2009 Saab Hirsch Edition

2009 ushers in a special edition version of Saab’s 9-3 convertible called the “Hirsch Edition” that would make Jerry Seinfeld proud.  Far from just a few slight body modifications, a different set of wheels or special interior packaging, the Hirsch Edition comes with an impressively powerful engine that cranks out 300 horses.

Today, General Motors Corp. published their third quarter financial reports, posting a net loss of $2.5 billion, or $4.43 a share. Depleting about $6.9 billion in the span of three months, GM closed out the quarter on September 30th with $16.2 billion in the bank, down from $21 billion at the end of June.

Calculating a minimum of anywhere from $11-$14 billion is needed in order to operate, GM announced in July hasty plans to quickly generate a $15 billion dollar positive cash flow, which included possibly refinancing the Renaissance Center. Today, GM confirmed that their financial problems have officially exceeded their private capacity to contain them. Said the official release, “Even if GM implements the planned operating actions that are substantially within its control, GM’s estimated liquidity during the remainder of 2008 will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business.”

The Hoff Gives His Seal Of Approval

To address the fact that drivers simply don’t have enough to do while hurtling a ton of glass and steel down highways, Sony Ericcson and Saab have partnered-up at the Paris Motor Show to reveal plans for an in-car connectivity application.  Naturally, David Hasslehoff is to blame. 

Codenamed GMT168, the new Saab 9-4X is intended to kick off Saab’s highly anticipated aesthetic overhaul with its introduction in 2010. Until recently, photos of the 2010 Saab 9-4X were limited to heavily camouflaged spy shots, but Brenda Priddy and her team of espionage experts managed to score some stills of the new 9-4X showing some skin.

Check out the undressed 9-4X after jump

Anticipated as the 2-door companion to the Saab 9-X Biohybrid sedan that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 2007, the Saab 9-X Air is two-door, four-passenger, convertible speedster. With a 200-hp, 1.4L Saab BioPower engine under the hood, the Saab 9-X air is engineered to run efficiently on E85 biofuel [85% ethanol, 15% gasoline] and is expected to average an estimated 107g/km in CO2 emissions. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the green machine is the Saab 9-X Air’s Targa-designed Canopy Top, which isn’t under the hood at all, yet makes a great contribution to the 9-X Air’s efficiency as a hybrid.

Later this month, Chrysler will offer a preview of the three electric car prototypes it plans to produce over the course of the next decade. Currently working with battery suppliers both at home and abroad, Chrysler’s primary focus is developing an electric plug-in hybrid vehicle capable of averaging 300 miles per charge. “Fuel cells are in the future, ” said Chrysler co-president Jim Press, “but probably more in my kids’ future than my own.”

Jeep Hurricane Concept

Full Chrysler Concept Gallery After Jump

The New Look of Saab

What’s in a name?  The “car-speak” that is popular and current in the industry is always evolving.  SUV is out. Crossover is in.  What’s the difference between the two?  In some cases, not much.  So in that line of thinking, Saab has two concept models that they are developing that combine three popular themes.  X, as in “cross” and their XWD system.  Bio, as in bio-fuel.  And Hybrid, well, you know what that means. 

Saab: the awkward years and now

I am not a Saab naysayer. I have always found the slightly quirky cars a nice balance to all of the Luminas and Cavaliers cranked out over the years by the “designers” (and I use that term loosely) from mothership General Motors. I also, admittedly, generally only write about cars I like and I WANT to like the Turbo X. But I don’t; and like most bad things these days it’s because of money.

First the good news:

A Saab prances out its 9-X BioHybrid in Geneva this week they aim to show that big things can come in small, luxury packages. While cars like the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and the Volvo C30 are already inside the big small car dance, Saab seems to not mind being fashionably late and only wearing its concept dress to the formal shindig. Maybe because she knows that under that dress are some big plans and high ambitions (insert Journey music here).

Where it might appear to many that GM has forgotten all about the little Scandinavian auto maker whose take-over the completed in 2000, but now that they have found her hiding in the corner Bob Lutz is ready to make a splash with her. In his words spoken at the Geneva Auto Show, “Here we’re showing two concept vehicles that signal the resurgence of Saab.” The other vehicle is the Saab 9-4X Crossover.

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid is Saab’s small car concept that will help lead the way toward a small car entrant into the luxury brand market. The 9-X is an extension of Saab’s driver focused cockpit design and future thinking design. The 9-X is built on the same platform as the Chevy Volt concept and shares some design cues with it.
…Press Release and Photo Gallery to follow…