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Saab to reintroduce 9-3 SportCombi as Phoenix development continues

The saga of Saab goes to show that you can't keep a good automaker down. Founded back in 1947 (the same year, incidentally, as Ferrari, TVR and Maserati defector OSCA), Saab split off from its aerospace division, merged with Scania trucks, was subsequently picked up by General Motors, then pawned off onto Spyker before its current Chinese owners brought it back out of bankruptcy. Now under the auspices of National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), Saab has official restarted production of the 9-3 sedan, but what are its plans for the future?
In correspondence with Autoblog, NEVS communications director Mikael Ostlund gave us an idea of what to expect. First of all, NEVS is living up to its name by launching an electric version of the 9-3. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the 9-3 EV currently is undergoing a pilot launch in the Chinese city of Qingdao (which owns part of NEVS) before being rolled out in other markets around the world. But that's not all NEVS has planned for Saab.
The reborn Swedish automaker also plans to relaunch the 9-3 SportCombi to supplement the 9-3 sedan. The wagon version was part of the second-gen 9-3's rollout in the early 2000s, offering increased cargo space and versatility - particularly vital since GM had seen it fit to replace the previous hatchback bodystyle favored by the brand faithful with a more traditional trunked form to lure new buyers into the fold. Although Ostlund confirmed that NEVS has "the option of adding the convertible" back into the lineup, nut has yet to decide on if and when it will do so.

The Saab 9-3 that never was finally shows up

Looking back on the life and [slow and painful] death of Saab, it's impossible to not stop and think of what might have been with the quirky Swedish automaker. As it turns out, SaabsUnited has decided to shed some light on what the company's future might have looked like, including some images and information that include full-scale mockups of the 9-3 Phoenix, which you see above.
In its waning years, Saab's lead designer Jason Castriota was working feverishly to deliver new products that built on the heritage of the brand while doing so at a lower cost and in a shorter time period than previous models. In the end, though, it sounds like the earliest that we could have seen any of these plans come to fruition was 2014. In addition to hatchback and convertible 9-3 variants, Castriota also created the Sonnett - a sporty-looking 2+2 that never made it past the design study phase.
Regardless of whether you're a diehard fan of the brand or if you were just pulling for the underdog, you'll want to head on over to SaabsUnited to check out a little more of what the future could have held for Saab.

Son Surprises Mom With Dream Car

We can't get enough of these dream car-reveals. Here's the latest one: A son wanted to treat his mom to the car she's had her eye on for years, but it wasn't a restored Porsche or a fancy 1957 Chevy Bel Air. This mom wanted something special – a 1973 Saab 99 EMS painted disco-fever copper. Ever since he was a kid, Corey Wadden's mom has wanted the Saab. Wadden writes on his YouTube video that she first hopped in the driver's seat of one of these odd retro rides while working as a cleaning lady. One of her clients would toss her the keys and let her move the car. She fell in love. After a year of searching and saving, this nominee for best son in the world brought his mom down to the parking lot, where her dream ride awaited. First, he handed her an envelope with a picture of the car and the keys, a dead giveaway. She quickly put two and two together, and lost it before making it to the parking lot. She is so happy and full of gratitude that she actually drops to her knees when he opens the door. Wadden writes on his page that his mom lost her job two-and-a-half years ago and hasn't had a reliable car in years. This car aims not just to get her mobile again, but lift her spirits. It's also part of the Toronto entrepreneur's promise to become a millionaire by the time he is 25 to help his mother retire. Related Gallery The Best Cars For Empty Nesters Weird Car News Saab