Following the sad news that Saab won't be showing at the Chicago Auto Show in the next few weeks, I've received some advice from Saab Cars North America about the official schedule for US Auto Shows coming up in the next few months.

I asked specifically about the 9-5 being available at auto shows, hence the answer as follows:

Tentatively, the schedule for the 9-5 at auto shows looks like this:

• Cleveland - February 27 to March 7th
• Dallas - March 3 to March 7
• New York - March 31 to April 11

Additional notes:

Greg Abbott emailed me, saying that Saab are still slated to appear at the Minneapolis Auto Show from March 6th to the 14th and a quick look at that link shows them listed on the floorplan. Perhaps this will go ahead, but without the 9-5 in attendance?

And from AJ Murphy, via comments:

SAAB will be represented at the Cincinnati Enquirer Auto Expo c/o Just SAAB. We, as a dealer, have purchased the space and will provide our own cars. It won't be as "fancy" as if GM had provided our display and cars but we felt it was important to show that we're still here and to be able to spread the message of SAAB being purchased.

Dates:
February 25 - 28, 2010

This comment from earlier today speaks for itself, I think.

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Saab 9-4x......

26,000 of Audi's 100,000 planned 2010 sales in the United States of America are expected to be the Audi Q5. It is one of the fastest turning vehicles in the Audi line up worldwide (i.e. turnover, not that it turns really really fast :-) .....SW).

The only problem with the 9-4x is that it should be in showrooms now, not 10 months from now.

Alas, General Motors burned through their cash so here we are still waiting.

Our clients are either SUV buyer or car buyers. It's good to have products for each group.

Jim Haynes - US SAAB & Audi dealer

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Whatever your thoughts on the Saab 9-4x, or whatever your thoughts on Saab having an SUV at all, there's no doubt whatsoever that Saab need to be in this segment.

The sooner they can get a vehicle like the Saab 9-4x to the market, developed from the ground up with a Saab and a Caddy variant in mind, the better it will be for all concerned.

Yes, Saab will have to pay GM to manufacture the vehicle, but having a vehicle like this to offer customers and increase your market presence is much better than Jim Haynes watching his Saab customers cross the floor to the Audi showroom. Or worse, some other dealer drive off the lot to the Audi dealer down the street.

ZEEWOLDE, The Netherlands (8 February, 2010) - Spyker Cars N.V. announces today that Spyker has entered into a USD 25 million convertible loan agreement with an investment company owned by Heerema Holding Company Inc.

The USD 25 million loan has a 2 year term, an interest of Euribor + 10% and is convertible into shares at EUR 4 each. This loan secures the funding necessary to close the Saab transaction as the first USD 25 million has already been paid to GM on January 26, 2010. The convertible loan is conditional on SAAB receiving the EIB loan. On July 15 of this year a final payment of USD 24 million is due to GM. Spyker is confident that it will secure the funding for this second installment.

The European Commission approved the Swedish state guarantee for Saab. With respect to the approval of the Swedish state guarantee, competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "The state guarantee will contribute to the implementation of Saab's business plan without giving rise to any undue distortions of competition".

Victor Muller, Spyker's CEO said: "We are delighted that Heerema has decided to become an investor in our company. I had the privilege to work for Pieter Heerema from 1984 through 1991, initially as his counsel, later as Director of Corporate Affairs, and we have come to know each other very well as a result. It is the intention to nominate a representative of Heerema as a member of the Supervisory Board".

"The positive decision of the European Commission to approve the Swedish state guarantee is another major step towards closing of the Saab acquisition. We are grateful to the Commission of their willingness to work so hard on this decision within the limited time available."

Pieter Heerema added: "Although providing convertible loans such as this one is not in the ordinary course of our business, the positive developments of the past few months involving the SAAB brand and its sympathetic connotation, together with the worldwide support of loyal customers, dealers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders represents a unique value. This value represents much more than money alone. We are confident that when the company's management gets the opportunity to implement the business plan we will see a good financial return on our investment as well".

Another of the weekend's gatherings was right here in Australia, in the city of strange football, fashionistas and ridiculously high house prices - Sydney.

A note from my mate Hawkeye, who organised the day:

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We had a great day considering we had a lot of rain the last 24 hours. A total of 15 people and 9 Saabs (there's one missing from the photo).

The photo of the Saabs in one line was taken inside the Royal National Park, which is the world's second oldest national park - after Yellowstone in the USA. It's located just on the outskirts of southern Sydney.

What a sight it was to see us weaving our way through the lush green areas through the mist up to Stanwell tops. It was a special day, but then again it's suppose to be given that it is summer in Sydney.

A magnificent cake from one of our members Sue. Too bad we had to cut it up!

A great day had by all.

From the Show's website:

2010 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN: Due its recent sale, Saab has chosen not to display at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The future direction of Saab is apparently secured with the sale to Dutch manufacturer Spyker Cars NV. This means that the redesigned 2010 Saab 9-5 Sedan and Wagon are coming to market.

The rest of the spiel is a rundown on the Saab 9-5 itself but the important news is in the first sentence.

It's shame for Chicago Saab nuts who turned out in great numbers in the recent Chicago Saab Support Convoy, but I'm sure Saab will get on to the show circuit soon enough. Just bad timing on this one, I guess.

I've shot off an email and I'll post any updates as they come to hand (hopefully in the morning).

Thanks to Robert P and TGX4776 for the heads-up via comments.

In a week from today, Spyker are due to close the deal for the purchase of Saab Automobile from General Motors. Today sees another hurdle overcome, another step closer.

