According to a recent study in the UK, Audi and MINI are among the automakers with the most engine failures.

In a poll conducted by Warranty Direct , the company studied its claims data to compile the study, with Honda, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz topping the lists of automakers with the most reliable engines. Honda had an engine failure of 0.29 percent, while Toyota came in second with 0.58 percent. Mercedes had one engine failure for every 119 engines, a failure rate of 0.84 percent.

SEE MORE: Are German Cars Reliable?

It should be noted that the study was performed in the UK and so does not include data on the Big Three (Chrysler, Ford and GM), while it does include data on cars from automakers not offered in North America, including MG Rover, which topped the list for the most engine failures with a 7.88-percent failure rate. Audi was second worst with a 3.71 percent while MINI was in third with 2.51 percent. It’s also worth noting that BMW was in seventh place and Volkswagen came ninth from the bottom.

The study conducted had 36 automakers on it, with Audi, BMW, MINI, and Volkswagen all finishing in the bottom 10.

[Source: Autoexpress UK]

Discuss this story at Audi-Forums.com

Saab is dead, but that isn’t stopping Saab Parts North America (SPNA) from launching a support program for recent owners.

It’s called the Saab Secure program, and it offers support to customers who bought 2010 and 2011 Saab vehicles and are left without any warranty coverage after the company went bankrupt.

“Just over a year ago the news was not good.  Saab owners in North America and globally had just learned of the bankruptcy of (Saab),” said SPNA president and CEO Tim Colbeck. “Today they are hearing some good news about parts, service and vehicle coverage.  It is news Saab owners and the Saab network deserve, and I’m pleased to announce our new programs and partner companies, who are all committed to serving Saab owners in North America.”

Under the program, eligible owners can bring their vehicles in for a free oil change, which starts the limited lifetime protection plan. That plan continues for the life of the vehicle as long as the owner maintains their vehicle within the required intervals at an official Saab service center.

Model year 2010 and 2011 vehicles with up to 70,000 miles are also eligible for more comprehensive coverage plans which their owners may buy. Those packages range from a basic powertrain package all the way up to comprehensive component coverage available in single to five-year terms.

Last month, SPNA and GM entered into a warranty services agreement to allow SPNA to provide service to Saab vehicles from 2009 and prior which were still under GM warranty.

Discuss this story at SaabCentral.com

Saab Automobile Parts North America (SPNA) has entered into a Warranty Services Agreement with General Motors so that current Saab owners have access to official parts and accessories along with having their vehicles repaired by Saab factory trained technicians.

Covered Saab owners can now take their vehicles to any of the 179 SPNA Warranty Service Providers to have warranty work performed on their vehicles with the agreement kicking off on December 17th, 2012.

“Our agreement with General Motors is an important step in supporting Saab owners in North America and ensuring they have access to Saab Genuine Parts, service programs and technical support for years to come,” said Tim Colbeck, President and CEO of Saab Automobile Parts North America.

In addition, SPNA will launch their Saab Secure program next year which will provide limited service support to 2010-2011 model year Saab owners.

Discuss this story at SaabCentral.com

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the new rightful owners of Saab, might hasten its relaunch plans by resurrecting the 9-3 model in conventional gasoline form next year.

The brand originally wanted to relaunch Saab in 2014 with an electric car, but NEVS is mulling the possibility of starting production on a 9-3 model next summer in order to raise cash and maintain awareness of the brand. The Swedish automaker is still aiming to launch its electric vehicle offerings by 2014.

SEE ALSO: Saab 9-3 Convertible EV Under Consideration

The battery-powered 9-3 will be built on the Phoenix platform and manufactured in Saab’s factory in Sweden. Saab spokesman, Mikael Oestlund, confirmed that all future vehicles built using this technology will be branded as Saabs, but the company plans on designing a new logo for the brand.

[Source: Automotive News]

Saab‘s new owners, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), is looking forward to resurrecting the brand, and one model under consideration is a 9-3 convertible electric vehicle.

In a recent interview, NEVS revealed that it has an 18-month plan to bring a 9-3 electric vehicle to the Chinese market and now the automaker plans on producing additional variants, including a 9-3 convertible.

SEE ALSO: Saab Sold to National Electric Vehicle Sweden

NEVS did mention in the same interview that there is pressure for bringing the 9-3 back into production within one year. That means that the automaker is considering bringing the 9-3 back to life with standard gasoline engines. The problem is, Saab sourced those powerplants from General Motors in the past, and the American automaker isn’t exactly quick to jump back on board.

But discussions are in the works, and Saab won’t entirely close the door to using GM powerplants in its 9-3 models. Either way, it looks like Saab’s new owners are keen on bringing the brand back to life in a reputable and future-proof way. Only time will tell how successful it will be in doing so.

[Source: Autoweek Netherlands]

After the recent sale of Saab to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), there were still some issues regarding the use of the griffin head logo, but now that has been resolved, and NEVS will move forward with its plan to build electric vehicles on existing Saab platforms. 

The finalization of the deal came when NEVS gave in to truck maker Scania and defense and aerospace group Saab to not use the logo, although NEVS will be allowed use of the Saab title. The finishing of the deal included full acquisition of the main production plant, which will be operational soon. ”In approximately 18 months, we plan to introduce our first electric vehicle based on Saab 9-3 technologies and a new technology electric powertrain,” said NEVS chairman Karl-Erling Trogen.

