Atlast we have arrived at the epic climax of the saga that was SAAB, and to the relief of millions of Saab enthusiasts around the world the latest chapter of the saga is a joyous one. By now, you all have heard a lot about how Spyker could negotiate a contract with General Motors at the eleventh hour to save the Swedish automaker from feeling the axe. While rejoicing this joyous news, let us take a trip into the origin and history of Saab – how the brand was built and came to be the icon that it is today.

SAAB – Origin

The history of Saab begins in the 1940’s as a part of Svenska Aeroplan AB, an aeroplane Company in Sweden. The SAAB saga can be clearly divided into three distinct parts.

Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget (1947–1969)

The company, established 1937, had the sole purpose of building aeroplanes for the Swedish Air Force during the World War II. With the second World War nearing its end, Svenska Aeroplan AB wanted to shift its focus to a new horizon, and the result : the birth of Saab Automobile AB as a division of the Svenska Aeroplan AB.

Saab-Scania (1969–1989)

In 1969, Saab partnered with Scania, a heavy vehicle manufacturer from Sweden. This period also saw Saab venture into building a larger model than the previous ones. The first turbocharged automobile also took birth during this period. In 1978, Saab signed a joint agreement with Fiat to develop a new car platform, and sell a re-badged Lancia Delta as the new Saab 600.

General Motors ownership (1989–2010)

In December 1989, General Motors bought 50% shares of Saab’s automobile division for $600 million U.S. Inspite of GM’s involvement, the Malmö plant closed in 1991 due to continued losses. At this juncture, Saab Automobile AB was officially created. GM purchased the rest of the shares of the automobile division in 2000, for an additional $125 million and assumed the remaining debts, making it a wholly-owned General Motors subsidiary. The SAAB “wordmark” was also launched to replace the Saab-Griffin logo, that originates from days of SAAB-SCANIA AB and was in use for the past 20 years.

SAAB – Model History

Except the Saab 600 (the re-badged Lancia Delta), all the Saab models share a common feature. It is the use of the digit 9 in their model numbers. We will have a quick peek into the history of the Saab models through the years.

The creation of the first passenger car from Saab started in 1944, codenamed the Project 92. The first Saab car URSAAB 92001 was revealed to the world on 10 June 1947 in a staff canteen at the Linköping headquarters of Svenska Aeroplan AB.

In December 1949, the Saab 92A began production following the URSAAB 92001. The innovative and futuristic design borrowed heavily from the company’s roots in the field of aviation. This was evident in the car’s class leading drag coefficient of 0.30.

In 1953, the SAAB 92A was replaced by the SAAB 92B model. Unlike the SAAB 92A that came in a watermelon green paint-job due to military surplus, the 92B was also available in watermelon green, blue-grey, black and grey with maroon (1954) and moss green (1955). The SAAB 92B model ran until 1956.

In 1955, SAAB released the SAAB 93. It was essentially a reworked SAAB 92 but with a facelift and an upgraded three cylinder engine. The SAAB 93 is the first Saab automobile with the Saab’s trademark trapezoidal grille.

In 1959, a wagon variant called the SAAB 95 was released and remained in production for the next two decades. The decade also saw Saab’s first entry into the market of true performance automobiles with the Saab 94, first of the four Saab Sonetts.

Under Saab-Scania, a comparatively larger model, the Saab 99 took birth in 1969. It would be the final design by the famous Sixten Sason who had designed all the previous Saab models. The Saab 99 is truly remarkable in two aspects – one that its design marked Saab’s styling for the next two decades, and the other that it was Saab’s first turbocharged automobile.

Apart from the Saab 600, the agreement with Fiat in 1978 also yielded the Alfa Romeo 164, Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and the Saab 9000. The Combi-Coupe introduced in 1974, outlived the 99, 900, 9000, NG900 & 9-3 as the hatchback until it was discontinued in 2002.

The Saab 9-7X SUV was discontinued in 2008. The re-badged Subaru Impreza dubbed the Saab 9-2X was discontinued after 2006. The Saab 9-3X, the new addition to the 9-3 family, with all road capabilities was announced on 11 February 2009. The first preproduction vehicle, the SAAB 9-5, rolled off the production-line in Trollhättan on 24 November 2009. The current models, 9-3 and 9-5 are being manufactured in Trollhättan, Sweden. The 9-4X, a new crossover SUV, was cancelled following GM’s decision to wind down Saab.

SAAB – Model Timeline

SAAB – The Best of Them

The Saab 900 Turbo – “THE SILVER BEAST”

CBN conducted a survey among James Bond fans, “What is their favorite car from the James Bond novels?” From a feature rich artillery that included an Aston Martin DBIII, a Porsche Gambella, a Jaguar XK8, and 4 different Bentleys, the winner was a mid-priced, fuel-efficient, Swedish-made “everyday” car, the Saab 900 Turbo.

Silver Beast was the nickname James Bond gave his personal Saab 900 Turbo, with the exceptional Bond technology built into it. This was no ordinary Saab – a car that saw Agent 007 through the first 3 novels by John Gardner, following the death of the original author Ian Fleming. The Silver Beast delivered just as many surprises, and saw as much action as the beloved Aston Martin DB5.

