Saab’s break from General Motors and pending sale to supercar company Koenigsegg will apparently have no great affect on the Swedish automaker’s future model launches, specifically that of the upcoming 9-4X crossover. The new crossover will share much in common with the recently-revealed Cadillac SRX. According to GM’s executive director of product and marketing for Cadillac, Hummer and Saab, Steve Shannon, the new model will be launched next year as a 2011 model.

According to earlier reports, the 9-4X will run a 284hp V6 gas engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox. For European markets GM is also expected to offer a turbodiesel unit delivering 250hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. While development of the 9-4X appears to be nearly complete, Saab will introduce other two models before the arrival of the new crossover – the smaller 9-3X crossover and the 2010 9-5.

Tags: 2011, 9-4X, Crossover, GM, koenigsegg, Saab

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Count another falling brand under the GM logo sold. The latest car brand made famous by General Motors has been officially sold to Koenigsegg Automotive AB, a tiny company that produces only a dozen custom-made super cars a year.

GM bought a 50 percent stake in Saab for $600 million in 1990 and acquired the rest for $125 million in 2000. GM CEO Fritz Henderson said GM could build another car for the Saab brand. “Based on the preliminary plan, we expect the buyer to ask GM to build the 9-4x,” Henderson told reporters during an online chat Tuesday. “We will also provide support in terms of powertrain and other technologies.”

While the task to rebuild the Saab brand seems like a daunting task, Koenigsegg has been known to be successful without the expensive modes of advertising and promotions. Can you imagine a car company that does not advertise prices but is doing good in the business? That alone speaks highly of what the company can do to turn around the sagging fortunes of the Saab.

No financial figures have been revealed but many speculate the deal to be a virtual giveaway. The deal is expected to be finalized by the third quarter of the year.

(Source) CBS News

Tags: car brand, car company, Cars, daunting task, fortunes, General Motors, GM, gm logo, koenigsegg, modes, percent stake, powertrain, promotions, Saab, tiny company

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Koenigsegg is largely known for making exotic cars, you know, the ones that none of us will probably ever be able to afford. Well, if you’ve been paying attention you’ll know that the exotic automaker has recently purchased the troubled Saab from the even more troubled GM.

Considering the contrast between Koenigsegg and Saab the transaction raised a lot of eyebrows but consumers need not be worried as Baard Ecker, controlling owner of Koenigsegg, has vowed to revive the “soul and spirit” of Saab.

Well, GM wasn’t able to do this so prehaps a company who deals with some higher class vehicles will be able to do the trick.

Read (Autoblog)

Tags: baard ecker, economy, koenigsegg, recession, Saab, Soul, spirit, transaction

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First Hummer, then Saturn, now Saab — GM seems to have found a buyer for their Saab brand in Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg who has banded together with a group of Norweigen investors.

GM says that while Saab had several potential buyers Koenigsegg made the best overall offer. Unforunately there were no details on how much the deal will go down for but we do know that it will happen sometime before the end of the suimmer.

According to KickingTires, Saab hasn’t turned a profit for GM since they bought a stake in it back in 1990. Worse yet, sales peaked at 133,000 so it’s really no wonder that GM would want to sell off the brand.

Tags: economy, GM, koenigsegg, recession, Saab, Sale, Sweden

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Keonigsegg, well known as a high-end Swedish car manufacturer, has recently unveiled it’s latest creation; the NLV Quant.

Featuring an all electric motor capable of 512hp that boosts the NLV Quant to 62 mph in just 5.2 seconds. 

The real thing that sets the NLV Quant apart from the rest, however, is the fact that Keonigsegg threw in some solar panels to aid in charging.

The result? A full charge in 20 minutes. Don’t get too excited though, the solar panel alone won’t charge it to 100% that fast and requires some aid.
(more…)

Tags: koenigsegg, nlv quant, Solar-powered

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