After yesterday’s jubilation of GM securing the future of Saab by selling it to Spyker, the American giant announced they are going to close Hummer leading to the loss of over 3,000 jobs. GM have been trying to shift the SUV brand to Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, who’s name is as economical with words as Hummers are with fuel, but the sale has fallen through. GM will honour warranties and continue to provide spare parts for current cars.
The failure of the $150m deal is due the Chinese Government’s reluctance to approve the sale, probably due to the fact that they didn’t really fancy idea of appearing to condone cars that can’t crack 15mpg. Not good for the international street cred you see… there’s an irony there somewhere.
Look on the bright side though – in a world of averages, Hummer’s death means we can all drive a faster, more polluting car without any ill effect. If anyone ever accuses you of being blase towards the environment as you rag your V12 Vantage, just say you’re restoring the Hummer equilibrium. Call it a kind of automotive altruistic utilitarianism. You’ll be gone before they realise what the hell you’re on about.
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Pictures of Citroen’s new DS3-R leaked onto the internet, with rumours suggesting it’ll have a 200bhp 1.6l petrol engine and sub-7 sec 0-60 time. Toyota issued a recall of all mk3 Prius’s built before 27th January 2010, to have a brake software update. And Vauxhall/Opal guvna Nick Reilly said he expects the company to be back in profit by 2012.
A year after GM first announced they wanted to sell Saab, they’ve actually gone and done it. Dutch supercar makers Spyker, who haven’t been in profit this century, have stumped up $74 million to buy Saab – who, thanks to GM, haven’t made any money since 2001. And that was the only year they made money in two decades. But they’re just little niggles… Saab is alive.
Obviously, the deal isn’t as simple as some extravagent Dutchmen handing over a briefcase of Kroner. The Swedish Government have confirmed they’ll guarantee a 400 million Euro loan that Saab requested from the European Investment Bank, and GM will still be involved – they’ll get $326 million worth of Saab shares and will build the 9-4X at their factory in Mexico.
So, can the new ‘Saab Spyker Automobiles’ succeed where Saab under GM failed? The hardcore restructuring at Saab’s Trollhätten base should get it off to a good start. While the current 9-3 is built at Magna’s plant in Austria, the new one will be made at the HQ alongside the current and next 9-5 in a plant that requires a lower production volume to break even than it has before. When these new models arrive is unknown at the moment… but there are over 3,000 Saab jobs resting on them being good enough for people to spend money on – so for now, let’s just wish Saab Spyker Automobiles some really really really good luck. Griffin Up and all that.
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Alfa Romeo released a teaser video of the new Golf rivalling Giulietta, which takes itself so seriously you can’t help but smirk. A Bugatti Type 22 that spent at least half a century at the bottom of a lake in Italy sold for £228,000 at auction. And, finally, GM confirmed that they’re selling Saab to Spyker – more on that above.
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Parent company of MG, China’s biggest car maker SAIC, announced it will sell the new MG 6 model in Europe this year, building them at Longbridge. Mercedes GP revealed their new car and the colours of their drivers’ helmets – Schumacher’s is red. And after a day of GM rumours built up to an afternoon press conference… Saab still isn’t sold.
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Mitsubishi officially revealed pictures of its ASX Crossover, which will want to pinch buyers from the all-conquering Qashqai when it arrives this summer. The world’s cleverest man, Ross Brawn, said Michael Schumacher will win the 2010 F1 Championship, but not the first race. And a spokesperson from Saab’s hospice said the company is still hopeful of being revived by Spyker.
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The Mini range was tweaked with all models getting a slight increase in power and decrease in emissions. GM won’t sell the new 9-5 and 9-3 as rebadged Buicks, and will just bin them should Saab die. And MOT pass rates were released for cars taking their first test in 2007 – Megane was the worst and Corolla the best.
