#SwedishCars

Volvo and the Twilight Saga are inviting fans to join “Journey to the Wedding,” an online promotion created in conjunction to the upcoming release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, in theaters November 18th. Participants of the “Journey to the Wedding” online game could win a trip to visit the locale of Edward and Bella’s honeymoon, Rio de Janeiro, as well as a night in the same luxurious house the movie’s hero and heroine enjoyed. More importantly, participants also get a chance to take home the Volvo S60 R-Design driven by Edward in the movie.

According to Saab CEO, Victor Muller, a takeover offer of the Swedish brand by China’s Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. and Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. has been turned down.

U.S. private equity firm North Street Capital will give Saab a $70 million investment, including an equity stake worth $10 million and a $60 million loan to the ailing car maker.

The administrator in charge of the Saab bankruptcy proceedings has told a Swedish court that the process must stop.

Narrowly escaping bankruptcy and liquidation for the 17th time (ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration), Saab has confirmed receipt of a 70 million Euro payment from Chinese investor and automaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co.

The tiny island nation of Singapore is best known for its laws banning chewing gum and instituting corporal punishment against criminals, and apparently, a big lover of the Saab 9-5.

Volvo Cars plan to discontinue production of the Volvo C70 convertible at the Pininfarina Sverige AB plant of Uddevalla, Sweden, by 2013. Established as a joint venture between Italian design house Pininfarina and the Swedish Automaker since 2005, the plant is responsible of building only the C70 model and employs 600 workers for the task.

At this week’s SEA All-Wheel Drive Symposium in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, OEM supplier BorgWarner will show off its next generation of AWD systems including a new hybrid-electric setup. The system, known as eAWD, will be fitted to a Saab 9-3 and BorgWarner claims it will offer, “superior stability and traction with lower emissions and up to 20 percent better fuel economy.”

Saab‘s museum collection of historically significant vehicles was seized by Swedish authorities from the company’s museum. The Swedish Enforcement Office took possession of  the museum and other contents, including 13 exhibits, 22 engines and six workshop tools.

There was a time, some 35-odd years ago, when the only engines found under the hood of a Volvo were four-cylinder units. Some were naturally aspirated, and some were boosted via a turbo-charger.

Saab‘s days as an automaker might not yet be numbered. According to a recent report a Chinese automaker may be interested in purchasing the bankrupt automaker. “I’ve heard this one before,” you’re probably thinking to yourself. But this time it’s different…. we promise.

A Swedish court has rejected a protection and voluntary reorganization plan, citing that it does not believe any steps the automaker makes will help it to recover.

Another week and another sob story regarding Saab. The troubled automaker has just applied for protection from creditors, and is trying to avoid the bankruptcy petition made by the unions.

Can a Volvo transport truck beat a Ferrari in a drag race? Not unbelievable enough for you? Then let’s make the Volvo a hybrid too.

With plans to move forward, Saab is now talking about the future, with an eye on its past.