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Norwegian to rejuvinate “soul and spirit” of Saab

06/18/2009, 2:26 PM

By Andrew Ganz

The Norwegian designer and financier who controls much of Koenigsegg and who is seen by many as the driving force behind the Swedish super car manufacturer’s offer to buy Saab from General Motors, says he wants to return the small brand to its glory days.

Saab has to refine their quality level, their soul and spirit and we believe that this is something we can help with,” Baard Eker said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

Eker, a major figure at Koenigsegg, helped secure financing to purchase Saab. Eker’s design firm owns 49 percent of Koenigsegg.

Though he said it was too early to even speculate the specific changes he wants to make to Saab, he says that the company will need to work to create a more environmentally-friendly automaker, albeit one with the high margins necessary of a small company.

“So far we haven’t seen much in terms of environmentally friendly cars from the big (players),” he said. “That is something the smaller companies can more easily attend to because it is much quicker to turn around a smaller company.”

Ironically, he says that his vision is not far off of what GM hoped to do with the brand.

“The most interesting thing is that GM thinks the same,” Eker said.

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06/18, 2:29 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

Yes…turn that engine around backwards!!!! Lets get some 2 cycle engines going on while we’re at it.

06/18, 2:38 PM

posted by:

Borat

Saab started as a 3 cylinder. Not far off. I think the plan is to make Saab something like Tesla with more seats and larger customer base.

06/18, 2:53 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

Since GM has all but completed the development work of the new 9-4x and 9-5 for them, Koenigsegg needs to immediately focus on an entry model for the brand.. a eco-friendly premium compact sized/priced like a Mini or MiTo with styling evocative of the original Saab 91 and 92.. sounds like that’s exactly what Eker is planning. I can’t wait!

06/18, 3:15 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

I can’t wait to see what they consider “high margin” aka “overpriced”… F*** it, they still will have the same sh!tty resale as always, so I’ll still pick me up a year old one for less than half sticker.

06/18, 3:37 PM

posted by:

shane train

The less GM there is in a Saab, the better.

Take it back to the glory days.

06/18, 3:45 PM

posted by:

05Z88Path

Damn…there goes my idea that they’d start making performance based cars.

06/18, 3:45 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Jake, this is the internet. There’s no room for unbridled enthusiasm here.

06/18, 3:52 PM

posted by:

exmayol

I don’t need spirit and glory. I need 9-3 RWD, 250lbs lighter and at least 5K cheaper.

06/18, 4:08 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

How about this for enthusiasm Johnny – Where is this company going to come up with the dough to be competitive with global players like Audi and BMW? To develop a mass market car from scratch it cost over a billion dollars. If they want to be a low volume maker they’ll be forced to both A. Find a donor platform and that forces B. Charge more than the competition/the originator of the donor platform putting them at a disadvatage. I don’t see them succeeding past GM’s already developed product, there’s just no way. They would have been better off to goto Magna or Fiat, because they have the money AND platforms to take from – even with some deep pockets these buyers just can’t do it. Heck, even GM with the platforms couldn’t do it even after pouring money in.

I hope they do succeed, I love Saab and always will, but I’m being realistic here – they can’t do it.

06/18, 4:37 PM

posted by:

dingodownunder

Having worked at SAAB design in the late 90’s (I know trying to turn an opel pigs ear into a SAAB silk purse) I am really pleased to see this opportunity for SAAB to become the brand it should always have been. Not a luxury car but a product targeted to the demographic who wants them. I think many loyal SAAB owners walked when the products lost direction and became expensive GM based compromise. They might come back if the product is good enough. 120k units is all they need to make money. I like the attitude and desire of the new owner…Good luck to them..

06/18, 5:13 PM

posted by:

KarLoveBoy88

I honestly hope this company can succeed and have better platforms than what they currrently offer from GM’s global platform. Im kind of excited, although i have no remote plans to purchase their vehicles….or will I?

06/18, 6:05 PM

posted by:

howsmydriving

What glory days? I’ve known SAAB owners and they all have this in common: they know nothing about cars.

06/18, 7:03 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

Meet Saab, the new Alpha Romeo.

06/18, 7:41 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

05Z88Path.. don’t be so sure.. in tandem with this announcement, Koenigsegg is showing prototypes of their plans to build a SOLAR-powered sportscar capable of 500+ horsepower.. technology that would be even better suited to volume models like SAABs!

06/18, 7:44 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

My bad.. it isn’t fully solar, but electric with a solar boost.. and it’s already been discussed here..

http://www.leftlanenews.com/koenigsegg-quant.html

06/18, 9:08 PM

posted by:

spg900

beatusmongous…..HUH !!!

06/18, 10:58 PM

posted by:

dskh

“rejuvenate” not “rejuvinate”.

06/19, 1:08 AM

posted by:

AutoCritical

There is a part of me that wants to buy a SAAB – Not sure if its the whole attraction to Scandinavian design, but I believe there is a market for their cars that is worth keeping to. I don’t think SAAB has any desire to become and compete head-to-head with the likes of BMW – but there will always be customers out there that will see the SAAB alternative, and that is their customer base.

06/19, 9:20 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

Let’s not mince words. GM raped Saab and tossed it out a moving vehicle. Though I would not have bought one of the current Saab offerings, I actually identify with the position they want to occupy in the marker place. I really hope that the new owners will bring them back to where they need to be. This was the one GM on the chopping block that I thought would have been a travesty to kill off (could care less about Hummer or Pontiac).

06/19, 9:32 AM

posted by:

A4

900 hatchback turbo

06/19, 11:35 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

(they did make the best looking hatches ever.)

06/20, 10:25 PM

posted by:

anyclearer

im not sure if its an age thing, but growing up i always that saabs were the ugliest of allll car brands, and it wasnt untill after gm that i gained an interest in the exterior. The 9-3 and 9-5 look better now then they ever did. My only dislike was the never changing crappy lookin interior. Deff liked how the look was starting to get more aggressive looking.

06/21, 5:41 PM

posted by:

Get Real

You don’t make money with “environmental” unless you get tax money incentives.

And I am damn tired of paying taxes.

 
 
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