Spy Shots: Saab 9-4
by Jonathon Ramsey on Dec 13th 2008 at 3:06PM 
If you were to order a black Saab 9-4, as of now you can almost see what your CUV will look like. If things go as originally planned, it will go into production in about a year. Up front is pure Saab, the rear hatch couldn't say SportCombi more forcefully, and the sloping shoulder line and window profile are 9-5. It's supposed to go into production in about a year, but hopefully we'll get to see it in Detroit in a few weeks since who knows where things will be a year from now.[Source: Global Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dannyccmc 3:20PM (12/13/2008)
I quite like this design. Saab might have a good thing in their hands.
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Auari 3:28PM (12/13/2008)
ya, as long as the sticker is around 40k
Ligor 10:53PM (12/13/2008)
sure looks liek an ok design,
but it needs to base at $33k
if it bases at $40k, i'll find few drivers. I mean $40k can buy a lot of car these days, and this version of the Saturn Vue is not worth $40k
Moe 3:42PM (12/13/2008)
Hardly an exciting set of spyshots when the concept 9-4X was pretty much production ready (at least the exterior design).
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Stingers 9:51PM (12/13/2008)
I agree, but it's nice to see the whole car.
I hope they do something with the rear window/hatch. Looks awkward and slapped together right now.
Preus 3:47PM (12/13/2008)
Well, it doesn't make you wow, but it looks like a great car. Judged by my impressions so far, I'll prefer one ahead of a Tiguan. Still I'm pretty sure it'll be at least a bit overpriced. But, great car.
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Torrent 3:49PM (12/13/2008)
This is looking great. Very modern and strong design.
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gearhead18 4:01PM (12/13/2008)
Nice looking design. Rear-end looks a little bit awkward to me in the profile shot but the rear 3/4 looks nice. Hopefully Saab will still be around to see this thing into production/
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Dunc 4:25PM (12/13/2008)
I'm still a little disappointed about the fact that Saab stole the WRX wagon design. As a WRX wagon driver, it was a little frustrating to see a car company steal the design of your beloved car and make it "better" (not). Honestly, side by side they are so similar-looking that you wonder why Subaru didn't sue Saab.
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gearhead18 4:31PM (12/13/2008)
Wow Dunc, your right. That's more than just a striking resemblance, from the rear 3/4 view (I liked, which makes sense considering I really like the 'Rex Wagon) they are almost dead-ringers for each other. Wonder what the back is going to look like with the real taillights on.
Mobius_1 4:55PM (12/13/2008)
I'm a little disappointed they stole the round wheels idea. :P
Yago Bal 8:21PM (12/13/2008)
Ever heard of the Saab 9-5 wagon? From 1997?
The WRX design feature you mention only came after 2001.
k.w.a 4:28PM (12/13/2008)
Looks great, but strategically speaking I don't see the point of this. With GM flailing and Saab itself doing even worse, I would think they'd use the time and money to redesign the 9-5, or at least the 9-7x to make Saab as a whole more competitive. Saab's biggest hurdle is getting noticed amongst the competitive crowd and I don't know if they will with just another CUV.
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Moe 4:38PM (12/13/2008)
The 9-7x never should have existed, so I'm thankful it's going out of production with it's more mainstream brethren soon. The 9-5 on the other hand desperately needs a redesign, despite successive facelifts keeping it looking sharp. I've heard the replacement is debuting mid to late '09, however, given GM's current financial situation I doubt that holds much water.
Ryan 4:48PM (12/13/2008)
"I'm still a little disappointed about the fact that Saab stole the WRX wagon design."
Wrong. GM had partial stake in Fuji Heavy Industries at the time the WRX debuted on American shores. A deal was made between the two parties for some sweet badge engineering, and voila! The 92-x and Aero were conceived.
Personally, I love Subaru for their performance-oriented vehicles, but I prefer the Saab's 92-x Aero for the refined interior and ride quality. Good luck finding one these days, however.
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Yago Bal 8:49PM (12/13/2008)
Wrong.
Saab has been using that design element long before the deal with Subaru (and before Subaru used it at all, in fact) in the 9-5 wagon.
philrocka 4:46PM (12/13/2008)
Looks great. SAAB is the ONLY GM brand that would ever see my money personally. Their concepts are amazing yet they have the hardest time convincing GM to build them. This, a new 9-5, and a 9-1 could more than save SAAB.
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jblazed54t 7:05PM (12/13/2008)
so basically another body change, but it looks to me this is still an enclave/outlook/arcadia...am i right? just as the 9-7x was a trailblazer/envoy/rainier. They really need to stop producing 4-5 of the same vehicle.
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philrocka 8:30PM (12/13/2008)
Theres only 2 versions of this: Cadillac BRX and the SAAB 9-4X. They look pretty different and they might have differences in the engines they're available with. I'd expect a turbo option in the SAAB and a larger V6 in the Cadillac.
sk 8:18AM (12/14/2008)
I thought it's derived from the Opel Antara/Saturn Vue platform.