of Mini's I see are young girls in late teens/early 20's. I really don't think they care about stiff chassis, LSD and award winning engines.

and thats why that 03 one in cork keeps getting sold on and on and on and on

tbourk02

Eric Cartman wrote: »

this is a long way off dream man , this wont be for 4-5 years

the new 95 will be here next month....

Zonda999

You can tell to make that image, AE just took a mini and added some saabism :rolleyes:..

Pdfile

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/254998/saab_bmw_to_build_92.html

This story has been lingering for a while but seems to have been confirmed now. I'd be surprised if the eventual car looked as Mini-like as the photo though.


Two-seater sonnet-type sports SAAB on the way based on a coupe 9-3.

*awaits aero/carlson edition with schoolgirl excitment*