[S.R.]

<B>Source:</B><BR><I>Yahoo Finance<BR>Auto Section<BR>Friday May 3, 2002 <BR>3:29 PM Eastern Time</I> <P>Here is an interesting development, I wonder if it was/will prove to be a wise move by the Saab/GM folks...<P><B>GM's Saab Unit Abandons Plans for Seven-Passenger SUV</B><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>DETROIT -- General Motors Corp.'s (GM) Saab luxury unit has given up plans for a seven-passenger sport-utility vehicle, amid concerns that developing the SUV would require too much investment and not generate adequate financial returns. But Saab is sticking to its aggressive goals for expanding sales, officials said Friday.<P>The SUV would have let Saab compete in one of the hottest segments of the luxury market, but would have hit the market in late 2004, well behind rivals' offerings, many of which already are selling well. Saab spokesman Kevin Smith said Saab still aims to about double its U.S. sales volumes to 70,000 vehicles a year by the end of 2004.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>-Drew

 

[Apurva]

Too bad this didn't happen at Porsche.

 

[anony00gt]

There is hope. At least one company has come to their senses about the SUV thing.<P>

 

[Jay]

Good news... I wish Volvo would have done the same. <P>Jay

 

[turboale]

Yeah... but look who is at the wheel of Volvo... before we know it we will have Jag and Aston SUVs running around <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif"><BR><P>

 

[joshua]

But I think we will see a 9-4 that competes with the XC70 and Audi Allroad - a softroad AWD version of the 9-5 wagon. That will sell.

 

[Freeworld]

Have you ever noticed how little room most SUV's have compared to a regular station wagon? Compare a V70 to a BMW X5. It's a joke. This fad has to fade. Unless you are buying one of the really big hummers (Expedition, Suburban, etc.) you're better off with an XC, Passat wagon, Subaru Outback, or some such.