Aug 20, 2003 – At the same time as Michael Mauer was personally presenting the new 'Saabaru' 9-2 to selected guests at Pebble Beach, the first details of his Frankfurt concept were released.

This is his third concept after he moved to Trollhättan from Mercedes and Smart. First we had the 9X in Frankfurt in 2001, then the 9-3X in Detroit 2002. And we had Bob Lutz saying that this cross-over had been given some kind of green light and would be produced more or less in this form. Apparently the design for the 2005 model is already frozen, so we can regard this 9-3 Sport-Hatch (such a prosaic name that we fear it can be carried over to the production model) as a prelude to what will be coming. The project number for the sedan 9-3 is 440, the cabrio is 442, the estate 444 so the crossover will likely be 443.

We don't know who is responsible for this concept (Anthony Lo got the credit for the 9-3X), but this car is probably the first to emerge from the new advanced design studio in Pixbo outside Gothenburg. At the same time, it is obvious from the first pictures that this car is not advanced, in the Volvo VCC (Geneva 2003) meaning of the word. This is a car that will compete with the Allroad and XC70 and at the same time proudly display its heritage, but it will definitely not revolutionize the segment.

What is interesting however, is that people like Mauer, or Lo, or modeller Im-Ho Cho, display a more thorough understanding, and love for, the Saab DNA, than many of the Swedish managers I know. All these foreigners talk about two-strokes and Carlsson-on-the-roof and want to re-invent the 'Saab-ness'. Project 443 might turn out to be a great Saab following in the tracks of the Saab 95. JWS