Saab responds to "oblivion" comment for the 9-4X
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Yesterday, we reported on the fact that General Motors' global sales summary for 2008 included a mention that both the Saab 9-5 and 9-3X would be launching in 2009. We also took note of the fact that the 9-4X was not mentioned anywhere. Saab spokesman Jan-Willem Vester also noticed what we wrote and dropped us a note. Responding to whether Saab might "just slowly slide off into oblivion," Vester says:
The word 'oblivion' is certainly not in Saab's vocabulary anytime soon, especially since the Swedish government has proven be to be very supportive of the brand as one of its best known products around the world and a main source of jobs for the region.As for the 9-4X, Vester points to the fact that the vehicle is still being tested and regularly caught on camera, including this provided shot taken somewhere in the vicinity of Arjeplog, Sweden. The 9-4X shares its architecture with the Cadillac SRX and producing it would certainly add to the economies of scale. Based on its size, design and likely powertrains, the 9-4X should certainly be a far better fit in the lineup than the Trailblazer-based 9-7X ever was.
Given that GM would apparently like to offload the brand on a new owner and is taking steps to make it more autonomous, it certainly makes sense to keep the 9-4X alive, fleshing out the lineup and making for a more appealing purchase. However, with no firm launch date and GM still struggling, the 9-4X's long-term viability may still be in doubt if no one opts to buy Saab.
Gallery: Saab 9-4X testing in Sweden
[Source: Saab]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
P.V. 1:46PM (1/22/2009)
That's good to know.
Reply
barry 1:51PM (1/22/2009)
I don't understand why Saab doesn't jump on the retro bandwagon and build the 900/9-3 that everyone wants. I would never buy one of the current GM rebadged Saabs. They lack all the character that the brand was known for. You bring back the 2 and 4 door hatch and I will be first in line for one.
Reply
JZeke 1:59PM (1/22/2009)
Theres a bunch of old-school Saab's id love to see (and would shop) if brought back: The 92, the 99 Turbo (awesome 70s funkmanship here, I still pine for a clean example) and perhaps even more daringly a Sonnet V, built on the Solstice/Sky Alpha platform.
aeroturbo 3:26PM (1/22/2009)
I understand the want for a hatch, but I love my 2006 9-3 Aero from its 2.8 turbo to its 4 wheel steering, even the interior with its plethora of buttons. A friend of mine drives a 328xi and I don't like that car nearly as much as mine.
Randy 2:21PM (1/22/2009)
I really need to brush up on my Saabanese!
bornfromjets03 4:42PM (1/22/2009)
Yes Saab needs to follow chevy/dodge/ford and make a car based on the classics.
I'd like bringing back the sonnet on the alpha platform! the turbo 2.0L would work just fine in a SAAB!
I'd also like them to bring back "viggen". SAAB needs an M series competitor.
Those who hate on SAAB for being pointless and/or a waste of money *lutz*, have never driven a SAAB, cuz I have no idea how you can NOT love these cars!
Keith M 1:57PM (1/22/2009)
Or how about a new Sonnett
Reply
KC 2:04PM (1/22/2009)
Can anyone think of a good reason why someone should buy a Saab? Acura is not good enough? Germans are too flash? Infiniti is Japanese? Volvo is too old school? What about GM's stablemates that share everything underneath?
Reply
Swede 2:20PM (1/22/2009)
What about if you like them?
Shieldzee 2:25PM (1/22/2009)
Let's see. Here were my reasons for buying a 9-5 in '03:
1. I have had a long relationship with the dealer and they take GREAT care of me.
2. I love the feel of a turbo kicking in
3. It is as big as a 5 series Bimmer at a much lower cost
4. After an ECM re-flash, I get 38 MPG on the highway
5. The trunk is enormous
6. The back seat is big enough to be comfortable for tall adults
7. The Harmon Kardon stereo is great sounding
8. The cup holder is damn cool - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMxsf7PA95E
superman211 2:25PM (1/22/2009)
There is no reason to by any GM car.
skiwithme 3:46PM (1/22/2009)
ok, couple of things i should clear up. my dad has had two 9-5s: he preordered his first one, a sedan, before it arrived here. he drove that for a couple of years and then swapped it for an estate because he got annoyed by the all the dog hair on the leather, dog loogie streaks on the windows and chewed up door panels, and wanted somewhere to contain the beast. they both had the same 2,3 lpt engine, but the estate one was slightly less well equipped.
now, i have driven both and i guess the best thing that i can say about the 9-5 is that the ventilated seats were sublime (really excellent) and the engine, despite not being very powerful for such a large car, had that sort of turbocharged windy "go" feeling that you don't get in most NA cars. not bad on the whole, i guess. the first one had quite good build quality, the second one, though, had some issues with electronics and generally didn't feel as well made to the touch.
now, contrary to popular opinion, with such a car i think the jet aircraft marketing is bang on because i think it goes well in a straight line with that airy boost and sort or smells like an airplane, but it also corners like one: banking left and right and you can't really feel the tarmac because the controls aren't designed for the runway.
but none of that really mattered. the real reason why i never liked the 9-5 was something else.
