2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen on 2040-cars

Auto blog

New owners of Saab don't get to use the name

Saab won't be revived as a Chinese-backed electric car brand. Aerospace and defense company Saab AB has declined to let the new owners of the dormant automaker's old designs and factory use the name on new cars, Automotive News reports. It's a blow to fans of the Swedish brand, who hoped the name would be revived on new vehicles coming out of the same factory as models like the 99 Turbo. National Electric Vehicle Sweden, known as NEVS, bought major assets of the Saab operation in 2012 following former parent Spyker's decision to liquidate the company in December 2011. This not only included the Trollhattan assembly plant in Sweden, but the rights to the Saab 9-3 and the platform of its successor. NEVS built some new 9-3s using leftover parts and powered by the old 2.0-liter turbo engines, with the intent to raise money to produce new electric vehicles for Europe and China – and to use the Saab name. When General Motors bought all of Saab Automobile in 2000, it used the name under license from the Saab AB. That permission was then passed to Spyker in 2010 and later NEVS, albeit without the griffin logo. But when NEVS sought creditor protection in 2014, Saab AB revoked the naming rights. Following reorganization, NEVS in August announced a deal with Dongfeng Motor Corp. to develop a new lineup of electric vehicles, which was revealed in December to include five new models by 2018, some assembled in China by 2020 – the first of which being an EV version of the old 9-3. However, Saab AB told Automotive News that discussions have ended regarding the use of the Saab name on these vehicles. NEVS owner Kai Johan Jiang told a Swedish radio station the company will find a new name to market the cars under when they go on sale. It's similar to what happened to SAIC when it purchased vehicle technology from bankrupt British carmaker MG Rover. While it had the tooling to essentially make the Rover 75, the brand name at the time belonged to BMW and barred SAIC from using it, so the Roewe brand was created in China. It's unclear why talks broke down and also where NEVS will get a new name (there aren't nicer ways to spell Saab, and it was originally an acronym, anyway). Will Saab AB attach its name to another line of cars? Probably not. What it does mean, however, is that Saab fans have to cling tighter to their old cars now. Perhaps that's for the best. Related Video:

Hot rod tractor stars in Swedish version of Farmkhana

The Nordic countries are known for their beautiful fjords, blonde-haired populace and bitter cold for a good portion of the year. The hours spent indoors during the dark, cold season apparently gives a lot of time for some crazy brainstorming. Tire store chain Vianor is highlighting the Traktor Terror in a new video. If Ken Block is the master of Gymkhana, then these guys know all about Farmkhana in their custom, turbocharged tractor.
According to the YouTube description from Vianor, the tractor is a 1956 Volvo BM Terrier with an added roll cage, adjustable front suspension and extended frame. The engine is thoroughly Swedish, and it's based on a Volvo 940 Turbo with a Volvo 240 head and Volvo 740 intercooler. However, it uses a Saab turbo Prospark ignition and fuel system. All told, the setup is claimed to make 225 horsepower and is capable of a top speed of 60 miles per hour.
That's not crazy power, but this tractor can certainly put it down. The farm machine has no problem smoking those big rear wheels and drifts easily.... although, it may be a tiny little bit unstable (hence the roll cage). If nothing else, this looks like the world's most fun way to be a farmer, that's for sure.

Turkey buys rights to Saab 9-3 for domestic car

Just in time for Halloween, a Saab is rising from the dead. National Electric Vehicle Sweden, which controls the Swedish automaker, is selling the intellectual property rights for the second-generation 9-3 to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). This government-supported agency intends to turn the sedan into the "Turkish National Car," according to NEVS. Using the aging 9-3 as a backbone, Turkey intends to strengthen the nation's auto industry by producing an extended-range electric vehicle by 2020, Daily Sabah reports. The goal is for 85-90 percent of the components to come from the country. "From design to production, Turkey will be the center for all parts and processes regarding the first domestically produced car," Interim Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Isik said to Daily Sabah. TUBITAK considered developing its own vehicle from scratch but calculated at least $1 billion in costs. Without going into specific detail, Isik said that buying the rights to the existing Saab turned out to be a better option. Despite having sold the 9-3 IP, NEVS is signing on to help with a business plan and to create the necessary supply and distribution chains for the EV. NEVS previously tried to revive the 9-3 itself by briefly continuing production and attempting to launch an electric version. Earlier this year, it partnered with Dongfeng to develop green vehicles. The company has been beset with financial problems, embroiled in a seemingly interminable post-bankruptcy reorganization progress. NEVS has been chosen by TUBITAK as its partner for developing a Turkish National Car TUBITAK, (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) which has been assigned to develop "Turkish National Car" and realize this important mission, has chosen National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, Nevs, as the industrial partner for the project. The cooperation has started in June 2015 between Nevs and TUBITAK and future industrial synergies in terms of development and manufacturing shall be generated with this cooperation. In the short term perspective this cooperation shall put Nevs' assets to work and shall give Turkey quick access to extensive automotive knowledge and experience. Nevs shall also provide its know-how in the developing of the business plan and establishing of the supply and distribution chains to TUBITAK.