Saab to announce tech partnership with BMW on wednesday

[Dr_Grip]

After numerous rumors, reports and plenty of speculation, Saab is set to sign a deal with BMW that will see the Swedish automaker get access to BMW technology and parts for future models. It is believed the first such model will include the a Saab small car based on the current MINI Cooper platform.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/09/saab-bmw-to-announce-partnership-on-wednesday.html

German FAZ, who traditionally are quite well-informed on all matters business, thinks it's just about engines and drivetrains, maybe parts of the Mini Countryman "framework", not complete platforms, which i find more plausible.

 

[LeMans GTR]

I read on autoblog yesterday that this deal extends to engine sharing for Saab's future 9-3, that just sounds like they're shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[JipJopJones]

RWD 3.0L TT Saab. Yes please.

 

[argatoga]

RWD 3.0L TT Saab. Yes please.

I don't see that happening. SAAB has always been a FWD (and now to some extent AWD) company.

I hope this works out better than when BMW teamed up with Chrysler to share technology.

 

[Programme]

The agreement announced today only extends to the BMW 1.6 turbo engine (presumably the one in the Mini): http://www.saab.com/global/en/start#/world/news-and-events/news-archive/saab-and-BMW/carrousel:all/

An interview with Victor Muller on Saab's news website shows him saying that he expects this to be the beginning of further cooperation with BMW, including diesel engines and platform sharing.

 

[ahpadt]

BMW does the dynamics very well so this should be good for SAAB.