Saab 9-1 Round-Up
I’ve been eagerly waiting for some more news on the Saab 9-1. Over the past months we’ve heard everything from it being released as a 2009 model, to it being sold as a Pontiac and/or Saturn model as well. If the styling we’re seeing from the 9-X is the direction the vehicle will be taking, then I don’t want to wait patiently! I think it’s one of the best looking small car designs, and could really dent the competition. In addition to great looks, it’s generally understood from reports on the vehicle that it will be a hybrid, or at least there will be a hybrid option.
Let’s look at a history of how the 9-1 has come along from articles from around the web.
On 12/20/07 TopSpeed.com presented a sketch of what it’s calling the 2010 9-1X.
02/08 A Vienna newspaper says “Hey, we have a sketch too!” Only they say it in Austrian.
02/15/08 - Saab places a teaser image of the 9-1X concept on its website.
2/18/08 TrollhattanSaab.net displays an image of the 9-1 draped.
04/23/08 TrollhattanSaab.net asks Eric Geers of Saab some questions, gets some answers.
Geer states: We are very confident we will make the car. There are a number of steps in the process that have to be taken before you can call a program ‘final’ and that’s what’s happening now. We wouldn’t have shown the 9-X Biohybrid in Geneva if we hadn’t any serious plans with it.
Doesn’t sound like 2009 to me.
05/08 A video appears of the Saab 9-4X and 9-X. Audio isn’t in English.
05/23/08 Edmunds.com reports that Saab is still debating whether the 9-1 will be two or four doors. Do they go with 4 doors to increase utility, along with justifying the price tag, at the expense of styling. Or do they stay true to the design of the concept (2-doors) which limits utility, and possibly gives the price tag the perception of being too high.
The answer is 2 doors, BTW.
Doesn’t look like 2010 either if the number of doors is in question.
Let’s hope the 9-1 is closer than it looks, though I don’t think it is. It’s been a quick run from sketch to concept to possible production vehicle. I’m guessing 2011 or 2012.
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