Introduced in May 1978, the Saab 900 was based on the Saab 99, but with a new front section and a longer wheelbase. The 1979 line included three-door and five-door models (with the hatchback counted as a door) and in 1980, Saab introduced a Turbo engine and a five-speed gearbox. Some of the Saab 900 Turbo’s innovative features were befitting of James Bond: Electronically heated seats; headlight wiper washers; self-repairing bumpers; an air filter that removed pollen, dust and some bacteria from the passenger cabin; front-wheel drive; an all-in-one fuse box located under the hood; and an ignition key switch located on the center console between the gear shift and parking brake, allowing for a quick-start operation.

The Saab 9-3

Based on the same platform as the Opel Vectra, the Saab 9-3 is a compact executive car from Saab. The 9-3 is currently entry-level model of Saab. Advertised as “9-3″, the car is badged as the 93 (pronounced as nine-three). Production started in 1998 at the Trollhättan facility. The cabriolet (convertible) version was manufactured in Austria by Magna Steyr until recently.

The model first launched in 1998 was essentially a re-badged Saab 900 (1994-1997). A redesigned 9-3 released in 2003. The 9-3 features a front-wheel drive. It is available in three configurations: a two-door convertible, a wagon (known as the SportCombi, introduced late in 2005), and a four-door sedan.

At the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, a limited edition 9-3 dubbed the Saab Turbo X was introduced to celebrate SAAB’s 30 years of turbocharging. The 9-3X debuted at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. It is an all-wheel drive XUV version of 9-3 SportCombi.

The 9-3 featured remarkable improvements over the Saab 900 in handling and safety, classic hallmarks of Swedish design. The vehicle came complete with ReAxs system and classic Saab Active Head Restraints to reduce whiplash, and standard side-impact airbags with head protection to deliver an improved crash-worthiness. The 9-3 has continued the Saab’s long-running safety tradition from the day of its inception. It was one of the first cars in the world to get a maximum score in the side impact by a pole test based on Euro NCAP testing.

To reduce distraction during night driving, Saab introduced the ‘Night Panel‘, which permits the dousing of the instrument panel lighting, except for the essential information. The other Saab innovations exclusive to the 9-3 included a passive rear wheel steering to reduce under-steering and a passive toe-in under heavy braking, a proprietary fiber-optic system, the Saab XWD.

These are just a few from the 9-3’s impressive list of awards.

• Top Safety Pick - Gold Award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, USA.
• Compact Executive Car of the Year by Auto Trader, UK
• Top Small Executive Car by Top Gear Magazine’s New Car Buyer’s Guide.
• Maximum 5 star rating in EuroNCAP collision test.
• UK’s Most Secure Open-Top Car, British Insurance Car Security Awards, UK.
• Prestigious Sporting Open Top award, The Institute of Vehicle Engineers, UK.
• Best Family Sedan by PBS’s MotorWeek TV, USA.
• Prestige Car of the Year by Brisbane Courier Mail, Australia.
• Best Buy – Expressen, Sweden.

Saab 9-3 Viggen

The Saab 9-3 Viggen is perhaps the most spectacular Saab produced in the GM era. It is a high-powered version of the Saab 9-3. The name Viggen means ‘Thunderbolt‘ in Swedish (named after the famous military aircraft – Saab 37 Viggen – produced by SAAB’s sister company). It is no longer under production because the 9-3 hatchback body-style was terminated after the model year 2002.

The Viggen came action-packed with a turbocharged 2.3 liter engine, outputting around 230 Bhp. The car accelerated from standstill to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds. The top speed of the car is electronically limited to 155 mph. The heavy duty clutch and pressure plate, firmer dampers, stiffened & lowered springs, and stronger CV joints and driveshafts were modified to handle high power and performance. The maximum torque available at each gear was electronically limited for the front tyres to cope with the output torque.

Viggen was the first 9-3 to sport the Saab’s original Trionic 7 engine management system (in 1999). Its processor was capable of performing about 2,000,000 calculations per second including boost control, variable torque curves, combustions temp, and many critical engine processes. In 2001 Viggen debuted the TCS (Traction Control System), increased power and torque, a distinctive rear wing (50% increase in the down force) and aerodynamically designed side skirts and bumpers (8% reduction in the drag coefficient). The Viggen was available with a five-speed manual transmission.

Among the less than 2000 Viggens totally produced, only 500 units were targeted at the UK market. Created for  performance seeking Saab fans, the Saab Viggen was among the Top 10 European Sleeper cars nominated by the European Car Magazine. The “Thunderbolt” still remains as a highly desirable automobile among the Saab enthusiasts around the globe.

SAAB – Innovations

H.M. the King of Sweden has appointed Saab Automobile AB as the exclusive automobile royal warrant holder. Since the time of its inception, Saab is known for its innovation, safety concern, and green technology. Saab has given birth to many industry firsts including the following.

