Saab 9-4x in my inbox
Saab USA wants me to notice the 9-4x concept, and they said so by sending me an e-mail.
This isn’t really news, but the prose is. It seems that Saab has lightened up a little on the over wrought aviation puns, and decided instead to focus on the technology and design aspects of the 9-4x.
I like it. Click to enlarge.
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Swade, is there anyway you can start mentioning our need to change the marketing scheme in the US to the top dogs of Saab?
I know you talked with Steve Shannon about it, and he talked all about Born From Jets is up there when it comes to recognized logo. But really its just childish and awful. I want move your mind and the EU commercials SO BAD.
I’m sometimes so annoyed, I consider switching my major to marketing and hope I can get in with Saab marketing.
Anyways that was off-topic, but yeh I got this email too. My only BIG concern for the 9-4x is the mpg.
dr eggsngritts, i got that SAME email, and the ONLY reason i read through all the text IS to look for the aviation puns/references. I was pleasantly surprised when i didnt find a disgustingly large amount!
Err Egg N Grits*
I just now noticed before actually clicking on the post, it says who wrote it. My bad haha.
Brought to you by SAUSA?
What the is SAUSA - i thought it was SAAB USA
saucy
I got this same e-mail in my personal inbox this afternoon. I didn’t even read it - just deleted it. Well, I just read it now & I’m still not impressed…
The thing that I don’t get is that this vehicle is being marketed as a 4-seater. Is that correct, Swade? Although I still lust for a 9-3 SS (now a MY2009 model with XWD & full eLSD!) and do like some GM crossovers (the Saturn Arcadia is fine), the 9-4X seems like such a “boutique” or niche vehicle - it seems narrow in its market focus. I can’t see this appeal to a broad spectrum of the crossover market, unfortunately. And, so what if its BioPower!? With little to no E85 pumps to speak of in South Texas, its just marketing hype to me!
That’s my take on this…
I’ll probably get chastised for this, however honesty is the best policy. I visited the Saab 9-4x display and was underwhelmed by the presentation. I was also surprised at how few visitors were admiring it. Detroit show goers seemed to like the look of a nearby 9-7x more. Maybe it was the colour or the lighting of the 9-4x, but the
concept didn’t look all that attractive or special. Strangely, the nearby 9-7x Aero with its very appealing heavily metallic black finish looked much better under the auto show lighting. The 9-7x Aero also received positive comment from show goers.
I hope the 9-4x gets the attention it deserves between now and the official on sale date. 9-4x driving dynamics and fuel efficiency it will better fit the Saab family. Stylistically, I hope it translates as more attractive on the street than it does in concept form.
Much better marketing material from Saab USA.. bravo!
Concerning the 9-4x.. I’m not sold on its conservative exterior.. with everyone doing creases or chiseled bodies… the 9-4x body is a bit, er, plain. Nice front and rear end though, but the middle… Either way.. the 9-7x gets more attention because its bigger, i think thats the only reason.
“Crossover” is just a fashinable term - that is a big 4wd nonsense car, also known as SUV.
NY3UVL714, that’s because the 9-7x is a fairly good looking vehicle by most standards - bit bland at the rear but particularly strong front. the 9-4x by comparison is a bit bland and disappointing especially since it should not have been compromised to the same extent by shared platform issues. As has been said elsewhere, the 9-4x looks like a concept that has been sitting on the shelf for 5 years - it needed to be on sale last year and refreshed in 2 years!
mark_belfast: I completely agree with you.
The 94-x looks like a 2004 Ford Escape. Except that Ford Escape has already won the eco- niche with its snazzy hybrid New York City taxis. I still don’t see what the “concept” is with the 94-x. This is just a me-too rehash of very old themes.
OK, granted, it has a built in ski compartment. I dont ski. The people I know who ski have a roof rack.
I cannot imagine that anybody in North America will buy this given the better options that there are in this segment.
While I’m ranting:
Bio-Power = Engine that has been around in the farm belt for 2 decades. There are millions of cars in the US that can run on “bio-power” already. Nobody will feed vodka to their cars anytime soon. The delusional will continue to push for bad economics until they see their food prices skyrocket. I still remember the headlines from a couple of years ago: “You could go to your local restaurant and fill up on their used cooking oil based bio diesel.” No thank you. Can I have a car that fills up on regular gas and gives me good mileage instead? I’d like to fill up at the local gas station when I need to.
Saab: please stop with this trendy fluff about bio power and airplanes. The competition is focussing on building good, safe cars.
OK, I’m done.
DMR: I completely agree. Ethanol as a fuel has been around for ages. The economics do NOT support a shift to alcohol as a fuel AND CO2 emissions are higher with alcohol (one must include the energy consumed in the making of ethanol)! Could we focus on plug-in hybrid and better diesel emissions? Please? EnG
As a 9-7x owner, I am ready for something smaller and the 9-4x is really my only choice. Good, bad, or ugly, it is likely my next lease. Does anyone know if this thing will be out by Feb 09?