Auto car sports

The BMW Group and Saab-owner Spyker Cars N.V. have come to an agreement for the use of the German automaker's petrol engines in Saab's vehicles from 2012 onwards. The long-rumored deal, which will ultimately help Saab further reduce its reliance on previous owner General Motors, currently the firm's only supplier of gasoline powerplants, was signed on Wednesday by Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and the CEO of Saab Automobile, JanÅke Jonsson, in Trollhättan in Sweden. Under the agreement, BMW will supply Saab with 4-cylinder 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol engines, which will incorporate the Bavarian automaker's fuel-saving and emissions -cutting stop-start and regenerative braking tech. Saab said the engines will be adapted to meet the firm's specific requirements. "We look forward to integrating this technology into our next-generation vehicles in a true Saab way," said Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. Though the two automak...

Here are some snapshots of the next Saab vehicle to help justify the brand's survival, the 9-4X crossover . Seen here in production guise before its LA Auto Show debut in November (unless Saab surprises us in Paris...), what we've got is a nice, safe, smart step in the right direction for the brand. While nothing is official yet, the 9-4X engine lineup should include a ~180-hp 1.6-liter Turbo, a ~220-hp 2.0-liter Turbo, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel. A 300-hp 2.8-liter V6 may also show up, and we can expect transmissions to be 6-speed manuals and automatics in a front- or all-wheel drive layout. From the pics, the new Saab crossover looks to stay fairly true to the 9-4X BioPower concept by showing off Saab's new rear end styling; we can clearly see its full-width taillight setup and hockey stick C-pillar. Up front is more of the same, with the only concession appearing to be smaller front fog light openings. Also, the propeller-inspired rims are a nice touch that symbolize ...

The next generation of Saab models may very well be powered by BMW engines if negotiations between the two automakers are successful. Following widespread media speculations on the matter, Spyker N.V., the parent company of the Swedish carmaker confirmed talks with BMW. Here's the official statement: "Spyker Cars N.V. ("the Group"), a holding company that owns subsidiaries which produce and sell premium automobiles under the Saab and Spyker brands, has noted recent press speculation about the possible supply relationship with BMW. The Group confirms that talks are ongoing and will give further details once a final agreement has been reached." A report from Bloomberg citing an unnamed person with direct knowledge of the matter said the first Saab to benefit from the proposed deal would be the next 9-3 model, due for release in 2012. According to the source, Saab will make use of a new 222-horsepower that BMW is developing and has not yet been introduced in any o...

A local government authority in Sweden is seeking to recover US$15.9 million from Saab, even going so far as to enlist a government debt collector. Vastra Gotaland, where Saab's main production plant is located, covered worker wages to the tune while the company was in administration. Now that Saab has its very own 'Daddy Warbucks' in the form of Spyker, the regional government wants its money back. Spyker / Saab believes it should only have to pay part of the debt as it was underwritten during the administration process. Vastra Gotaland disagrees. Spyker CEO Victor Muller told Reuters news that he is unworried: "Just a legal dispute that will [be] dealt with in the appropriate way. Nothing of concern." We'll see how this plays out in the next few weeks and keep you updated on any new developments. By Tristan Hankins Source: Reuters

Courtesy of SaabsUnited, the people who provided pics of the nice but ill-proportioned 9-5 Coupe rendering ( see here ) we recently showed you, here is a look at a second possible 9-5 variant . It's a computer generated image for a large, 4-seater convertible that could compete with the Audi A5 Cabrio in the future world of what-ifs. Using a traditional soft top and nicely-equipped with a turbo-six and all-wheel drive, this car could be a wonderful option for families looking to buy into the Swedish design scene and who also want a unique mid-size convertible that comfortably seats four. Even better is the potential for Spyker to move itself down-range a bit and receive its own coachbuilt version of the car (and maybe even the 9-4X crossover). What say you, dear readers? Is this 9-5 'vert an interesting niche vehicle for the Swedish niche brand, or is it simply a waste of time to hope for this? By Phil Alex Source: SaabsUnited , Via: Autoblog.nl

Saab's rejuvenation continues with the presentation of the production version of the long-anticipated 9-4X ahead of its world premiere at next month's Los Angeles Auto Show. One of the last projects developed under the ownership of GM, the 9-4X shares its Theta platform and major drive components with the Cadillac SRX, and like its American brethren, it will be built at GM's factory in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The 9-4X's shape and styling will familiar to most as the crossover model was previewed by the 9-4X BioPower concept at the 2008 Detroit Show. On the outside, changes over the 2008 study concern some minor details such as the smaller front fog light openings, mirror caps, tail lamp color combos and smaller (and less impressive) alloy wheels. The same can be said about the interior, with differences limited to the air vent designs and the less flashy decorative trim. The Swedish automaker says the 9-4X "is aligned in looks and size between the 9-3X all-rounder an...