• 1958: The GT 750 is the first car fitted with seatbelts as standard.
• 1963: Saab becomes the first volume maker to offer diagonally-split dual brake circuits.
• 1969: Saab places the ignition system near the gearbox, instead of behind the steering wheel like most cars.
• 1970: Saab introduces a world-first headlamp wipers and washers.
• 1971: Heated front seats are introduced, the first time ever they are fitted as standard.
• 1971: Saab develops the impact-absorbing, self-repairing bumper.
• 1976: Saab is the first manufacturer to produce a turbo engine with wastegate to control boost.
• 1978: Saab introduces another ‘world-first,’ the passenger compartment air filter (pollen filter).
• 1980: Saab introduces Automatic Performance Control (APC), and an anti-knock sensor that allowed higher fuel economy and the use of lower grade fuel without engine damage.
• 1981: Saab introduces the split-field side mirror. This reduces the drivers blind spot.
• 1982: Saab introduces asbestos-free brake pads.
• 1983: Saab introduces the 16-valve turbocharged engine
• 1985: Saab pioneers direct ignition, eliminating the distributor and spark plug wires.
• 1991: Saab introduces a ‘light-pressure’ turbo.
• 1991: Saab is the first manufacturer to offer CFC-free air-conditioning.
• 1991: Saab develops its ‘Trionic’ engine management system, equipped with a 32-bit micro-processor.
• 1993: Saab introduces the ‘Sensonic clutch’ and the ‘Black Panel’, later called the ‘Night Panel’.
• 1993: Saab develops the ‘Safeseat’ rear passenger protection system.
• 1994: Saab introduces the ‘Trionic T5.5′ engine management system, the processor is a Motorola 68332.
• 1995: Saab presents an asymmetrically turbocharged V6 at the Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
• 1996: Saab introduces active head restraints (SAHR), which help minimize the risk of whiplash.
• 1997: Saab introduces Electronic Brake-force Distribution
• 1997: Saab fits ventilated front seats to their new 9-5.
• 1997: Saab introduces ComSense; an alert delay feature that reduces the risk of distraction by briefly postponing lower priority alerts when the brakes or indicators are activated
• 2000: Saab introduces Saab Variable Compression, an engine in which the compression ratio is varied by tilting the cylinder head in relation to the pistons.
• 2002: Saab developed ReAxs System provides crisp steering feedback and contributes to enhanced driving stability in curves
• 2003: Saab introduces CargoSET; automatic storage well retraction for the convertible, a two-step tonneau action for quicker soft-top deployment
• 2008: Saab introduces Cross-wheel drive, an advanced all-wheel drive system with eLSD.

(Source: Wikipedia)

SAAB - Safety

Safety is one of the biggest factors in the design of Saab automobiles. All Saab cars undergo the elk test (Älgtest) as elk deer are the most common cause of car accidents in Sweden. Saab keeps an updated database containing accidents involving Saabs. It contains just over 6100 real-life accidents till date with Saabs.

With the exception of the 9000 and 9-2X, all modern Saabs have floor-mounted ignition for this simple reason: It is a comparatively safer position in an accident. When the driver’s knee jerks upward and forward in a collision reaction, the dense ignition module on the steering column of other cars would result in shattered kneecaps. Also, the floor-mounted position provides extra space. In modern Saabs, when the key is put into the “Lock” position a metal bar rotates up and over into the ignition. This makes hot-wiring Saabs extremely difficult. Ergonomically, the location of ignition next to the gearshift, parking brake lever, and seatbelt saves time since all the motions associated with starting the car fall right at hand and becomes second nature. Lastly, the design is inspired from the company’s roots in the field of aviation. In most aircrafts, the source of inspiration for Saab cars, the throttle controls are located on the floor.

SAAB – A New Beginning

In December 2008, GM announced that Saab Automobile AB was “under review”, which meant that the possibility of selling off the brand was real. Reportedly, 27 parties including Renault, BMW, Geely Automobile, the Hyundai-Kia group, Magna International, Fiat and Tata Motors were interested in buying Saab. GM held talks with three selected bidders, including the Swedish super car maker, Koenigsegg. For a short time it looked like a done deal but on 24 November, Konigsegg Group AB issued a press release stating that the Saab acquisition was being dropped due to delays in closing the deal.

Following this, GM announced that Saab will be wound-down in 2010 if it fails to secure a buyer by the end of 2009. Several new buyers expressed interest in Saab, including Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp, Netherlands-based boutique automaker Spyker and Luxemburg-based investment firm Genii Capital with the help of F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

When a consensus could not be reached by December 31, 2009, GM extended the deadline by a week to January 7, 2010. Since a deal could not be closed even then, the SAAB board voted to liquidate the company. Shortly afterwards General Motors appointed restructuring firm AlixPartners to oversee the orderly wind-down of SAAB while still continuing the evaluation of bids.

On January 26th, much to the delight of over 3400 Saab employees, Saab dealers and Saab enthusiasts around the world, Spyker was able to emerge victorious with the winning bid during the 11th hour. It is believed that Spyker will pay an initial amount of $74 million U.S. to General Motors, along with $326 million in the form of preferred shares in the new Spyker owned Saab. The Swedish government is expected to guarantee the $500 million (€400 million) loan from the European Investment Bank. Spyker’s Russian backer and company chairman, Vladimir Antonov is expected to step down as part of the agreement with GM.