The Saab 900 NG Saga - Project X67 and X68.

This is the story of a car that lined up to save a small, silly unique brand. A vehicle whose origin story is special and dramatic. It's the story of the Saab 900 NG.

Prolog

Trollhättan in 1983. The newly developed Saab 9000 is not yet on the road, but Geoff Wardle is already starting preparatory work on the design of the Saab 900 NG. The small Swedish manufacturer is plagued by a problem. Saab originally wanted to stick to the one-model policy and the 9000 was supposed to replace the 900. But as the 9000 developed, it became apparent that the new Saab would be too prestigious and expensive to appeal to 900 buyers.

Geoff Wardle is working on the Saab X67 project.
1983. Geoff Wardle is working on the Saab X67 project. Image: Saab Automobile AB / Anders Tunberg

The plan: On the basis of the 9000, a smaller Saab than 67 II is to be created under the code X900. What would be feasible today with flexible platforms is difficult over 30 years ago. Or rather, the 9000 is the cause of the problem. That from Giugiaro The exterior design is compact and the space economy is exemplary. His concept is innovative and yet exhausted. Any change in proportion creates a strange look. No study is convincing. The X67 project is discontinued.

Meanwhile the problems grow. The 900 can no longer be produced to cover costs, demand is steadily declining, and it is clear that the question of the successor must be resolved with increasing urgency. Trollhättan is daring to restart with the X68 project. The successors of the 68 and 68 are to be developed in parallel under the development codes X900a and X9000b. Different wheelbases, different gauges, but as many identical parts as possible should guarantee economic efficiency.

Two vehicles with different characters on the same platform. Today, the car companies dominate this game. At the time, however, this ingenious idea was way ahead of its time and beyond the realm of possibility. The X68 project is discontinued in 1988 as another aberration.

What remains is a study by the English studio Abtech, which will pave the way for the second Saab 9000 generation.

Björn Envall examines the Saab X68 project
1987. Björn Envall examines the Saab X68 project. Image: Saab Automobile AB / Anders Tunberg

The situation at Saab in the late 80s

The economic situation of the Saab Automobile Division is becoming more and more serious. Many problems are homemade. The new plant in Malmö is the best example. Opened in 1989, it becomes the biggest loss-maker in the brand's history.

Saab is said to have lost $18.100 per vehicle produced. The madness of those years is illustrated by the decision to also produce the Saab 9000 in small numbers in Malmö. The vehicles are then moved by the directors of the Malmö plant, who do not want to expect 9000s from Trollhättan production.

After the failed X67 and X68 projects, Saab is looking for a suitable platform. A difficult task. In Italy, partner Lancia has been absorbed into the Fiat group, and the Italians have no desire to shop in Sweden. In Japan, Saab is in talks with Mazda, but these come to a standstill with the entry of Ford. Apparently they knocked on the door in Munich at the time, but that cannot be proven. Ford is Saab's real dream partner. The hope from the other side of the Atlantic, which is shattered when the Americans take over Volvo. The situation is dramatically desperate.

And Saab dares another attempt in this situation.

Meanwhile, beyond Sweden

Sometime in the 80s, a Saab dealer opened in my hometown. And Saab is establishing itself in the local market. He uses clichés, but it's the truth: The 900 goes to architects, lawyers, IT specialists and artists. For the business man, there's the 9000. Saab gains street presence and is soon accepted as an expensive Swedish alternative

But not everything is perfect. Saab loses a lot of money, because at that time up to 900 DM flowed into every 5.000,00 for warranty and repairs. The dealers have full workshops with it, and the work is often carried out in such a way that the customer does not notice it. An inspection is often the reason for replacing additional components. Out of precaution, and because you have a reputation to lose. Back then, recalls were beyond imagination.

Saab is not alone with the philosophy. Mercedes follows a similar course. But at Daimler you can afford it. But not with Saab.