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Vauxhall boss Nick Reilly suggested the company would release a new city car in the next five years, with the possibility of an electric version. Weirdly, the first ever Saab convertible (and possibly one of the last) to be built in Sweden was produced – they were previously made in Austria. And the Detroit show was still filled with European cars.
Digesting the news… then spewing it out in 60 words
GM announced the winding down of Saab will occur over the next few months, although they’re still negotiating with potential buyers. Peugeot’s newfound unshitness continued as it showed pictures of its 3-seat SR1 hybrid roadster concept, which in theory would have 240bhp but emit only 109g/km of CO2. And Indian designer Dilip Chhabria’s £136k Tata Nano made the world snigger.
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GM again extended the deadline to settle selling Saab, as four new bidders emerged to join Spyker in attempting financial CPR on the company. A patent application filed by Lotus for a new seven speed double-clutch gearbox appeared on the net. And it was confirmed that American rally stunter Ken Block will compete in selected rounds of this year’s WRC.
More details and piccies of Lee Noble’s latest Fenix supercar have floated to the surface of the oil stained automotive news pond. There will be two V8 engines on offer, both from GM – a 480bhp LS3, or the supercharged 638bhp LS9 from the Corvette ZR1. With the LS9 fitted, 0-100mph should squit by in less than 7 seconds, on the way to a top speed of at least 200mph.
It should be reasonably affordable too, with the bottom spec model likely to be around £70k, rising to £100k if you want the extra whine and shove of a supercharger. Maybe it won’t be as polished as the Ferrari 458 Italia or McLaren MP4-12C – but with the cheapest Fenix being half the price, it doesn’t really need to be.
Apparently, the prototype is currently being tweaked in South Africa but development will soon switch to the UK before it goes on sale at the end of the year.
Still looks like they’ve spelt the name wrong though.
We don’t usually bother reporting the arrival of new MPVs, but because of a little known sub-clause in the car hack’s rule book, we’re going to make an exception. We’re referring of course to Rule 65.3.8: ‘any motor vehicle which features suicide doors is worth at least 100 words’. Best show you Vauxhall’s new Meriva then, because your eyes are not deceiving you… look at the apertures on that:
Ahead of its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Vauxhall have released some piccies and details to give us a rough idea of how much more interesting than the last Meriva it will be. As well the ‘FlexDoors’, the rear slidey/foldey seats are apparently simpler to shove about, there’s obviously the option of a panoramic roof and a new dash feature called ‘FlexRail’ which lets you move and mount various cubbies and bins where suits best. How sensible.
It looks a bit snazzier too, with a vaguely Citroen kink to the window line and the ‘blade’ scallop from the Insignia and Astra down the side – definitely smarter, but perhaps not as hip-dad friendly as a C3 Picasso. It’s got a longer wheelbase and wider track than the current car, and will come with six different turbocharged engines to help keep efficiency up. It’ll go on sale in the UK in June.
Right, that’s 200 words now – the rulebook has been followed. As you were.
Digesting the news… then spewing it out in 60 words
Mercedes were rumoured to be at least thinking about putting their ConceptFascination show car into production in 2012, as a 5-Series GT rivalling shooting brake. GM announced a silver lining to their cloud, with a 67% sales increase in China. And a surprisingly complacent Aston Martin asked some teenagers with silly hats to make a viral video for the new Cygnet.
Remember the now infamous Chevrolet Volt song performed at the LA Auto Show? Organised (and apparently choreographed) by GM themselves, the song and dance below actually happened in real life and obviously didn’t do the company’s reputation any favours. At least they’re not spending their US Government bail-out money on expensive Brian Friedman productions with gymnasts and fire – they got the PR department work experience kids to do it for free:
To make sure GM don’t further ruin Saab’s already shaky/doomed future with a similar musical travesty, a Saab fan has penned his own song, ‘Griffin Up’, which is ‘meant to inspire Saab fans worldwide to keep their hopes up and make a difference’. Despite probably making the song and video on his own with nothing more than GarageBand and some stock footage, he’s managed to produce a more polished product than General Motors managed in their entirity. Obviously it’s still a bit odd though:
GM have taken heed too. Instead of simply shutting the company for good, they’ll open the factory in the new year to make cars that have already been ordered. The Spyker offer is still being considered, as is the possibility of building the new 9-5 as a Buick – although neither look like particularly good prospects for Saab themselves.
