Saab Automobile AB has announced it is expanding its product line further with the introduction of the new Saab 9-2. The 9-2 will be Saab’s entry offer and it says will help attract new, younger customers to the brand. The company says it is targeted at customers looking for a distinctive, fun-to-drive car with the versatility to support an active lifestyle. The company says the 9-2 will feature excellent driving dynamics with its all-wheel drive system and turbo performance as well as versatility with its hatchback body style. Leveraging the global resources of the GM Group, Saab Automobile AB says it is collaborating with Fuji of Japan to create the new Saab 9-2 model in cooperation with Subaru, Fuji’s automotive division. “We see an emerging segment in the United States for a premium, small car below the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan,” says Peter Augustsson, president and CEO of Saab Automobile AB. “The Saab 9-2 is a result of collaboration between two like-minded brands. We both have a special aircraft heritage and a successful history in rallying, and our cars are known as dynamic, safe and fun-to-drive. It makes a lot of sense for us to combine our strengths in creating the next Saab and bring it to the market quickly,” says Augustsson. Saab says it will offer two versions of the new 9-2, both five-door, all-wheel drive cars. The base Saab 9-2 will be equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Aero version will feature a high performance, 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Initially, the vehicle will only be offered in the United States market. “Both brands have this special flair,” said Bob Lutz, GM’s vice chairman for product development. “It is such a natural fit for them to combine their talents and expertise to bring the first all-wheel-drive performance car into the Saab family — a car with great dynamic qualities and exhilarating performance." The new Saab 9-2 will be produced in Fuji’s facilities in Japan, beginning in the spring of 2004. Saab Automobile AB, based in Trollhättan, Sweden, is fully owned by GM, which has a 20 percent stake in Fuji.