Saab project 102 1988
Saab project 102 1988. Image: Saab Automobile AB

The project 102 is to save Saab

1988 starts work on project 102 in Trollhättan. It should be compact but use as many components of the 9000 as possible. The urgency is obvious, the project has to save Saab. The design should continue the traits of the 900. On the 21. August 1989 is the first model ready. The above vehicle shows half of the project 102, the other side of the vehicle is the EV2 project by Björn Envall, which was launched independently of the project 102 as an idea generator.

At the same time, all departments started developing components in parallel without waiting for the completion of the previous department as usual.

Behind the scenes since 1989 talks with GM. Under the strictest secrecy, Saab is all about survival. An entry by the Americans could give Trollhättan access to the much needed bottom group. A failure, however, would be the end of Saab's automobile production.

The requirements are not good. For Saab, Ford would have been the dream partner. But he took over Volvo. And GM would also like to have Volvo swallowed. But not Saab. Two companies, twice only the second choice. A marriage of the leftover. That should be good under certain circumstances. Or end in disaster.

Next week. In 2. Part of the Saab 900 II trilogy enters the stage by Gunnar Björck. He plays an important role in the survival of Saab. And the marketing department sends a notchback on tour.

14 Comments
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kochje
6 years earlier

Very interesting, never read anywhere. Looking forward to part 2 and then more of these quality articles. Saabblog.net is just great.

Herbert Hürsch
Herbert Hürsch
6 years earlier

Once again highly exciting.

The considerations SAABs to an 9000er one-model policy, I can understand today only with difficulty.

At least I can not think of the 9000 as a coupe or convertible. If the 900 II had never existed, the SAAB world would be much poorer today. And that would be a great pity.

And this policy was never consistent. As early as 1955 (Sonett I) there were always at least two models. At times and several times (e.g. Sonett III, 96 and 99 or 90, 900 and 9000) even three models rolled off the line in parallel for years ...

Looking forward to the next part.

Olaf
Olaf
6 years earlier

At the end of the 80 years, production of the 9000 was in full swing. And that's taken like a bomb! Certainly, this model was used to earn important money but was invested in the production of the loss-making old 900er and in the successor's development.
From a financial point of view, it would probably have been necessary to stop production of the old 900. Fortunately, it was not done at the time.

Jan
Jan
6 years earlier

You have to be grateful to GM. If you could have simply stopped looking for another European brand after the loss of Volvo to Ford. So you have “given” the brand another 20 years.
Maybe it would have been over then, if Volvo had gone to GM. Only the question remains as to whether the story might have been told the other way around.

Perhaps Volvo would now be the “bankruptcy brand” and Saab would have reached the mark of 9 produced units with large SUVs and the 5-500.000 SC.

Herman
Herman
6 years earlier

Great, interesting story! Looking forward to part 2.

Great Otto
Great Otto
6 years earlier

As always well written - especially that the 9000 should actually replace the 900. It could do everything the 900 could do on paper - only better with practically the same length and weight with less consumption, it even offered more space for the passengers. But that was all at the expense of the unmistakable feeling behind the steering wheel and the unmistakable appearance was gone. Unfortunately, like the 900, you could not let it run out “slowly” until there was no longer any interest as with the 96 ... I'm looking forward to the next episode!

Gebhard
Gebhard
6 years earlier

What couldn’t have happened if it hadn’t happened that way ... I find Project 102 extremely interesting and I’m looking forward to the continuation!

9.3Wolfgang
9.3Wolfgang
6 years earlier

Very interesting written. Thank you. The pictures are impressive too. Wait for part 2.

GP362
GP362
6 years earlier

Super, I'm looking forward to part 2

Heiko
Heiko
6 years earlier

GM was just a blessing and a curse at the same time. But very interesting to read.

Franconia Trol
Franconia Trol
6 years earlier

Yes the Saab saga, I still can not believe that the last chapter is already written. Such a great brand can not disappear? Or?

Aero 9-3
Aero 9-3
6 years earlier

... and again a typical SAAB article! Exciting from the beginning until today's end. But a sequel has been announced. Wonderful. Clarification of the fine kind, why it turned out this way and not otherwise.
Thank you.