Summer's coming* and it's time for something new from Saab and this 9-1 could be something. We're big fans of the (currently shipping) Volvo C30 so we're hoping to see some real competition in the small Swedish hatch segment.
Referenced articles:
From autoblog: Saab shows off second 9-1 teaser ahead of Geneva
*Oh, yes!
So we're reading the blokes at autoblog who wrote: Sinking Swede? Ford devalues Volvo. First of all, way to hurt Volvo's feelings. Leave it to an airplane dude to be so cold and callous (but, nice hair). Second, eh, we'd devalue them, too.
So, what we're getting at is -- a new Friday game! That's right. This new game is What Vehicle is (manufacturer) Going To Kill Off Next?
Up this week (in alphabetical order): Volvo
Volvo's Lineup (with sales for 2007):
S40: 18,215 -26.3%
S60: 18,521 -28.2%
S80: 12,354 125.%
V50: 2,856 -31.2%
V70: 3,769 -32.7%
XC70: 12,630 -3.9%
XC90: 31,358 -5.7%
C30: 2,103 100%
C70: 4,548 15.4%
So, who is in the running? Well, maybe the S40, S60, V50 and V70. Let's boot out the V70 because it's going to be all new for 2008 (the current V70 was very long in the tooth... but the new V70 gets frakkin' horrible gas mileage... holy cow must Volvo engineers be feeling mighty low at this point). So, we have the S40, S60 and V50. Let's also boot the S60 because Volvo is rumored to be making the XC60, so maybe that means an upgrade for the regular S60 as well.
So now we're down to the wee S40/V50. We recall reading Volvo is interested in a 5-door version of the C30 (which is a horrible mistake), we think the next Volvo to get the axe will be: V50.
Long live the Volvo V50.
Screw the V50. It's cool, but for $36k? Frak that.
Autoblog reports: Volvo C30 wagon confirmed by PR spokesperson. Blah.
We love the C30 as is. And the V50 doesn't need competition (sales are down 31% this year). Perhaps we are witnessing the pre-death of the V50, yes?
Actually, most of Volvo is looking like crappola: S40: down 26%, V70: down 35%, XC90: down 6%. A few models are up, but not enough to get excited about.
Autoblog reports: Wake up! Saab jumping on the drowsy driver bandwagon.
This would have a lot more impact if the Saabs themselves didn't put us to sleep. Oh, wow, a 9-3 wagon! Man, that gets the blood pumpin'. And, look, yawn, a 2001 9-5. Or, yawn, is it a 2007? And is that a 9-7... zzzzzzzzzz.
Now Volvo... the C30 and V50 both get us pretty chubbed up. Come on, peoples, tell us the C30 isn't friggin' awesome. It is.
That's a snap of the 2008 Volvo C30. So friggin' sweet.
Autoblog reports: Volvo C50?: Volvo considering five-door C30.
First of all, no. Second of all, WTF. Finally, great idea! Make a niche car that competes with your other niche car!
Sounds like an infallable plan. The good thing about the C30 and the bad thing about the V50 are the same: the price and we can't see how Volvo is going to distinguish between the two lines enough so that they don't cannabilize the other. Unless that's the plan, of course: kill off the V50.
Volvo, you killing off the V50?
That's a snap of the 2008 Volvo C30 and, yeah, it's awesome. But only as a two-door hatch. Leaving the wagonin' for the V line.
AutoWeek reports: Volvo Upgrades XC70 Wagon. With barely a price increase, the updated-for-2008 Volvo XC70 offers more room, more safety and more power.
And horribly shitty fuel economy. Fifteen miles per gallon in the test loop? Holy cow, man. Look, this is a gorgeous car and safe as all get out, but 15 mpg? They gotta be kidding us.
How can Volvo engineers think this is acceptable? Have they sold their souls as well as their company to FoMoCo?
Bloomberg reports: Volvo AB Says Not Interested in Ford's Volvo Car Unit. The AB stands for "Ain't no B'way we're buying back that turd." OK, what they really said was
"We are of course very concerned and interested in what happens with Volvo cars, but not such that we would be an investor there," Johansson said today in an interview in Brussels.In other words, "Of course we loves you baby, but I gotta go outta town for a couple of weeks. We'll call when we're back."
Autoblog reports: Volvo dropping "R", but adding "R-line". Pardon the boy-racer in us, but this is just so gorram stupid
Unlike the soon-to-be-deceased R-badged cars, however, those badged with an R-Line emblem will probably not have hotted up engines.Come on! It's OK to drop the boy-racer stuff if the cars aren't selling, but don't bring back the pretties without the power behind it. Might as well call it the P-Line. For poser.
If the "visual tweaks" are worth it, make it a regular option and not some badged weak-ass line.
Jalopnik reports: Most Amazing Porsche Crash To NOT Result In Death. Pretty amazing: this multi-time flippin' crash. Not-so amazing: the driver was generally unhurt. Sadly amazing: many are still dying on roads because we don't have cars as safe as these. Why is that?
Autoblog reports: See? A car company can turn around. Just ask Fiat. Ha! We knew as soon as GM and Fiat parted ways that Fiat would be OK. In fact, we said: Fiat Wins!.
Autoblog reports: BMW reportedly interested in buying Volvo? This will happen. Watch.
The Detroit News reports: Can Steve Shannon win over Saab snobs? Bring out the Hooterglavens and wind up the Forbi because Saab's got a new leader! We're hoping that Mr. Shannon can make some cool new products like the other Swedes over at Volvo. When questioned by Cars! Cars! Cars! Mr. Shannon may or may not have said,
"Do I think Volvo is better at getting product to market than Saab? No svalka way! Those guys at Volvo are a bunch of vardes is what they are. They couldn't skanka a ordning if their bjursta depended on it.He then threw down his Ikea catalog, hopped in his car and drove home with the blinker on. "Sorry," he yelled, "old habits are hard to Ingvar!"
