LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan
Saab is looking to move forward after its long relationship with General Motors. Saab CEO Victor Muller quoted Winston Churchill today at the LA Auto Show saying “If you’re going through hell… keep going.” Muller says that Saab has gone through hell and is seeing the light on the other side. The 2012 Saab 9-4X is the latest taste of what Saab now has in store for us.
2012 Saab 9-4XThe 9-4X takes aim at the luxury crossover segment and is prepared to do battle withs some heavies, such as the Audi Q5, Lexus RX and BMW X3. The Cadillac SRX platform-mate arrives chock full of upmarket goodness like eight-way power adjustable seats, Bluetooth connectivity and a tri-zone climate control system; all part of the standard features list.
The exterior styling stays true to what we see with the Saab 9-5 sedan, and clearly states that the vehicle comes from a line of sporty cars. To match this style, the under-hood offerings come in two spirited flavors: a naturally-aspirated 265-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 that pumps out 300 hp. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that feeds all four wheels through Saab’s XWD system.
It wasn’t just the 9-4X on the menu at the 2010 LA Auto Show. We learned that the 9-5 wagon is set to make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next March, Saab is expanding distribution into China and Russia and all operations have officially been moved to Trollhättan. It’s also the first time in Saab’s history that the 9-3 convertible has been built on Swedish ground.
Hop the jump to find out more about the 2012 Saab 9-4X including a chance to watch the model’s first commercial, and stay tuned for more from this now-independent Swedish automaker in the near future.
[Source: Saab]
Categories: Auto Show, Crossover, LA Auto Show, Saab Tags: LA Auto Show, Saab
First Test: 2011 Saab 9-5 Aero Turbo 6 XWD
Back in February of this year, General Motors unloaded — um, sold — Swedish subsidiary Saab to Spyker Cars NV of the Netherlands, maker of such pricey, boutique sports cars as the $200,000-plus C8 Aileron and C8 Laviolette. The move marked a new chapter for Saab, which is now faced with separating itself from GM and creating a fresh identity that will no doubt lead to new partnerships. Recently, Saab and BMW announced a deal that will put versions of Mini’s turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 in the next-generation 9-3. And what about the all-new 2011 Saan 9-5? Well, even though Saab’s flagship sedan is the first offering to be released under Spyker ownership, it was more or less a finished product by the time the Dutch took the reigns. In other words, if the Saab 9-5 were 30-minute brownies, they’d already been in the GM oven for 29 minutes, 59 seconds.
Categories: Auto Review, Car Review, Saab Tags: Saab
