Updated for clarity.
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Thanks to Teddy in comments on the Anthony Lo video interview (which is, by the way, excellent insight on Mr. Lo’s thinking! Kudos, Swade!), I bring you the official Saab 9-4x website.
All I can say is WOW! Fantastic use of the new 9-3 in the introduction video, and the design of the website is very clean, very, dare I say, Scandinavian.
Boy, as much as we all liked the AeroX, and as much as I was prepared to yawn at the 9-4x, I’m lovin’ what I see thus far. The website and the attention to design feels as if we are getting our Saab back despite the fact that it’s a CUV — you know, the Saab that builds Swedish cars, not Swedish adaptations of other cars. The brand that wasn’t afraid to do it differently than all the rest. With the 9-4x and hopefully, the impending 9-1, it appears that Mr. Lo and team will be creating a design family which will put Saab back into building cars of distinction and practicality at the same time.
This is not an easy task. Anthony Lo and his design group have really done the math on this one. I am thankful. Swade, your task is to get him to spill the beans on the 9-1!! Do it NOW!
Yeah, what’s Swade up to today? Checking out the Hummers?
ctm: I hope he’s catching-up on sleep, but I doubt it. If not sleeping, I hope he got someone to take him up to Sterling Heights to see the GM Heritage Collection.
I think that he had a couple of hook ups with Saab marketing folks. But, could be anything.
“It feels as if we are getting our Saab back — you know, the Saab that builds Swedish cars, not Swedish adaptations of other cars. ”
Seriously? Surely you jest. This is Stars and Stripes all the way.
After second read, you’re right; that’s how the post read. I wrote this in one stream of consciousness and posted on my way to the airport in a taxi. I’ve inserted a little more verbiage that hopefully shows the true intent — that I was prepared to dislike the 9-4x as a ‘me too’ design exercise and was pleasantly surprised with how the Saab designers have managed to infuse the Saab characteristics into even a CUV. Hope this helps. EnG
eggs: if he hooked up (maybe that’s not the term…) with Saab USA Marketing Jan-Willem Vester might have taken him up to the Heritage Collection if Swade remembered to request a visit. I sure hope so. That’s something that’s not to be missed. I mean, he’s about 23 hours away from home and only 25 miles away from Sterling Heights. It’d be a shame if he missed it.
I hope that Swade is getting his beauty sleep.;-)
No, really, he is doing an excellent job and he deserves his rest. So Swade, keep you’re health, we can wait for the great info you are providing us with.
I wonder if the “Be the first to know” section of that website links to here?
Greetings all. Will be covering my day shortly, and will be driving a 9-7x Aero and visiting the Heritage Collection tomorrow…..
You know, I’ve heard that it’s customary for distant visitors to the GM Heritage Collection to take home a set of keys from one of the vehicles. Just reach into that black 1985 SPG and take ‘em. Since you can’t drive it home, you can simply mail me the key(s) and I’ll keep it in my garage for you whenever you come to the States. That’s just the kind of friend that I am. EnG
Great news! Are you driving the 9-7X Aero up to Sterling Heights? Try to see if there’s somewhere safe to step on it from 0 to 60. You know, that’s the quickest Saab you can buy until the Turbo-X comes out.
Have fun at the Heritage Collection tomorrow. Maybe if you’re nice they’ll take you over to CAS, but maybe that’s pushing it! Cheers.
Adam:
I was speaking of the website design, and the design cues not the car itself.
Thats what I wanted to hear, “and will be driving a 9-7x Aero”. Good for you Swade, enjoy it for me too. Get a good nights sleep tonight.
Alright: Tightened up the prose a bit to show the true intent of the post: that I’m impressed that the design team and the website are reflecting Saab values even when asked to build a crossover ute such as the 9-4x.
nice website! The americans should get on the ball and make the US site as nice as the main Saab page. Very nice!
beren
I echo that Beren.. I can’t wait for the Saab website to catch up with the aesthetics of their cars.