On our Puppy Hunters Saab Club facebook page appeared a nice 9-5 shot on a trip in Saint Petersburg.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
In my recent job I am travelling quite a lot around central and eastern Europe. The driving parts unfortunately not in a Saab but it is always a pleasure to meet one on the road and after a time one becomes a feeling where most Saabs are. It looks like it's Prague and Warsaw. 5-7 Saabs a day.
This was my first time in Bucharest, Romania, so I was very curious about how many Saabs I will encounter. The result is 4, the newest one in the facelift until 2007. The traffic is very hectic there, so I really don't know if I would dare to drive a new Saab there. Locals are most probably used to it.
There is also a Saab Club Romania facebook page, a nice one.
Looking forward to go there again, Bucharest surprised me a lot.
And this is the newest Saab seen while sitting in a taxi to the airport with the camera prepared to hunt :)
This was my first time in Bucharest, Romania, so I was very curious about how many Saabs I will encounter. The result is 4, the newest one in the facelift until 2007. The traffic is very hectic there, so I really don't know if I would dare to drive a new Saab there. Locals are most probably used to it.
There is also a Saab Club Romania facebook page, a nice one.
Looking forward to go there again, Bucharest surprised me a lot.
And this is the newest Saab seen while sitting in a taxi to the airport with the camera prepared to hunt :)
Sunday, 17 June 2012
On today's summer convertible trip with into the countryside I realised that both, the beautiful smell of petrol as well as the sound of my V6 with the roof down is slowly fading away. Euro 5, 6, 7 ... 42. Well OK, while working in the IT industry, I'm used to changes in the technology, so why do I fight with myself in accepting the electricity plan of NEVS.
So the whole trip I've tried to imagine how the day would look like in an electric convertible.
I like the smell of petrol while refueling the Saab. It is something switching me into the mood of "now we're going to drive". In the electricity world it would mean unplug the car from the socket in the garage, if there is one. No feeling, nothing. Just like when I pull a table lamp out of the plug. Boring.
Starting the engine with roof down is another positive attack on the feelings. I don't have a tuned exhaust, so it's not aggresive, but there is a deep trustful sound, a melody in my ears. In the convertible coming from the back side, which is an additional kick. In the electricity world ? Bzzzzz.... maybe even this Knight Rider absurdity. Again boring. Driving absolutely the same.
Today's trip was 220 km long. No need to watchout for gas stations, planning anything. In an Saab ePower the 200 km is a starter to be worried wether I come home or not. Should I expect a plug on the parking place of the archeological site, our target, where 6 - 7 cars were parking ? Of course not. So a very little chance to even get there.
This was enough for me. Sorry, I will not buy an electric car, unless I am forced to. Saab makes no difference. Hybrid may be a different story, but this would require me to reprogramm my brain from "driving" to "moving from place A to place B". Why should I ? Ecology ? Well, I've read somewhere, that when someone removed from Prius all the electric stuff, it had a liter less fuel consumption, than the hybrid. C'mon.
We've heard about that there is still Mahindra in the game with NEVS. Rumours as so many in the past. Also, that what we see now is intentional and it will change in the future. Someone tries to play with emotions of the Saab fans ? NEVS told in the start, they will focus on China, which is understandable, but no a single little world towards the Saab community in Europe, something like "we plan something for you, but stay patient, we are not there yet". Saab fans learned to be patient, but as anybody else they need to know for what to wait. Until now I feel only "we don't care about you at all". What do you think will be the answer ?
I stay devoted to the existing Saab spirit as it is now. The future ? I tend be in "no future" mood all the time in the last days ... unless a surprise comes.
So the whole trip I've tried to imagine how the day would look like in an electric convertible.
I like the smell of petrol while refueling the Saab. It is something switching me into the mood of "now we're going to drive". In the electricity world it would mean unplug the car from the socket in the garage, if there is one. No feeling, nothing. Just like when I pull a table lamp out of the plug. Boring.
Starting the engine with roof down is another positive attack on the feelings. I don't have a tuned exhaust, so it's not aggresive, but there is a deep trustful sound, a melody in my ears. In the convertible coming from the back side, which is an additional kick. In the electricity world ? Bzzzzz.... maybe even this Knight Rider absurdity. Again boring. Driving absolutely the same.
Today's trip was 220 km long. No need to watchout for gas stations, planning anything. In an Saab ePower the 200 km is a starter to be worried wether I come home or not. Should I expect a plug on the parking place of the archeological site, our target, where 6 - 7 cars were parking ? Of course not. So a very little chance to even get there.
