Another Saab 9-4x Spy Shot
According to this article in the Auto Express (UK) , the accompanying photo shows a test mule for the upcoming 2010 Saab 9-4x.
I think that’s a fair assessment, given that the vehicle in the picture barely varies from the 9-4x concept, all the way down to the styling of the wheels. Barely visible as a slight contour in the white mesh is the unmistakable inverted trapezoidal grille that we all know as Saab, and it appears that this test mule retains the slightly raised grille position that we saw on the concept 9-4x. If you follow the hood line across the front, you can see that the grille opening is not on line with the engine compartment.
I can spot a couple of differences, too. The mirrors are a different, but, surprisingly are a little more radical in shape on the test car than on the concept car. I’m a little disappointed to see that the “nearly flush” A and B pillars are now raised and treated much as they are on current Saab models. Finally, I think that the wheels and tires on the mule are smaller than on the concept vehicle, which, in my view, deducts some of the muscular attractiveness of the 9-4x concept.
Given that automakers are now finalizing tooling and manufacturing processes for the 2009 model year, the 9-4x should be very close to production design if it is to debut in 18 months as a 2010. Therefore, I think that we can count on the 9-4x production vehicle being almost the same as the concept, at least outwardly.
Now, how much of that great-looking interior makes it into production will be an interesting question to consider over the next year or so. Here’s to hoping that it will be in the same spirit, because people everywhere will “want it”.
As all of you know, I’m not an SUV/CUV guy, but I could see a 9-4x in my garage if I needed the extra capacity. I’m just sayin’.
More from this category
- Saab 9-4x nude and other snippets
- Saab 9-4x leaks (as if you didn’t know)
- Continued 9-4x Spy Shots (obligatory)
- AMS score 9-4x spypics
More from this author
- Cadillac HUMMER Saab consolidation comes to the Music City
- The end of the world as we know it, part II
- A single EnG snippet that just won’t wait
- Turbocharging — one more reason to like autumn
Subscribe to this author
Recent Comments
- Arnold on Tuesday Snippets
- Jeff on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
- Kroum on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
- Markac on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
- eggsngrits on Cadillac HUMMER Saab consolidation comes to the Music City
- 1985 Gripen on Cadillac HUMMER Saab consolidation comes to the Music City
- 1985 Gripen on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
- Adam on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
- Dan on Cadillac HUMMER Saab consolidation comes to the Music City
- Greg Abbott on GM and Chrysler sitting in a tree?
Isn’t that more of a camouflaged prototype (a test version of the real car) than a mule (systems from the coming car tested “under cover” of an other model)?
“I’m a little disappointed to see that the “nearly flush” A and B pillars are now raised and treated much as they are on current Saab models. Finally, I think that the wheels and tires on the mule are smaller than on the concept vehicle…”
These are the common things that usually go away in every case (for practical reasons) when moving on from concept to production model…
IMHO little surprise there.
Martin: You got me there.
Moose: “A little…” would indicate that in my opinion it’s little surprise, too.
I very much hope they don’t use the incredibly overused (innefective) “born from jets” theme for the 9-4x commercial/advertisement campaign.
I’d prefer smaller wheels. Smaller wheels means you can fit bigger tires in the wells.
To me, big tires are more muscl-y than big wheels, look at any old pony car.
It should look nice enough to compete, but there needs to be a few things about the 9-4x that establish it’s presence as a TRUE competitor to the FX, X5, and ML
First, there NEEDS to be a version of this that makes more than 300hp, whether it’s through a boosted V6 or a NA V8 is up to GM, but the 9-4x needs to have at least one version that breaks the magical 300hp barrier.
Second, it NEEDS to handle well. Not just better than the 9-7x, the 9-4x needs to have driving manners that truely give the X5, Cayenne, and FX a run for their money.
Third, it NEEDS direct-injection engines to get the EPA mileage up. Whether it’s a 240-260hp DI 2.0T ecotec or a DI 2.8t, Saab needs to get with the times and offer some direct-injection engines on their new models. Since both the ecotec and highfeature engines have direct-injection variants, it will be inexcusable if the 9-4x’s gas engine options are all port-injected.
Finally, it NEEDS something to give it some real green car street cred. Green sells, and Saab desperately needs to pursue any possible direction for the brand, especially one so rooted in Saab’s heritage. This means hybrid drivetrains, dual-fuel capability worldwide, or preferably both. Since GM already has a two-mode hybrid version of the the 9-4x’s platform-mate the, Saturn Vue in the works, not offering a hybrid 9-4x is deep into “inexcusable” territory.
So I have high hopes for the 9-4x, especially if it’s as close to the concept as I think it will be. I also feel that Saab needs to offer something really new to the brand in the 9-4x if it’s going to sell any of them to first-time Saab buyers.
She looks ready to go to me but I must say I was hoping for something with more visual interest. The should have made the front more aggressive but in the same vein as the 9-3 (or even AeroX) whereas the rear end should have been a little less Ford and more SportCombi.
I am, however, sure that American buyers will lap it up and with a TTid engine Europeans will as well.
PS The interior architecture on the concept was perfection!
+1 on the interior being gorgeous, imagine how it will look with a nice slab of wood where the concept had the acrylic (though acrylic would be a nice option, especially on the Aero). With proper materials it should definitely be worthy of carrying the Saab name.
Alex - so what you’re saying is it NEEDS to be a standard premium CUV?
I personally have yet to actually hear that how good a car was for the environment was a factor when someone I know decided to buy a car, so I don’t know how important greenness is outside of, say, California. It’s nice to be able to say that something is green, but certain companies get away with selling things that are terrible for the environment and no one really cares. I mean, look at Volvos, those things have never really been clean, and they’re a liberal icon.
