Auto Express apparently has it on good word that Saab has officially inked a deal with BMW to build its upcoming sub-compact 9-2. Rumour also has it that BMW will lend a helping hand with the next generation 9-3.
The 9-2, however, will use the Mini chasis along with other technologies from the lovable little Cooper.
According a Spyker exec: “We could build the 9-2 on our own, but that wouldn’t make sense. Thanks to the crisis in the industry, everyone is willing to share everything. So Spyker couldn’t have bought Saab at a better time.”
I agree, this seems like a tremendous deal for Saab/Spyker, though I’m not sure what there is to gain for BMW. Oh wait, that means more competition for the Audi A1. BMW and Audi have such a rivalry that this actually does make sense for BMW as well. Even if people don’t opt for the Mini Cooper, and they opt for the Saab 9-2 instead, BMWwill still make money from those Saab sales and on top of that, they’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that they indirectly snagged a sale from Audi.
Pretty sneaky, BMW. I like it.
Oh, and that picture is obviously just a photoshopped Mini with a Saab face on it. Expect the production 9-2 to have a throwback tear drop design.
