Lotus F1 Tells Raikkonen, 'No Rally!'

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar Suspended For 'Conduct'

2013 Cadillac XTS: First Drive
Eric Clapton's Custom Ferrari SP12 EC Officially Unveiled

2013 G63 AMG Driven, 2013 BMW 7-Series, Diamond Paint: Today's...

Ducati Team Completes Two-Day Mugello Test
2012 Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept Debuts: Video

INDYCAR Aero Kit Parameters Released To Prospective Suppliers

Voting Open For The SEMA Mustang Designed And Built By Women

Saab developing new compact car

Alex Kaufmann

Author

LATEST ARTICLE
2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: First Drive
It's more than a half-century of progress by any measure: Ferrari's in its seventh decade, and the... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
1093ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
1COMMENTS POSTED

1 1,554 views Sep 3, 2007

Saab developing new compact car

Enlarge Photo

Saab’s currently ailing product line can look forward to a revamp, according to the carmaker’s US general manager Steve Shannon. The exec also confirmed that a new compact model is at the top of Saab’s wishlist, along with a new crossover and redesign of the aging 9-5.

Careful to not make the same mistake it did with the 9-2, a rebadged Subaru WRX that was sold as a Saab in 2006, Shannon told Automotive News that designers will focus on giving the entry-level model a striking design and strong performance matched with functionality. Expect it to use many of the same design cues as the Aero-X concept (pictured).

The baby Saab will be facing a slew of competitors in an already established market segment where Saab is not as recognized as its rivals. The premium small-car marketplace is quick to judge the superficial qualities of a car and competition from BMW’s fashionable Mini Cooper and 1-Series, as well as Audi’s A3 and Volvo’s C30 will prove tough for Saab, especially if its design is as shockingly awful as the older 9-2.