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2010 Saab 9-5 May Be Rebadged As Buick: Report

SWEDISH NEWSPAPER Dagens Industri is reporting that General Motors may use the as-yet-unlaunched 2010 Saab 9-5 as the basis for a future Buick model, should the Swedish automaker be forced to close.
With Spyker currently appealing against GM’s decision t


SWEDISH NEWSPAPER Dagens Industri is reporting that General Motors may use the as-yet-unlaunched 2010 Saab 9-5 as the basis for a future Buick model, should the Swedish automaker be forced to close.

With Spyker currently appealing against GM's decision to close Saab rather than sell it, the future of the company remains in an uncertain limbo for the moment.

After its initial offer failed earlier this month, Spyker put in a renewed bid for ownership of Saab. Spyker's new offer expires on December 31; CEO Victor Muller expects a response from GM  this week.

However should Spyker fail once more, the production-ready 2010 Saab 9-5 would be orphaned. According to Dagens Industri it may yet be picked up by GM's premium Buick brand.

However, Buick has already drawn on the resources of GM's European subsidiaries for part of its new product line-up. The danger in introducing another model is that it may dilute sales and reduce profitability.

The 2011 Buick Regal is based on the Opel Insignia (a slightly smaller car than the 9-5), while the new Buick LaCrosse (below) shares much of its underpinnings with the Saab.

With two models already riding on the Epsilon II platform that's used by the 2010 Saab 9-5, the viability of repatriating the Swede to America is already in question.

Still, with virtually all development on the new 9-5 completed and the car ready to enter showrooms, it would seem a massive waste to let it die should GM decide to pull the plug on Saab.

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