Underlying the comments from the 'deep throat' source from within Saab, uncovered by Trollhattan Saab is a current of patience and planning. Many models are being pushed back, not the least of which is the new and hotly anticipated 9-4X crossover.
While details on the equipment and features of the production 9-4X will have to wait until the Los Angeles Auto Show, expectations for the car include a 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine developing 245hp (183kW) and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque. Drive will be sent to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, and at full tilt the 9-4X will accelerate from 0-72mph (0-100km/h) in 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph (250km/h). Those are impressive figures for what amounts to a small-to-midsize SUV.
North American versions of the car could feature a 284hp (209kW) petrol V6 engine also mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. There’s also the possibility that Saab could also offer General Motors’ upcoming 250hp (184kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque V6 turbodiesel. Either engine would offer even better performance than the small turbo, though only the diesel would compete on efficiency.
A concept version of the 9-4X was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January. At that time, the car had been speculatively assigned to GM's Theta architecture, shared with Cadillac's SRX crossover, and that appears to still be the case. The car will be built alongside the SRX in a GM plant in Ramos, Mexico.
Other delays noted by the source include a late-2010 launch for the 9-3x and a 2011 facelift for the 9-3 range. The 9-3x is a seemingly easy product to turn out, so again, the delay could be rooted in market strategy rather than technical necessity, but simply sitting on new models as the market worsens could prove to be as bad a plan as releasing new cars into the worst sales atmosphere in years.
Reader Comments
Wed Oct 8 2008 11:14 AM
NoNameDenton says
Bring on the 9-1 with awd and turbo engines, no more crossovers please
Wed Oct 8 2008 4:47 PM
HECTOR says
There are some cars that you see them down the street and one of the first things that come to mind is the question *who the hell would buy that car?!*
BMW 1 series, the Aztek, the Scion xB... And pretty much the entire Saab line up.
What are they thinking?
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