MINI to Share Countryman Platform With Saab?
According to several well placed sources Bloomberg is reporting a deal is about to be struck between Saab Automobile and BMW. The deal is said to have Saab buying engines made by BMW.
Reportedly the redesigned 9-3 set to debut in 2012 will be the first SAAB to be powered by BMW. The motor more than likely will be a yet to be released 4 cylinder turbo as BMW has said in the past they would refrain from selling their 6 cylinders to other mainstream manufacturers.
The deal is rumored to be announced in Trollhaettan, Sweden, on Sept. 29, before the Paris Motor Show.
In addition to the deal for BMW engines, Spyker (Saab’s parent company) has openly announced that they continue to negotiate terms with BMW for use of the MINI Countryman platform. The MINI platform would become the basis of the planned Saab 9-2, expected to launch in 2014.
<p>So instead of the previous <b>Saabaru</b> the new 9-2 will be a <b>Maab</b>? <b>Saabini</b>? <b>Saani</b>?</p>
<p>No, this isn’t working. They should stick with Subaru so we can keep the awesome hybrid nickname.</p>
<p>IIRC…..didn’t BMW sell an engine to a US autopsies for a short time in the 1980s? It may have even been a diesel….or is my memory way off?</p>
<p>Uhhhh…..sorry….my phone changed ‘automaker’ to ‘autopsies’ ….</p>
<p>This should be interesting. I am a fan of both cars. Lets give them a chance and see what they come up with.</p>
<p>Great – this is right up our alley – we have a Saab 96 in the driveway and a new Mini in the garage.</p>
<p>Cool – me too – but we have a 96 (V4) in the garage and a R56 in the driveway!</p>
<p>BMW sold a diesel engine to Ford for the Lincoln Mark Series in the mid-1980s.</p>
<p>Wow reporting from Bloomberg, we are stepping up.;)</p>
<p>Bloomberg is a great resource for news that really has to do with marco and micro economics, we used it for econometrics to describe current idea related to economic theory.</p>
<p>I saw this a couple days ago reported by another blog.</p>
<p>I find this encouraging news. Now that Saab is out of the clutches of GM they really have an opportunity to produce cars that will excite the public again. With BMW’s help? Sure, why not. At the very least BMW’s influence will give SAAB additional credibility and consumer confidence as they make a new name for themselves.
Fred Alig
Golden,Colorado
2003 MINI JCW</p>
<p>Why don’t BMW just buy Saab instead?</p>
<p>Spyker, don’t go with the Countryman. Keep the Saabaru alive! A tastefully re-styled version of the 2011 WRX would rock.</p>
<p>Well SAAB at one time used of all things engines built by Triumph. I think using a BMW engine can only be a good thing. As long as it isn’t the Prince of an engine.</p>
<p>I also think this is an encouraging news for Saab. Being a Saab fan, I look forward to BMW powered Saabs. I am certain, however, that even though Saab may use BMW engine and MINI platform, it would not look or behave anything like the MINI. Saab enthusiasts would rather Saab die than to go back to its rebadging days under GM rule.</p>