This was enough for me. Sorry, I will not buy an electric car, unless I am forced to. Saab makes no difference. Hybrid may be a different story, but this would require me to reprogramm my brain from "driving" to "moving from place A to place B". Why should I ? Ecology ? Well, I've read somewhere, that when someone removed from Prius all the electric stuff, it had a liter less fuel consumption, than the hybrid. C'mon.
We've heard about that there is still Mahindra in the game with NEVS. Rumours as so many in the past. Also, that what we see now is intentional and it will change in the future. Someone tries to play with emotions of the Saab fans ? NEVS told in the start, they will focus on China, which is understandable, but no a single little world towards the Saab community in Europe, something like "we plan something for you, but stay patient, we are not there yet". Saab fans learned to be patient, but as anybody else they need to know for what to wait. Until now I feel only "we don't care about you at all". What do you think will be the answer ?
I stay devoted to the existing Saab spirit as it is now. The future ? I tend be in "no future" mood all the time in the last days ... unless a surprise comes.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
You can watch the press conference live online through this link.
The waiting is over.
edit : as most of the people know, the winner and new owner is National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, planning to buy electric vehicles (not hybrids) for China. Firstly an enhanced Saab 9-3 ePower. and than next generation of 9-3 based on the PhoeniX platform. The rights to use the brand Saab is still under negotiation.
Rather no comment at this stage ...
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Thursday, 7 June 2012
There will come very soon a new tyre regulation from the EU which requires labeling of all tyres in a similar manner as we have now at many domestic products for kitchen. Yes, it sounds strange, to have a label on a tyre like on a refrigerator. However it will show at least a part of the common tyre benchmarks, namely fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise levels.
The design of the future EU tyre label will be this one :
As seen from the pictograms, the left upper part shows fuel efficiency, the right part shows the wet grip and the bottom part shows the noise level.
If the aim here is to go greener, fine, but the only green benchmark here is fuel consumption. For example no word about green production of the tyres or something similar. If the aim is to help to make a wise buying decision, why the heck is there no dry grip indicator, as this is much more common situation. If the aim here would be to go safer, there should be a breaking distance vs. weight indicator or something similar.
Of course for every driver the tyre tests should remain the main source of data before buying a new set of tyres. This label is only a fast and uncomplete help for quick orientation.
The timing of this rule is, that after 1.11.2012 every tyre for sale within the EU should have this kind of sticker.
The design of the future EU tyre label will be this one :
As seen from the pictograms, the left upper part shows fuel efficiency, the right part shows the wet grip and the bottom part shows the noise level.
If the aim here is to go greener, fine, but the only green benchmark here is fuel consumption. For example no word about green production of the tyres or something similar. If the aim is to help to make a wise buying decision, why the heck is there no dry grip indicator, as this is much more common situation. If the aim here would be to go safer, there should be a breaking distance vs. weight indicator or something similar.
Of course for every driver the tyre tests should remain the main source of data before buying a new set of tyres. This label is only a fast and uncomplete help for quick orientation.
The timing of this rule is, that after 1.11.2012 every tyre for sale within the EU should have this kind of sticker.
A very nice poster, related to the album Fangio from Peter Peter Hughes, released in 2010. It is also related to this picture. Everything is around a 900 classic.
There is also a videoclip of a track from the album available. Here we go :
source : bzrong.com
There is also a videoclip of a track from the album available. Here we go :
source : bzrong.com
So let's summarise. In the last weeks the circle of relevant and interested parties in buying Saab were shrinking to basically three : the electro (hybrid ?) consortium National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS), consisting of a Hong Kong based alternative energy company and japanese investment fund. Than Youngman, a chinese manufacturer of cars, buses and trucks. And Mahindra & Mahindra, a huge indian industry group, where one, pretty large division produces cars.
In the very last weeks the most media presence were coming about NEVS and Youngman. Mahindra and Mahindra was increasingly quiet. Some reports even said, they withdrawn from the bid process.
The winner as well as the set-up of the deal is unknown at this moment. The only weight of the "Saab sold" information is, that it comes from officials of the city of Trollhattan.
It is worth to watch the news right now. We were waiting for this decision for months.
Good luck Saab.
Update : NEVS should be the winner and the officials are denying to know anything. No official announcement about anything yet.
Update 2 : another text appeared at expressen.se. Nothing really new.
Update 3 : is here.
sources : TTela, SU
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