To really save Saab, ‘Griffin Up’ needs to be released as a charity record, with the millions of 79p purchases going straight to Saab’s Swedish management – then they could buy the company back from GM and put the new 9-5 into production themselves. Once back on their feet, the ‘Griffin Up’ song could be remixed and called ‘Griffin Up Yours, GM’, as a fitting gesture to the company that nearly killed them. Now, where’s Simon Cowell…
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Everyone’s favourite ridiculous car company Rinspeed released pictures of their electric ‘UC?’ concept, which has a 75 mile range. American owned Kepler Motors showed off their 789bhp hybrid supercar which they claim will do 60mph in 2.5 secs. And Saab are showing signs of resurrection, with Spyker conjuring a new deal which GM have until Monday to consider and accept.
GM has announced that it is closing Saab, after the deal to sell the loss-making brand to Spyker collapsed. Architects and a small group of other people with interesting personalities are still Saabing into their Alessi mugs.
The company was put up for sale earlier this year, with General Motors not having the cash to support it. Koenigsegg initially showed interest in a purchase, but backed out before any money changed hands. With Spyker doing the same, GM has decided it can’t support the company any longer and will start winding down operations immediately, with the loss of over 3,000 jobs.
Any current warranties of UK cars will be honoured by Vauxhall dealers, and all the firms bills will be settled before it is finally closed down.While recent cars have lacked character due to the extensive platform sharing and budget cutting enforced by GM, it’s very sad news to see a company with such history and identity lost. The only potential good news is the possibility of some bargain pre-registered 9-5s and 9-3s that need to be shifted – a £15k Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T is an interesting prospect…
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Obscure supercar manufacturer Spyker replaced obscure supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg as the likeliest potential buyers of Saab. Aston Martin facelifted their V8 Vantage, with new wheels, grills and seats as well as an ECU remap and revised gear ratios which drop the CO2 to 315g/km. And pictures of the upcoming Mercedes E-Class emerged, showing off its trick windscreen mounted air deflector.
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Silverstone was confirmed as the home of the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years, in a move that made BRDC President Damon Hill raise an actual smile. The Government made the country moan, by approving the use of average speed cameras in urban 20mph zones. And potential Volvo buyer Geely admitted talking to GM about buying Saab. Greedy.
OMG, it’s like sooo annoying when your dad loses his job. Less ponies for Christmas, no free car on your 21st and endless bullying about him being a hobo by your friends. It’s like, waaay uncool.
So, you can understand the frustration felt by the daughter of just-sacked-but-rumoured-to-have-resigned GM chief Fritz Henderson. She was so mad. So mad, in fact, that she posted the following message on her facebook page:
‘He fucking got asked to step down all of you fucking idiots. Im Fritz’s fucking daughter, and he did not fucking resign. Whitacre is a selfish piece of shit, who cares about himself and not the fucking company. Have fun with GM. I hope to never buy from this God-forsaken company again. Fuck all of you.’
It was only up there for an hour or so, but it hasn’t taken long to turn into the best cut and paste news nugget for ages. And doesn’t she sound lovely?
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The LA Auto Show opened. VW showed their Up! Lite concept, a four seat, 96mpg, 800cc diesel hybrid. Honda displayed the P-NUT concept – a 1+2 seater for city types. Porsche announced they’ll make a hybrid Panamera in 2011. Chevrolet’s electric Volt will be on sale in California in 2011. Elsewhere, GM President Fritz Henderson stepped down at the company’s request.