let me be clear on this - the cup holder is not cool. it's evil, in fact. i was young but i still should have picked up on it when i saw the brochure of the 9-5 when my dad came home with it one day, eyes filled with excitement and determination. i fell for the shot of the cup holder in the brochure hook, line and sinker, just like my dad. i don't know why the cup holder is such an argument on autoblog, but lets be honest - it's an insane reason to buy a car, ok?
however, the real thing that put me off was when i opened the bonnet. i knew i had seen that shape, color and badge on the engine somewhere else before. being a natural car freak i had snatched all the brochures of different cars from my local motor show and had been reviewing them during many a sleepless night. yes, i soon remembered the original acquaintance - an opel brochure.
i has been convinced that the main point of a saab, the thing my dad was so excited about, was the identity of saab. because the thing cost just about as much as the germans but was front wheel drive and, i think, not that brilliant to drive, i felt it had to make up for the dynamic shortfall with pure character.
but it lacked that saabness, that character. in fact, i think the whole brand of saab is all about character. that's why everyone is screaming for GM to either kill it or give it up, or stop the butchering and let it be its scandinavian self. it has such potential in this, i think, somewhat boring aggregate of types of cars. i mean, the only reasonable new car i would actually buy is a fiat 500 and i would be labeled metrosexual immediately after the purchase.
no-one, however, would do that with the renaissance of a 900.
so i agree completely with the point KC is trying to make.
UH2L 4:38PM (1/22/2009)
With regard to my 9-3 SportCombi, I bought it because
0. My 1997 900 S has 135,000 miles on it and still runs and looks great
http://uh2l.blogs.com/photos/cars/p1030403.html
1. unique
2. turbo power
3. 4 cylinder efficiency
4. safest car of its size
5. looks great
6. FWD with good handling
7. reasonably priced for all the options you get
8. best seats around
9. hatchback that holds as much as many SUV's with the seats folded down
10. (still) owned by an American company
Jared 2:50PM (1/22/2009)
Keep drinking that Cool-aid Jan-Willem Vester. Saab is toast.
Reply
JDMlover 3:08PM (1/22/2009)
Not looking too good.......
Reply
k.w.a 3:25PM (1/22/2009)
who cares about the 9-4x ( that question is only half rhetorical...seriously, who cares??)
give us the brand new flagship now, worry about the badge-engineered lineup-fillers later.
Reply
dwightB 3:25PM (1/22/2009)
Um... is it an impossibility that it could be launching in early 2010 and that's why it wasn't mentioned for 2009?? That's only one year away.
Reply
jamie 3:29PM (1/22/2009)
Looks like they're doing some 'warm' weather testing...warm, at least for Sweden. LOL
Reply
Farmboy 3:32PM (1/22/2009)
That's nice to hear that SAAB still has some fight left in it. However, that SUV (crossover?) is uglier than sin. Sorry to get off topic.
Reply
skiwithme 3:48PM (1/22/2009)
ok, couple of things i should clear up. my dad has had two 9-5s: he preordered his first one, a sedan, before it arrived here. he drove that for a couple of years and then swapped it for an estate because he got annoyed by the all the dog hair on the leather, dog loogie streaks on the windows and chewed up door panels, and wanted somewhere to contain the beast. they both had the same 2,3 lpt engine, but the estate one was slightly less well equipped.
now, i have driven both and i guess the best thing that i can say about the 9-5 is that the ventilated seats were sublime (really excellent) and the engine, despite not being very powerful for such a large car, had that sort of turbocharged windy "go" feeling that you don't get in most NA cars. not bad on the whole, i guess. the first one had quite good build quality, the second one, though, had some issues with electronics and generally didn't feel as well made to the touch.
now, contrary to popular opinion, with such a car i think the jet aircraft marketing is bang on because i think it goes well in a straight line with that airy boost and sort or smells like an airplane, but it also corners like one: banking left and right and you can't really feel the tarmac because the controls aren't designed for the runway.
but none of that really mattered. the real reason why i never liked the 9-5 was something else.
let me be clear on this - the cup holder is not cool. it's evil, in fact. i was young but i still should have picked up on it when i saw the brochure of the 9-5 when my dad came home with it one day, eyes filled with excitement and determination. i fell for the shot of the cup holder in the brochure hook, line and sinker, just like my dad. i don't know why the cup holder is such an argument on autoblog, but lets be honest - it's an insane reason to buy a car, ok?
however, the real thing that put me off was when i opened the bonnet. i knew i had seen that shape, color and badge on the engine somewhere else before. being a natural car freak i had snatched all the brochures of different cars from my local motor show and had been reviewing them during many a sleepless night. yes, i soon remembered the original acquaintance - an opel brochure.
i has been convinced that the main point of a saab, the thing my dad was so excited about, was the identity of saab. because the thing cost just about as much as the germans but was front wheel drive and, i think, not that brilliant to drive, i felt it had to make up for the dynamic shortfall with pure character.
but it lacked that saabness, that character. in fact, i think the whole brand of saab is all about character. that's why everyone is screaming for GM to either kill it or give it up, or stop the butchering and let it be its scandinavian self. it has such potential in this, i think, somewhat boring aggregate of types of cars. i mean, the only reasonable new car i would actually buy is a fiat 500 and i would be labeled metrosexual immediately after the purchase.
no-one, however, would do that with the renaissance of a 900.
so i agree completely with the point KC is trying to make.
Reply