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SUV gives Saab a burst of energy
G. Chambers Williams III, San Antonio Express-News

<<<< Now, GM has pledged to build yet another version for its Saab subsidiary. Called the Saab 9-7, it will debut sometime during 2005, although no firm date has yet been determined, Saab spokesman Kevin Smith said.

Saab says the new 9-7 will be different enough from the TrailBlazer, Envoy, Bravada, Ascender and Rainier to deserve to carry the Saab name. The company already has shown a prototype to dealers, and they were pleased with it, the company said. No photos of the vehicle have been released to the public yet, and probably won't be until early next year, Smith said.

"You will be amazed at the extent to which we are differentiating the interior from the other GM models, which includes placing the ignition switch on the center console," Smith said.

Unlike the current trend toward car-based crossover SUVs, such as the XC90, Lexus RX 330 and Acura MDX, the Saab 9-7 will be on a truck chassis just like its TrailBlazer/Envoy cousins. That will place it in direct competition with such vehicles as the Touareg, Mercedes-Benz M-class, X5, Lincoln Aviator and Infiniti QX4, Smith said.

Porsche and Volkswagen decided to go the truck-based route with their new SUVs, which share a platform the two companies developed together.

After the 9-7 arrives, Saab expects annual sales of up to 15,000 units of the SUV. The vehicle will be sold only in North America, where consumers are much more enamored of the SUV than are buyers in Europe and other markets.

No prices have been announced yet, but the competitors Smith named have starting prices in the mid-to upper-$30,000s.

The entry point for premium midsize SUVs seems to be hovering around $35,000 these days, with options pushing some transaction prices into the low $40,000s. >>>

posted by 65.69.130...

SUV gives Saab a burst of energy

• Saab 9-7, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 08:06:41
  • LET'S KILL THIS THREAD..., SaabUV Fan, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:23:15
  • Re: Saab 9-7, Bart, Wed, 23 Jul 2003 09:14:18
  • Be careful what you wish for SeanH..., Richard P., Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:03:37
    • Re: Be careful what you wish for SeanH..., Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 07:47:33
      • The energy crunch in the 70s..., Richard p., Thu, 24 Jul 2003 08:19:54
  • So Sean H, after all that's said and done,, Ian Glenday , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 17:41:43
    • Re: So Sean H, after all that's said and done,, Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 07:07:25
      • Yeah, no waste and pollution there...., Richard P., Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:03:32
        • Dear Dick....., Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:57:12
          • Dear Puss, Richard P., Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:36:35
            • Wow! Such strong feelings...., Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:53:57
              • I didn't want to either, but..., Richard P., Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:14:19
  • SUV gives Saab a burst of energy, saabfan, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 15:03:01 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Now all they need is a pick up to fill out the line., andy , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 19:37:35
  • You're in for a pleasant surprise, Redmilk, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 08:20:47
    • the dealers in my area can't wait for it..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 12:07:33
    • Re: pleasant surprise, we'll see!, BobS, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 10:57:36
    • Dealers impressed?, phred, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 10:08:58
      • Burlingame B&B and Dorito Brothers are..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 12:09:27
        • Re: Burlingame B&B and Dorito Brothers are..., Yak, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:50:50
          • Re: Burlingame B&B and Dorito Brothers are..., MO, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:08:48
          • I hear ya..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:53:54
          • Re: Burlingame B&B and Dorito Brothers are..., Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:08:18
      • You couldn't be more wrong, Viggen Pilot, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 10:20:28
        • Re: SUV=stationwagon, BobS, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 19:55:20
        • Well Phred someone should explain to your wife >, ChipJ, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:31:42
        • Re: You couldn't be more wrong, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 11:07:22
          • Why are you using internet?, JimS, Wed, 23 Jul 2003 22:30:17
            • JimS, that borders on moronic, Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 08:23:00
              • status symbols, MO, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:47:12
                • bicycles, MO, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 11:53:53
                  • Re: bicycles, Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:01:16
                    • I do agree..., MO, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:13:32
                      • My fingers are crossed.....n/m, Sean H, Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:14:48
          • a look at the demand for SUVs (long), MO, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:04:52
          • Re: You couldn't be more wrong, Greg W, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:34:00
            • What?, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:49:37
              • SF Bay Area. Your assessment's close!...(n/m), Greg W, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 15:23:38
          • Re: You couldn't be more wrong, aizzo , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 12:39:32
            • Re: You couldn't be more wrong - Long!, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:19:50
              • You cannot compare US to Europe on this point., Nathaniel, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 13:47:00
                • Don't forget about TAXES, Viggen Pilot, Wed, 23 Jul 2003 04:47:37
                • Yes I can!, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:06:18
                  • Re: Yes I can!, Nathaniel, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:47:04
                  • this is a no-win argument, Scott R., Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:17:59
                    • You mean that we're *not* yuppie professors??? n/m, RS , Wed, 23 Jul 2003 05:18:42
                    • Well said........, Viggen Pilot, Wed, 23 Jul 2003 04:50:20
                    • Nicely put... /nm, Nathaniel, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:50:51
                    • Re: this is a no-win argument, Sean H, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:23:44
          • I'm ashamed too, but it's just a fact..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 22 Jul 2003 12:10:29

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