Comments on: Follow-up: Why we shouldn’t call the next Saab the “9-3″ http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/ Lorum Ipsum tagline Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3930 Anonymous Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:03:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3930 Does this mean that Saab will issue a badge retrofit kit so I can convert my 9-3 into a 900?  I'm only half serious. Does this mean that Saab will issue a badge retrofit kit so I can convert my 9-3 into a 900?  I’m only half serious.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3855 Anonymous Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:21:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3855 I have what I think is the perfect solution (but don't we all). Keep the 9-3 name for the sedan and wagon, but for the hatch call it the 900. I have what I think is the perfect solution (but don’t we all). Keep the 9-3 name for the sedan and wagon, but for the hatch call it the 900.

]]> By: Anthony Woodruffe http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3849 Anthony Woodruffe Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:56:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3849 Time to chime in... One thought is that SAAB could drop the numerics and move to alpha-based names. The 9-3 could become a SAAB Viggen the next Gen 9-5 moves to Gripen. Naturally this makes way for the Sonett and SAAB could even adopt a Phoenix model. They could even call their off-roader a Safari and their entry vehicle the Safir. Unfortunately this would all mean going to SAAB defence and asking for permission to use the names...Too me the 900 had zero appeal. SAAB was not exactly in good shape when the 900 arrived and it was the vehicle that led to Investor passing SAAB onto GM. However the 99 on the other hand was a real landmark in engineering and personally I think it would be good to see future saabs drop the hyphen. it can still be badged 9 (to the power of) 3 but pronounced Ninety three.  Time to chime in…
One thought is that SAAB could drop the numerics and move to alpha-based names. The 9-3 could become a SAAB Viggen the next Gen 9-5 moves to Gripen. Naturally this makes way for the Sonett and SAAB could even adopt a Phoenix model. They could even call their off-roader a Safari and their entry vehicle the Safir. Unfortunately this would all mean going to SAAB defence and asking for permission to use the names…Too me the 900 had zero appeal. SAAB was not exactly in good shape when the 900 arrived and it was the vehicle that led to Investor passing SAAB onto GM. However the 99 on the other hand was a real landmark in engineering and personally I think it would be good to see future saabs drop the hyphen. it can still be badged 9 (to the power of) 3 but pronounced Ninety three. 

]]> By: Saab RedJ http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3844 Saab RedJ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3844 I think this is a much better Idea than calling the next 9-3 the 900. I mean, if the top of the line model is called the 9-3 900 Aero, many people will call it the 900 Aero, thus reconnecting with the mojo of the classic 900 Aero. I think this is a much better Idea than calling the next 9-3 the 900.
I mean, if the top of the line model is called the 9-3 900 Aero, many people will call it the 900 Aero, thus reconnecting with the mojo of the classic 900 Aero.

]]> By: René Reich http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3843 René Reich Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:04:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3843 Maybe Saab should try something new, like a combination out of numbers and letters. E.g.: 93C for the 9-3 Cabriolet 93S for the 9-3 Sedan 93W for the SportWagon 94X for the X-Cross 95S ... and so on Maybe Saab should try something new, like a combination out of numbers and letters. E.g.:
93C for the 9-3 Cabriolet
93S for the 9-3 Sedan
93W for the SportWagon
94X for the X-Cross
95S … and so on

]]> By: eggsngrits http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3841 eggsngrits Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:41:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3841 Tee Hee!  I get a yes and a no.  @Greg: I have no love for the current 9-x nomenclature and I would be glad to be rid of it.  I guess that's where you and I would disagree most.  As far as re-using the 900 name: I think it's heresy, but that horse is already out of the barn. Tee Hee!  I get a yes and a no.  @Greg: I have no love for the current 9-x nomenclature and I would be glad to be rid of it.  I guess that’s where you and I would disagree most.  As far as re-using the 900 name: I think it’s heresy, but that horse is already out of the barn.

