New emissions rules may force next gen Saab 9-3 to grow smaller
Upcoming fuel economy regulations in the U.S. and carbon dioxide emissions limits in Europe appear set to take a bite out of the next generation Saab 9-3. The current 9-3 is derived from GM's Epsilon platform and the new 9-3 was due to come off the Epsilon II that underpins the new Opel Insignia, but a change may be in the works. GM has reportedly canceled the Epsilon II-based 9-3 in favor of a model built off the Global Compact Car platform that will be the basis of the next Astra/Cobalt and, of course, the Volt. If the new plan, proceeds that would give Saab two cars off the new chassis with the smaller 9-1 being the other. New structural construction technology in the new architecture will apparently help maximize interior space in the smaller car.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1985 Gripen 5:20PM (5/09/2008)
Saab has for long erred on the side of economy and "smaller is better". Rather than go to a six-cylinder normally-aspirated higher-displacement engine like its competition Saab chose to stick with a 4-cylinder and turbocharge it to get six-cylinder-equivalent power.
This has worked against them in the case of the 9-5 sedan as none of the 9-5's competitors have less than a six-cylinder and at $40K+ buyers of a near-luxury car in the class of the 9-5 demand more than a four-cylinder.
Like it or not auto manufacturers make what people will buy. Saab 9-5 sales have been abysmal yet Saab hasn't given-in and installed a gas-guzzling six cylinder into it. They stuck with their principles.
They did give-in with the 9-3, on the other hand, which is available with a Holden-sourced 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine in Aero guise. These are selling like hotcakes. The new special-edition Turbo-X model features this engine.
However, I do believe the 4-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-liter models outsell the V6 still.
I believe GM is trying to position Saab long-term to stay under the new U.S. fleet average fuel economy requirements limit (35 mpg by 2015, is it?).
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armmat 7:01PM (5/09/2008)
It's comsumer ignorance that thinks a V6 is better than a turbo 4. Anyone who's driven a Saab 4 turbo will know full well that it lacks nothing compared to the 6.
Same mentality for SUV's too...
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