I live in Massachusetts, right in the heart of Saab country and I’ve seen firsthand the mass exodous of the traditional Saab buying demographic from their Saabs and VW’s to Japanese hybrids.
The people driving Prisuses today are by and large the same people who were driving Saabs in the 80’s and 90’s, it’s just that Saab has failed to retain these buyers.
Saab needs a way to make the 9-4x stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of people who DON’T scour the web for news about upcoming Saab models. Dual-fuel capability and a hybrid option would be a way to do this, especially as a way of differentiating the 9-4x from the other European CUV’s. No other European company offers a hybrid CUV and a 9-4x hybrid would give Saab the chance to be a trend-leader once again instead of being a day late and a buck shore the way they seem to be today.
And @ Jeff, like it or not, those liberals in California and New England are Saab’s best hope for future buyers. They tend to have a lot more disposable income than most people between the coasts.
In line with Alex’s comments about Saab’s bi-coastal customer base, the need for green creds and dual fuel capability, I checked the Dept. of Energy’s website which lists E-85 filling stations. Results: # of E-85 stations open to the public within 150 miles of LA: 2. # within 150 miles of San Francisco: 0. # within 250 miles of Boston (that includes metro NY): 3.
From a purely marketing perspective, its clear why (in the US at least) hybrids have more perceived utility than dual fuel ethanol cars.
But remember that at least half of green-car buying is based on emotion instead of reason, which is why Saab should offer dual-fuel capability as a standard feature across it’s gas-engined product range regardless of the actual ability to get ethanol fuel for these cars.
The words “biopower” and “biohybrid” just sound too good to not be offered in the US market. They would attract green car buyers like flies.
Heaven help us, you just may be right, Alex.
Alex, I think you’re a little off on the 9-4’s competition. In my view, this car is designed to compete with the X3, Q5, RDX and FX. The X5, Cayenne, and ML are all in a different class. They are all bigger as well I believe?
Alex, I don’t really know if buying for greenness is an emotional thing. I think that at least 2/3rds of all Prius sales began with this logic:
Hm, the Prius is cheapish, and it gets great mileage! Plus, it’s hip! Bigger bonus, I can feel superior to lots of my friends!!!
People buy them because it’s a Toyota that gets 50 mpg that also stands out. Those are pretty much the same reasons people buy those ridiculous Scion xBs. It has little or nothing to do with the environment. Those people driving Prii today? Dollars to donuts they were driving Corollas yesterday.
And hey, I wasn’t putting liberals down with my Volvo comment. I’m a registered Democrat and I certainly don’t live in flyover country, I’m from Maryland. I’m just saying, lefties used to drive Volvos, and old Volvos get like 18 mpg tops, and I can’t imagine they had low emmisions, either.
Troll96 - There are 15 E85 stations within 50 miles of my house, but 7 of them are gov’t only, and one isn’t finished being built yet. That still leaves 7. It’s weird that there aren’t any around Boston, and the closest one to New York is in Philly. That’s odd.
I’m not sure what to believe, but there seems to be A LOT of recent studies and articles saying that the Ethanol fuel idea is all going very wrong. Lots of global deforestation happening to grow corn. Fewer trees = more carbon in the air. You have to burn lots of coal to turn corn into ethanol. They’re even saying that more fertilizer runoff into the Gulf will kill fish habitat. Mercy.
Ethanol from corn is just plain dumb, not just because it is so expensive (per mile driven) and requires continuous governmental subsidies, but also because of the diversion of food resources it entails.
Ethanol cannot be transported as easily as gasoline, so it’s important that there be lots of local sources of production. Enter the ethanol-from-waste approach championed by GM partner Coskata. This makes sense because fuel sources can be both recycled and eclectic (old tires, cellulosic fibers, or whatever carbon-based trash one may have handy.)
Using this approach, both urban and rural areas can supply the raw materials needed for ethanol production. There may be shortages of lots of things these days, but there is no shortage of garbage. What’s more, there is also no lobby insisting that it be left in its “natural” state. The logic of recycling garbage to make a clean burning, biodegradable fuel which is produced in one’s own country is very alluring indeed. Should this ever get off the ground, we can expect to see ethanol filling stations proliferate across the globe, and biofuel cars along with them.
I agree with John K - the 94X seems to be smaller than the other premium Euro SUVs. I think its more aiming at X3/Q5/XC60 territory. regardless, it does need to handle well to compete.
WRT to Volvos not being green. I thought that they were 85% recyclable, had Californian LEV category engines and the Prem-Air radiator coating actually ate up ground level emissions? If I’m right - thats pretty green to me.
Hi,
Can someone clarify exactly the size of the 9-4x? Is it closer to X3 or X5. I was hoping for something bigger than the X3!!!
Troll96: “Heaven help us, you just may be right, Alex.” YES!!!
Jeff: About the Prius, you are spot-on.
Magnus: The 9-4x is slotted to be close to the X3 in size, how close I don’t know (thankfully I don’t know much about BMW).
The X5 can seat 7 people. That’s not a crossover, that’s a full size SUV.
I think the 9-4x will be a great seller for Saab and bring them back into the spot light. They do need an Aero Sport tuned version that would place it in the catagory of those looking for a fast and sporty CUV. I hope like the concept Saab steps up the quality of paints for their new model cars. That also has an effect on the luxury appeal in peoples eyes. Not to mention that pearl white paint and two toned bottom looks simply gorgeous.
Is that a sun roof/moon roof I see or just some blackness on the roof. I really like the look of this car, I had my doubts a few weeks ago but I think now seeing something which is in the metal proof of it going to production is a good sign. Especially for Saab and the number of models they have currently.
It can only be good.