  We collect a sample of 42 SNe Ia with Swift UV photometry and well-measured
early-time light curve rises and find that 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia
have different pre-peak UV color evolutions compared to normal SNe Ia and other
spectroscopic subtypes. Specifically, 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia are
cleanly separated from other SNe Ia subtypes by UVM2-UVW1>=1.0~mag at 10 days
prior to B-band maximum. Furthermore, the SNe Ia that exhibit non-monotonic
bumps in their rising light curves, to date, consist solely of 2002es-like and
2003fg-like SNe Ia. We also find that SNe Ia with two-component power-law rises
are more luminous than SNe Ia with single-component power-law rises at pre-peak
epochs. Given the similar UV colors, along with other observational
similarities, we discuss a possible progenitor scenario that places 2002es-like
and 2003fg-like SNe Ia along a continuum and may explain the unique UV colors,
early-time bumps, and other observational similarities between these objects.
Ultimately, further observations of both subtypes, especially in the
near-infrared, are critical for constraining models of these peculiar
thermonuclear explosions.
