Koenigsegg bidding to buy Saab

[Anghammarad]

Yes indeed, Koenigsegg are one of the parties that are bidding to buy Saab from GM. Now that would indeed be interesting.

 

[Omnis]

Great. Saab could make some badass cars with the right direction. Government Motors going bankrupt could be one of the better things to happen to the auto industry in a while.

 

[Paulie]

Meh, don't like Saabs anyway, get out of my GM. But perhaps Koeniggsegegegegegegg could inject some venom into them.👍

 

[Jondot]

Good. It'd be nice to see a Swedish car company that's not owned by the Americans.

Meh, don't like Saabs anyway, get out of my GM.

*Grabs popcorn and waits for Casio to appear*

 

[TheCracker]

But perhaps Koeniggsegegegegegegg could inject some venom into them.👍

And get rid of those god-awful GM engines and replace them with some more Ford-based units like they use in their CCX's.

 

[Paulie]

And get rid of those god-awful GM engines and replace them with some more Ford-based units like they use in their CCX's.

The CCXs are Ford based? Cool, no wonder they sound so tough compared to other European exotics.

 

[Omnis]

Ecoboost Saab time.

Oh, and in-dash swedish meatball dispenser.

 

[Anghammarad]

And get rid of those god-awful GM engines and replace them with some more Ford-based units like they use in their CCX's.

I'm fairly certain that the engines in Saabs are developed by Saab themselves but assembled by GM.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

So i take it this will be the new base model?

 

[Famine]

Yes indeed, Koenigsegg are one of the parties that are bidding to buy Saab from GM. Now that would indeed be interesting.

Is there any chance of... you know... a link to this piece of news?

Otherwise this is about as pointless as any other speculation thread. And just as lockable.

 

[Omnis]

Is there any chance of... you know... a link to this piece of news?

Otherwise this is about as pointless as any other speculation thread. And just as lockable.

Good point. But at least we got a sweet vid out of it. Thanks, Holden.

 

[boiltheocean]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article6301687.ece

http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSTRE54R75520090528

American Billionaire, Fiat and Koenigsegg all mentioned.

 

[Jim Prower]

I'd like to see if Koenigsegg could pull it off. For one, that company hasn't dealt with the sheer volume (as much as it is,) that Saab has to put out. Secondly...It would put ownership squarely back in the Swede's hands.

and lately, (According to a Swedish friend) that country hasn't done so well Economically, as politicians pocket everything they can.

 

[homeforsummer]

Meh, don't like Saabs anyway, get out of my GM.

GM have been worse for Saab than Saab have been for GM.

Though I do agree, a Koenigsegg connection might be good for bringing back some of the idiosyncracy that we want Saabs to have.

 

[TheCracker]

Though I do agree, a Koenigsegg connection might be good for bringing back some of the idiosyncracy that we want Saabs to have.

If Saab start making cars with dihedral synchro-helix doors on them i'll be first in the cue

 

[homeforsummer]

If Saab start making cars with dihedral synchro-helix doors on them i'll be first in the cue

Are they like the ones that the Renault Avantime had?

Oh, and it's queue

 

[Jim Prower]

No, I think he meant like the Koenigsegg has: they pop out, and then rotate up. (unlike Lambo doors, which simply pop up, and in most aftermarket applications, swing out on factory hinges just a bit.

 

[Anghammarad]

and lately, (According to a Swedish friend) that country hasn't done so well Economically, as politicians pocket everything they can.

Ah, well you know. Some would tend to disagree. Polls have been showing that even a majority of the people who vote for the opposition think that the government is doing a better job at managing this finacial crisis than their own party would. Sweden is also no worse off than any other western country. The banking system is even in quite good shape compared to many others.

But hey, let's not go there in a thread about automotive industry.

 

[Jim Prower]

Fair enough. Mind you, I've only heard from one person, and he's been known to be a cynic, anyway.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm fairly certain that the engines in Saabs are developed by Saab themselves but assembled by GM.

Designed by Saab --> Built by Opel --> "Stolen" by GM

The current crop of Saab models are quite good, and their technology is finding its way into a swath of GM products around the world. It will be sad to see them no longer a part of the portfolio, but with whomever is buying, if they can bring back that 1980's magic, it will be awesome.

 

[Philly]

Though I do agree, a Koenigsegg connection might be good for bringing back some of the idiosyncracy that we want Saabs to have.

Epic torque steer? 900 Turbo revisitation?

 

[Casio]

*Grabs popcorn and waits for Casio to appear*

That's ok, I don't like Paulie anyway.

I'm just happy that I pretty much own a Koenigsegg. Now all that needs to happen is the next 9-3 has 1200hp and earns the Fastest Production Car title and I can watch my resale value rise.

 

[homeforsummer]

Epic torque steer? 900 Turbo revisitation?

Meh. The old 900 Turbo was actually supposed to be a particularly nice handler. And even torque steer was never that bad apart from on the Viggen versions of 9-3s.

But yeah, some sort of modern interpretation of one of the old 900s or 99s would be great. And I don't mean a retro pastiche, I mean a modern interpretation. Smallish, agressive, driver-focused, fun.

 

[YSSMAN]

My guess is that it comes in the form of a significantly re-worked, current 9-3 with a modified 2.0L direct-injection turbocharged I4. GM will ditch control of the brand, but methinks they'll still hold a small amount of the brand just so they can snag some bits-and-pieces when they need it.

 

[Philly]

My guess is that it comes in the form of a significantly re-worked, current 9-3 with a modified 2.0L direct-injection turbocharged I4. GM will ditch control of the brand, but methinks they'll still hold a small amount of the brand just so they can snag some bits-and-pieces when they need it.

I wonder: will they continue to use GM platforms? Or is there a chance we'll be seeing a thoroughly true Saab designed and built by Swedes in the near future?

Also, does Koenigsegg have the money to take up a losing enterprise and turn it around? I'm sure they have some spare capital laying around, but I would be surprised to hear that a small supercar maker has the cash flow to operate a mainstream company...

 

[JCE]

Koenigsegg + Saab = uber win

 

[homeforsummer]

I wonder: will they continue to use GM platforms? Or is there a chance we'll be seeing a thoroughly true Saab designed and built by Swedes in the near future?

The next gen Saabs/Alfas etc are being developed on a GM platform (well, I'm not sure whether it's GM developing it themselves but for the sake of simplicity it's a GM platform) so I'd expect that even if Koenigsegg do buy a stake they'd be unwilling to lose the benefits of a cheap, mass-produced platform - at least at first.

 

[Paulie]

The next gen Saabs/Alfas etc are being developed on a GM platform (well, I'm not sure whether it's GM developing it themselves but for the sake of simplicity it's a GM platform) so I'd expect that even if Koenigsegg do buy a stake they'd be unwilling to lose the benefits of a cheap, mass-produced platform - at least at first.

Especially with the coming 9-5 rumoured to be so good, they wouldn't just throw away that car for the sake of disbanding any traces of GM.

 

[YSSMAN]

As I recall, I believe every Saab is going to be based on the Epsilon II chassis within the next few years. Perhaps the only exception would be the 9-4X, but I think that got the axe.

 

[High-Test]

There's a right way, a wrong way, and a swedish way. Only the Swedes can pull off the Swedish way 100% of the time. It was folly to think that GM could do it.

I say give 'em Volvo too. Let there be a Swedish automotive powerhouse.