NEVS intends on producing cars primarily for the Chinese market as the government and companies are investing heavily in these technologies. Development of the vehicles has been underway in China for some time, but now ownership of the Trollhattan plant will allow the company to begin the manufacturing process.

[Source: Automotive News]

Now that Saab is officially bankrupt, owners of aging Saab models are looking for new cars to purchase and enjoy. A recent study conducted by Polk reveals which automakers Saab owners have defected to. 

The study uses the Polk Disposal Loyalty Methodology, which measures actual vehicle replacements in homes. Essentially, each time a vehicle is added to a garage at a home Polk looks for the disposal of an existing vehicle in the same garage within six months of the addition of the new vehicle.

Using that info, a graph was made to see what automakers Saab owners have defected to, with Honda and Volkswagen leading the way with 7.2-percent and 7-percent, respectively. Audi and Toyota are tied at 6.3-percent while Chevrolet rounds out the top five with 6.2-percent.

All in all, it’s a pretty diverse mix of automakers that Saab owners have defected to with close to 80-percent defecting to 15 different brands.

[Source: Polk]

Saab may be bankrupt, but that isn’t stopping BMW from suing its Saab Automobile Parts division for $3.2 million plus interest for unpaid deliveries.

The German automaker is claiming that Saab Automobile Parts, a former unit of the now bankrupt Saab Automobile, received a large number of spare parts and components that were never paid for. These parts and components were part of an agreement that BMW and Saab entered back in September 2010. The purchase, supply, and development agreement was for the four-cylinder powerplant, its components, and spare parts, that was to power the Saab 9-3 model.

The lawsuit contends that Saab Automobile Parts is responsible for the unpaid deliveries now that Saab Automobile is bankrupt. Of course, Saab Automobile Parts believes that it shouldn’t be responsible for the parts, going even so far as to saying it has never received them.

“Saab Automobile Parts AB have not ordered or received any spare parts or components from BMW,” said Lennart Stahl, Chief Executive of Saab Automobile Parts AB. “Why would a spare part company order components for a car model that’s not yet in production?”

[Source: Fox Business]

Over 249,000 SUVs are being recalled for a possible fire risk with the window and door lock switches for vehicles sold or registered in 20 states and Washington, D.C. where salt and other chemicals are used to clear roads in the winter.

The affected vehicles are all model years 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, Saab 97-X, and Buick Rainier. According to GM, a circuit board can short as a result of fluids leaking in, causing the power door and window switches to possibly catch on fire. There have been reports of fires related to the recall, but no injuries have been reported.

Owners of the affected vehicles can take their SUVs to local dealerships to have the switches replaced for free. Letters will be sent out shortly so that owners can schedule their appointments.

Here we go again. Just when we thought the Saab buyout saga would be coming to a quiet conclusion, Dutch automaker Spyker has filed a lawsuit against General Motors on behalf of Saab, accusing GM of intentionally driving Saab into bankruptcy.

It’s well documented that China group Youngman tried multiple times to buy Saab, potentially saving it from bankruptcy, but GM decided such a sale would unfairly hand technology over that’s used in the 9-4X model.

Seeking $3 billion, Spyker is covering all the litigation costs on behalf of Saab in exchange for a “very substantial share” of the award when the proceedings are successful. A third party investor has helped Spyker secure the financial backing required to see the lawsuit to the very end, according to the automaker.

“Ever since we were forced to file for Saab Automobile’s bankruptcy in December of last year, we have worked relentlessly on the preparation for this lawsuit which seeks to compensate Spyker and Saab for the massive damages we have incurred as a result of GM’s unlawful actions,” said Victor Muller, Spyker CEO. ”We owe it to our stakeholders and ourselves that justice is done and we will pursue this lawsuit with the same tenacity and perseverance that we had when we tirelessly worked to save Saab Automobile, until GM destroyed those efforts and deliberately drove Saab Automobile into bankruptcy.”

News broke back in early June that Saab would be sold to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), but it appears that the official and final takeover will be delayed at least a month, if not more.

The original deadline for the final closing of the Saab deal was supposed to be last week, but surrounding aspects of the deal have not been completed. For now, the closing of the purchase will be delayed for a month or more, but it will be finalized before the end of the summer. NEVS plans to report back to the public once the deal has been finalized and all the paperwork has been signed.

Regardless it seems like it’s only a matter of time before it becomes official; but with as much debt as Saab had and how complicated this deal was from the get go, we’re not surprised there’s a temporary delay in finalizing it.

[Source: Saabs United]

The new owner of Swedish company Saab is seeking the rights to use the Saab name and logo on a new generation of electric cars. 

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) purchased Saab earlier this month, but the rights to use the logo and Saab name were not included in the deal. Now, NEVS is in talks with Saab AB and truck maker Scania to gain access to the logo.

Scania still uses the logo on its heavy trucks, and the decision will ultimately come from them on whether or not NEVS will be allowed to use it. ”Every use of the trademark had to be discussed,” Scania spokesman Hans-Ake Danielsson told Automotive News Europe. “NEVS can’t get hold of the Saab name until we’ve approved it. That is under discussion right now.”

Scania is also worried about its reputation being tarnished by sharing its logo with a company that they do not control. ”We have to protect our good name and brand. We have to be sure the new owner will not jeopardize that name,” said Danielsson.

[Source: Automotive News]