DI.se are reporting that the European Union has reviewed and approved Saab's loan application with the EIB. The purpose of the EU review is to confirm that the guarantees provided by the Swedish government do not contravene EU rules on state aid. Basically, it means that the loan is bona fide and can go ahead, providing the EIB itself approves the application.

Note: this is not the EIB approval itself. It's just the EU giving it the go-ahead from their perspective. The actual EIB approval will need to come this week, along with final confirmation of the loan guarantees from the Swedish National Debt Office.

And a quick thought....... If this decision had come around November 20, Saab would be owned by Koenigsegg by now.

A googletrans:

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EU approves state guarantee for loans Saab
Updated 2010-02-08 12:05

EU Commission on Monday approved the Swedish government plans to put out a guarantee that Saab Automobile to take a loan from the European Investment Bank for 400 million euros.

"The State guarantee will help Saab to implement its business plan without incurring any undue distortion of competition", said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.

A smaller proportion, 17.2 percent, are not considered state aid since it is provided under market conditions.

Most of the guarantee, 82.8 per cent, satisfying the requirements of the EU's temporary framework for state aid measures, EU countries to facilitate the financing during the current crisis.

The consideration for the guarantee that Saab will pay is sufficient. So is the security that it provides for the eventuality that the guarantee.

The EIB loan will co-finance the Saab's business plan at General Motors sales to Dutch Spyker. The loan will be used for an investment of 1 billion euros, including for fuel efficiency and automotive safety.

It is planned to Saab to pay a fee for the guarantee and provide a guarantee of high quality to the Swedish government, which covers the entire amount guaranteed.

Swedish State can redeem the security on the forced payment of guarantee money.

The level of fees paid during the term of the loan complies with the Commission's provisional framework.

For part of the guarantee, the lower portion of 17.2 percent, the Commission found that the annual fee of 12.48 per cent with the market given the current risks of the transaction and other conditions.

The Commission's conclusion was therefore that this part of the guarantee did not involve any state aid.

Another weekend saw a few final Saab Support Convoys take place (I don't think there's any more scheduled, but I could be wrong).

One of those was the convoy in Memphis, Tennessee, where 15 cars and around 24 people gathered to celebrate Saab's sale to Spyker and show their support for the company.

A note from Barry L:

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In spite of the fact that "Super Bowl Sunday" is the most celebrated "holiday" in America (other than New Year's Day), Memphis/Mid-South area SAAB owners and enthusiasts came together to show their support and celebration of SAAB's INDEPENDENCE, and its saviour, Spyker.

Fifteen vehicles strong, we gathered in far east Memphis and discussed all matters related to SAAB, then drove 20 miles to the Pyramid Arena, on the banks of the Mississippi River. Check out the 1990 Saab 900...IMMACULATE!

There, we celebrated "SAAB Independence Day"....our first annual celebration of that event. January 26th of each year will be a day of celebration here in Memphis.

We had a great time. Thanks to all who participated and sacrificed a portion of this hallowed holiday in the USA.

BTW: On unanimous approval of our group, we will be forming a SAAB Club for the Memphis/Mid-South area. More details will be provided once finalised.

Note: Big thanks to Gary McConnell for the artwork.

Cheers,

Barry

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I live a Satnav-free life (in a small city on an island) so this is one of those things that I would never be that mindful of, but some of you are, I'm sure.

Ken H was one such Saab owner and he spells out the problem and the solution below (thanks Ken!).

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It's a fairy well known fact that Saab stopped offering updates for the satnav in 9-3 SS/SC MY 03-06, and hence people with those systems (me included) were stuck without available upgraded maps.

It was rumored that Mazda used the same SDAL DVD for some of their satnavs, but there was never a firm confirmation to be found that this would actually work.

In the end I figured there's only one way to find out, so I ordered a disc directly from Navteq... And it did indeed work without any problems.

I now have 2008/2009 maps in my system!

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Swade here, again.....

This does bring up the usefulness of integrated Satnav in the era of very affordable, portable Satnav that you can take from vehicle to vehicle.

Personally, if I ever had the need for Satnav, I know which one I'd choose.

It's been a holiday here today. Regatta Day.

For the first time in about 4 years I've actually got to sit down and watch the Superbowl. Congratulations to New Orleans on a tenacious win. Payton Manning's body language in the 3rd gave it all away, didn't it?

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UPDATE: No urgency to this report. It's from February 7 last year (d'oh!)

The Saab 9-4x has been caught doing some snowy testing once again. I don't know about you but I'm becoming much more open to the Saab SUV idea. I mean, I liked this car when I first saw it in Detroit back in 2008, but I'm becoming more accepting of the idea of one of these eventually being parked in my driveway.

Maybe I'm getting older or something, but that's a foxy looking vehicle.

Don't believe the engine talk in the article. This SUV will come with the same engines as the Caddy SRX, that is a 3.0 litre normally aspirated six (said to be a bit anemic) and the 2.8T V6 (said to be quite good in this car).

All I hope is that it's significantly lighter than the Caddy as that will improve the driving experience no end from what I've read so far.

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There are some awesome photos of the Thailand Saab Support Convoy here.

These guys seem to love their Saab 9000s.

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And whilst we're talking photos, here's a 99 rally vehicle I'd not seen before, on Flickr and posted by Mattijs

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Saab 900 wins the latest instalment of the 24 hours of LeMons as covered by Jalopnik. Simply awesome.

I noted last night that these guys were the overnight leaders and it's good to see they survived all the lead changes to hold on today.

Thanks Ted for the heads up!