I think you all are looking at the world through US coloured eyes... hatchbacks are the largest sales segment in Europe - some are lower luxury hatchbacks like the 3 Series Compact, the C Class Coupe and the A3 - all three unsuccessful or never released in the US.

The BMW Compact and C Class Coupe are alive and well - as are hatchbacks in general - it's just that, for Saab to compete successfully with the 3 Series and C Class and A4 - especially in the US - it needs a sedan.

I guess - and from what I've read, deduce - that Saab plans to introduce a 3-door hero 9-3 along with its convertible, sedan, wagon and radical cross over - but it can't afford to do that all at once.

The sedan comes first because its the largest market segment. The convertible comes next because it's (I guess) Saab's biggest 9-3 seller today after the 5-door hatchback.

Everything said negatively about hatches and positively about sedans at the moment is marketing/PR to promote their new sedan - the only new car they have available to talk-up.

Please believe me - hatchback's aren't dead in the world - only in the US!

posted by 210.11.72...

• New Poll - deleted thread..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 23 Jul 2002 20:20:44
  • Yeah (really long!), Justin VanAbrahams , Thu, 25 Jul 2002 05:02:27
  • Thanks! n/m, Price, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 11:06:23
  • cost of manufacture is also an issue, compaqted, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:36:49
    • The issue may be cost of building *both*, Hood, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:35:53
      • yes, times have changed, compaqted, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 13:13:41
      • Hatches & the manufacturing process, Randy Thatcher , Wed, 24 Jul 2002 11:50:39
  • Re: New Poll - deleted thread..., JasonS, Tue, 23 Jul 2002 20:54:21
    • Hatches are dead?, Trev, Tue, 23 Jul 2002 22:28:37
      • Re: Hatches are dead?, CFishgo, Thu, 25 Jul 2002 01:52:30
      • Re: Hatches are dead?, Bruce, Tue, 23 Jul 2002 23:43:50
        • Re: Hatches are dead?, David, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 03:38:13 <-- Viewing This Message
          • U.S. sales only 1/3 of market..., IronJoe, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 19:35:37
            • Re: U.S. sales only 1/3 of market..., David, Thu, 25 Jul 2002 19:36:15
              • Agree, but let's remember the best target is the S60., Price, Fri, 26 Jul 2002 09:39:13
        • Saab Sedan history..., Scott Paterson , Wed, 24 Jul 2002 01:15:44

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