Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Saab unearths Subaru Tribeca-based 9-6 prototype from the archives]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/saab-unearths-subaru-tribeca-based-9-6-prototype-from-the-archiv/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/saab-unearths-subaru-tribeca-based-9-6-prototype-from-the-archiv/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/19/saab-unearths-subaru-tribeca-based-9-6-prototype-from-the-archiv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Saab 9-6 prototype

Go back a few years ago to when Saab and Subaru were the quirky stepchildren in the General Motors family. That was before GM sold its stake in both, and when the beancounters in Detroit wanted to try something different. They took a Subaru Impreza wagon/hatchback, gave it some new bodywork and presto! the Saab 9-2x was born.

That wasn't the only tie-in between the two that was mooted, however. A second Saabaru was under consideration, based on the maligned Subaru Tribeca. The planned vehicle was scrapped before it had the chance to live, but following much demand from the Trollhättan faithful, Saab has taken the resulting 9-6 prototype out of hiding, put it on display at its own museum and published these photos through its Inside Saab blog for all to see. As you can see, the prototype (like the 9-2x) received an extensively reworked nose in line with the Saab look, but the interior would've been largely carried over had it reached production.

The emergence of the 9-6 prototype has some interesting timing, as Saab itself recently confirmed plans for an expanded lineup that includes a 9-6x - a model that we don't see sharing anything with the castoff crossover seen here. Scope it out in our high-res image gallery.

Saab unearths Subaru Tribeca-based 9-6 prototype from the archives originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-69-6xb9 tribecasaabsaab 9-6saab 9-6xsaab 96saab 96xsaabarusubaru tribecatribecaTue, 19 Jul 2011 11:36:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19994722/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/19/saab-unearths-subaru-tribeca-based-9-6-prototype-from-the-archiv/19994722/article-detail.xml 19994722 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web01-saab96_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web01-saab96.jpg <![CDATA[Saab to build three all-new models with its two new Chinese partners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/saab-to-build-three-all-new-models-with-its-two-new-chinese-part/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/saab-to-build-three-all-new-models-with-its-two-new-chinese-part/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/saab-to-build-three-all-new-models-with-its-two-new-chinese-part/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Saab Emblem

Saab finally has some good news to share with the world. The Swedish automaker has announced that it has inked formal, legally binding deals with both Pang Da and Youngman. The only thing standing in the way of both agreements right now is approval by a host of regulatory bodies and government agencies. Moreover, Saab has also formed a conditional partnership with Youngman Passenger Car that will culminate in a new joint venture to produce three new models. The operation will be 50 percent owned by Saab with Youngman Passenger Car holding the keys to the remaining half.

Until now, the three new models weren't in Saab's product plan. The company says that the joint venture will help develop the 9-1, 9-6X and 9-7, though details are scarce at the moment. Comments made by Pang Qingnian, CEO of Youngman, point to the 9-6 and 9-7 as being geared toward the U.S. and Chinese markets while the 9-1 will be adapted more toward global tastes. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Continue reading Saab to build three all-new models with its two new Chinese partners

Saab to build three all-new models with its two new Chinese partners originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-19-69-6x9-7pang daSaabsaab 9-1saab 9-6saab 9-6xsaab 9-7youngmanyoungman passenger carTue, 05 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19983405/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/05/saab-to-build-three-all-new-models-with-its-two-new-chinese-part/19983405/article-detail.xml 19983405 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/saab-emblem_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/saab-emblem.jpg <![CDATA[Patent filed for DOA Tribeca-based Saab 9-6X]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/patent-filed-for-doa-tribeca-based-saab-9-6x/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/patent-filed-for-doa-tribeca-based-saab-9-6x/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/patent-filed-for-doa-tribeca-based-saab-9-6x/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of Saab 9-6X patent pics

It takes no stretch of the imagination to look at the freshened Subaru Tribeca and see a stillborn Saab 9-6x. The grille and the headlamps may be slightly different from what a Saab version of Subaru's biggest crossover would wear, but if you park your Tribeca next to a 9-5, you'll notice the resemblance immediately. All the work had been done to morph the Tribeca into a Saab variant, and then General Motors decided to sell its stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, and so broke the ties that bound the two automakers.

The tidy little story doesn't end there, though. Just this month a patent was filed for a Saab vehicle that can be nothing but the 9-6x that we all thought was dead. Why now? Well, the folks at TurboNines posit that we may yet see the Saabaru crossover for a couple of solid reasons. Right now, Saab has the 9-7x, which is a variant of the Trailblazer. It's in fact the best Trailblazer ever, but it's headed for extinction when General Motors shutters its Moraine, OH plant. That leaves an opening in Saab's lineup, and dealers would love to have something to sell. Enter the 9-6x; all the work has been done, so it can be pulled off the shelf and pressed into service without the cost of development or even styling. Of course, it might just be that we're talking ourselves into something, but the fact that the patent was just applied for makes us think that we could soon see a Saab 9-6x based on one of our favorite larger crossovers.

Gallery: Saab 9-6x


[Source: TurboNines]

Patent filed for DOA Tribeca-based Saab 9-6X originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>saabsaab 9-6saab crossoversaab subaruSaab9-6saabaruSaabCrossoverSaabSubaruThu, 20 Nov 2008 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1375619/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/11/20/patent-filed-for-doa-tribeca-based-saab-9-6x/1375619/article-detail.xml 1375619 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/9-7x_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/9-7x_450.jpg -1 2