Filed under: Trends, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Saab
Saab confirms 9-4X CUV to replace 9-7X SUV
Saab U.S.A.'s General Manager Jay Spenchian told Ward's Auto that a Saab CUV, reported by nearly all members of the press to be called the 9-4X, will replace the Chevy Trailblazer-based 9-7X SUV after the end of the decade. The Trailblazer is expected to be discontinued by 2010 and Spenchian said that the introduction of a Saab CUV would likely overlap a bit with the 9-7X.
Spenchian, however, wouldn't reveal what platform on which the Saab CUV would ride. Ward's reports that the new CUV could be built on the same platform as an upcoming Cadillac CUV destined only for the European market. Dubbed the BLX, this Caddy CUV would be built at Saab's Trollhattan plant that currently can't keep workers busy building only the Saab 9-3 and Cadillac BLS sedans. Such a move would move production of Saab's new people hauler back to Sweden from its current point of production, Moraine, Ohio, where the Chevy Trailblazer is built.
The Saab 9-4X will be priced right on top of the 9-3, which ranges from $25,570 to $43,320, and will be sporting Saab's new design language previewed on the Aero X concept.
[Source: Ward's Auto]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mr 7:24PM (8/01/2006)
At the current rate, there won't be any Saab "after the end of the decade."
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Kowell 7:32PM (8/01/2006)
10$ says it's a rebadged Equinox
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AMcA 8:20PM (8/01/2006)
I believe that's right, a rebadged Equinox/Torrent/Vue, a.k.a. Lambda.
But it's going to be a rebadged next-gen Lambda, which ought to have some Caddy/Saab grade goodness engineered in from the start.
Besides, remember that a Lexus RX is just a rebadged Highlander, which is really just a stupid Camry underneath it all.
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George 8:33PM (8/01/2006)
Haha. Aren't Saab sales down about 40%? If so, then I agree with the first poster.
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Ekow 9:34PM (8/01/2006)
Snore.....
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Finished.Law.School 11:16PM (8/01/2006)
More badge engineering bullshit from GM...
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Anthony94114 12:18AM (8/02/2006)
Regarding the sales stuff.. quoted from Trolhattensaab.com,
"In July 2006, Saab USA had it's biggest sales month of 2006. The 9-5 had it's second biggest sales month of the year. The 9-3 and 9-2x both had their best sales months of the year (hey, gotta say something good about the 9-2x every now and then).".
The funny bit is that the 9-7x is falling in sales.. just as Saab starts yacking about another one. UGG! The brilliant thing about Saab, to me, an owner of my second 9-5 wagon, is that they have hot turbo acceleration, great MPG, smart looks, utter comfort.. not dumbass 4x4-stilted-handling with 4 mpg. If only Saab could grab the eco-bull by the horns and trumpet its virtues and build on them with new diesels, new hybrids, new bio-fuels -perhaps they'd really be guaranteed a successful future.
For this new 9-4x, I heard a while back it's going to be based on some Daewoo that's being sold as a 7seater Chevy, in Europe. Cute. I'm at least hoping it's going to be a Swedish car.. that might help.
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Steven T. 1:08AM (8/02/2006)
GM needs to get rid of Saab, since they seem to be slowly killing it anyway. GM simply doesn't have a knack for niche brands. For example, whoever pushed through the 9-7X should have been fired, because it severely compromised Saab's already shaky brand equity.
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iQuack 2:01AM (8/02/2006)
Saab is dead already. Its cars are old now and its SUVs are Chevy/GMC things with Saab snouts on them.
They're nothing but badge-engineered vehicles that demean Chevy/GMC and confuses people. Chevy trucks and GMC are redundant, too. GM should dump one of them--they're the same vehicles anyway, so why support 2 brands that offer nothing different from each other.
Saab is a distraction that should be put out of its misery because it's a money eater that does nothing for GM at all.
Saab was a mistake for GM and the company should cut its losses and concentrate on Chevy, Saturn, Cadillac, and Daewoo-built cars that are built in Korea or other places in Asia and at low cost.
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All World Automotive 8:33AM (8/02/2006)
Any one know if this will be towable? Looking for a flat towable for our RV.
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DC_1 9:11AM (8/02/2006)
AMcA,
Actually the Lexus RX was here before the Highland which makes it the other way around. Back to the Saab they should be good and dead when the Saab Equinox arrives.
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Adam 9:38AM (8/02/2006)
Saab. Born from parts bins.
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art 12:09PM (8/02/2006)
Saab: definetly not too european to be subject to 5K rebates.....I can't wait to see the 35K+ models go for 30.
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Dr. Drive 10:07PM (8/02/2006)
No. 12 is too true!
Carlos Ghosn, save us! Make sure your stake in GM takes ownership of SAAB 100%! Make SAAB a hit because GM is continuing to make SAAB like s_it!
SAVE US!!!
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J ron 11:47AM (8/03/2006)
Saab was such a great car company... I hate GM for everything they have done to saab, olds, and pontiac.
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jux 6:04AM (8/04/2006)
So true, post #8, Saab tries to get an ecological image and then they present this sh..., gas wasting car! What an idiot must have thought about it. But GM is not for nothing one of the worst Car Company (probably in the World)
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John 5:25PM (8/09/2006)
Unreal how disconnected from reality these GM guys are. US citizens bought SAAB and Volvos in the past because they were perceived as SAFE, Sensible and GREEN. GM should go full bore in making SAAB the SUPER GREEN brand. SAAB is best way to experiment with the alternative stuff, and SAAB has the customers with the education to understand and money to buy the leading edge technologies. Can you say traction control?
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Tony 12:50PM (8/14/2006)
I agree with the 9-7/9-2 comments, but Saab = good for GM. They are going to turn things aroun with this brand, and very soon.
The 9-4X will be more of a Saab... it will be on a car platform, not a monster truck one.
US people bought Saabs because they are safe?!? Nothings changed. The "GM SAAB" 9-3 was the first ever double-best pick for safety. The 9-5 is still the safest car in Sweden.
Not to even mention this years new V6 engine and the 9-3 SC (Sport Combi). That is one of the hottest wagons on the road.
Sales are up up up right now all around the globe. It is the best selling vehicle in Sweden. Saab sales in Australia are up 51% and Australia has now become Saabs 3rd largest market.
Yep... sounds like a brand in troulbe to me. Saab may very well post thier first profit since GM took over this year... and y'all are sounding the death knell?!?
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walt 4:54PM (9/16/2006)
Is there hope for saab?? What I saw on the lot today were rebadged trailblazers, subarus, and opels. The only actual saab was the 9-5 I test drove...and wasn't impressed(no airbags for rear passengers,loud road and wind noise, and you have to bury the pedal to make it move).
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autoshow 5:29AM (10/05/2006)
The price: $25,570 to $43,320 ... you almoast can buy 2 cars at price of one
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