]]> By: Greg Abbott http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3839 Greg Abbott Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:13:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3839 I respectfully disagree.  It's the worst of both worlds - inconsistent with the current "9-x" naming scheme, resulting in consumer confusion, without any obvious connection (for the average buyer) to the classic Saab 900.   I'm with Swade on this one: keep the nomenclature for the rest of the line, but use "900" for the 9-3 replacement.   I respectfully disagree.  It’s the worst of both worlds – inconsistent with the current “9-x” naming scheme, resulting in consumer confusion, without any obvious connection (for the average buyer) to the classic Saab 900.  

I’m with Swade on this one: keep the nomenclature for the rest of the line, but use “900″ for the 9-3 replacement.  

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3834 Anonymous Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:59:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3834 My issue is constancy over time in the name and the overall naming conventions.  Changing names back & forth leads to confusion with customers.  Yes Ford resurrected the Taurus name, but it was only gone for about a year, not 12+ years like the 900 name.  However, the new CEO of Ford felt there was more brand equity in the Taurus name than in the Five Hundred name, and enough to break with the overall Ford naming convention (all passenger cars with names starting with "F", at least in the US).  Saab should only go back to the 900 name if it really thinks there is substantial more brand equity in the 900 name, and more than enough to add confusion to the lineups naming convention, versus the 9-3 name. Having just numbers can lead to naming convention issues when the product line really grows.  The 9^X convention at least gives 9 basic choices where as the 9X convention gives much fewer, perhaps as few as 3 or 4 (anything above 9000 is going to look silly and be a mouthful, at least in English).  That said, maybe there should be two naming conventions, one for passenger cars and one for SUVs/Crossovers. Just what ever you do, think it out over the next product cycle or two or three, come up with a plan and stick to it. My issue is constancy over time in the name and the overall naming conventions.  Changing names back & forth leads to confusion with customers.  Yes Ford resurrected the Taurus name, but it was only gone for about a year, not 12+ years like the 900 name.  However, the new CEO of Ford felt there was more brand equity in the Taurus name than in the Five Hundred name, and enough to break with the overall Ford naming convention (all passenger cars with names starting with “F”, at least in the US).  Saab should only go back to the 900 name if it really thinks there is substantial more brand equity in the 900 name, and more than enough to add confusion to the lineups naming convention, versus the 9-3 name.

Having just numbers can lead to naming convention issues when the product line really grows.  The 9^X convention at least gives 9 basic choices where as the 9X convention gives much fewer, perhaps as few as 3 or 4 (anything above 9000 is going to look silly and be a mouthful, at least in English).  That said, maybe there should be two naming conventions, one for passenger cars and one for SUVs/Crossovers.

Just what ever you do, think it out over the next product cycle or two or three, come up with a plan and stick to it.

]]> By: Börjesson http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3827 Börjesson Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:29:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3827 I don' t really see the point in retaining the 9. As I said in the previous post, a model identifier that is the same for all models serves no purpose. If you want a name that identifies the brand rather than the model, then that's what "Saab" is for. But if Saab still <i>does</i> keep the 9, then I think Ivo's suggestion here is the best one yet! I don’ t really see the point in retaining the 9. As I said in the previous post, a model identifier that is the same for all models serves no purpose. If you want a name that identifies the brand rather than the model, then that’s what “Saab” is for.

But if Saab still does keep the 9, then I think Ivo’s suggestion here is the best one yet!

]]> By: MarkC http://inside.saab.com/follow-up-why-we-shouldn%e2%80%99t-call-the-next-saab-the-%e2%80%9c9-3%e2%80%b3/#comment-3824 MarkC Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:02:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=3099#comment-3824 Eggs, I think you might be onto something.  990 would be a very good name for the new car.  '990' evokes memories of both the 99 and the 900 and gets us away from the GM era '9-3' designation. I can just imagine a TV commercial showing footage of the 99 turbo and the classic 900 turbo and then exposing the new '990' in all it's glory.   I think that would really work well. A 990 Viggen coupe sounds terrific.  Put me down for one! Eggs, I think you might be onto something.  990 would be a very good name for the new car.  ’990′ evokes memories of both the 99 and the 900 and gets us away from the GM era ’9-3′ designation.

I can just imagine a TV commercial showing footage of the 99 turbo and the classic 900 turbo and then exposing the new ’990′ in all it’s glory.   I think that would really work well.

A 990 Viggen coupe sounds terrific.  Put me down for one!

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