SAAB is launching ambitious expansion plans to both increase its model line-up and boost its global sales. The Swedish manufacturer says that its 9-3 and 9-5 models will take worldwide sales up from a predicted 130,000 units this year to more than 150,000 next year, but Saab says this is as far as the range can go with its existing models.

A spokesman said: 'To increase production beyond 150,000, as we plan to do, there will have to be new model lines but what they will be has not been decided. The company policy is to grow - that has been confirmed - but any talk of new models being sports utilities, sports cars, mini-vans or four-wheel-drive models is purely speculation.' Details of new models are expected to be announced this year.