UPDATE at the bottom
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Auto Motor and Sport magazine, the Swedish version, are predicting that Saab will show off the cross-country style “Saab 9-3x” at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. The use of the 9-3x name is not confirmed.
Auto Motor and Sport claim that the vehicle will debut in Paris and will be on show with Saab’s 2.0T engine, making 210 hp. They say that the vehicle will be available early in 2009. This may well be the showcase model for Saab bringing XWD to it’s 2.0T engine line, a first in the 2009 model year as it was previously only available with the 2.8l V6.
The modern “9-3x” has been spoken of in these pages for some time now and was informally confirmed in discussions I had in an interview with Steve Shannon in Detroit back in January this year. It was one of the original vehicles planned right from the inception of the Saab 9-3 more than five years ago, but was cut from the program when GM reined in Saab’s spending around the time of the 9-3 launch. Now, with the addition of XWD to the Saab repertoire, the vehicle is back on the menu.
The original 9-3x was a three-door concept car that Saab unveiled late in 2001 – this is not that car. Snippets that we’ve heard about the vehicle, so far:
- It will be based on the 9-3 SportCombi with XWD
Raised by 30mm
Chrome roof rails
Audi allroad look front and rear bumpers
Twin pipes
Chrome strips on the lower door sections
Unique half cloth and leather seats
The report that brought in those snippets also claimed a viewing at the London Motor Show, which starts on July 23rd, however I haven’t heard anything further on this. The Vauxhall/Opel Insignia will be GM’s star at that show.
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Effectively, it comes down to Auto Motor and Sport talking up Paris in October and Djup Strupe mentioning (some time ago) that it would be London in July. AMS’s info is much more recent, but Djup Strupe’s always been pretty reliable in the past.
Either way, we should be seeing the vehicle in the next few months – which is a great thing.
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The summary I saw of the AMS article also had the following info about the 9-4x and 9-5:
In September 2009, a new 9-4X model with 300 hp will be available. Possible competitors will be Audi Q5, Mercedes GLK, and Volvo XC60. After summer 2009 Saab 9-5 will be published with 160hp up to 260 hp depending on the choice of several available engines. New hybrid engines and ethanol engines of the second generation won’t be available before 2011. General Motors developed a “clean diesel” engine with 250 hp, 550 Nm, and 40 % less NOx emission. It will be available for Saab 9-5 and 9-4X
I find it difficult to believe that the 9-5 will be kept to 260hp, especially given that the 9-4x will come in at 300hp. It may be that on release the 9-5 will be kept to that point, but I’m sure there must be plans for a higher output model in the pipeline.
That’s just me thinking out loud, though, with no info to confirm anything one way or another.
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UPDATE
Sven has posted in comments that AMS Germany are saying the “9-3x” will appear in London, which is contrary to the AMS Sweden information. That article, however appears to be referring simply to the 2.0T XWD versions of the 9-3 that we already know are coming to the range in 2009. It doesn’t refer specifically to this “allroad” version that we’re anticipating (thanks bk_aero).
To be clear, I should state again that I haven’t been able to find a link for the AMS Sweden article yet. My information comes from a GM Europe media brief (a summary of GM-related reporting that they circulate internally as a pdf document).
Screenshots of that brief follow. Click to enlarge:
The header page:
The page relating to the AMS article:
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Timing is disappointing, was hoping for London next week.
I doubt the new 9-5 will be held at 260hp as well. After all, it can’t be a “premium” competitor without at least a V6 right?
So will the 260hp come from the DI 2.0T in the Solstice/Sky? Did I read somewhere that they were closing the 2.3T engine plant?
I would say the timing is even worse than next week. This should have been done when the SportCombi was first offered on the 9-3. Heck, they could’ve done it on the 9-5 years ago. But, they allowed Audi to steal the show.
This goes back to recent posts- GM has done a “decent” job in bringing Saab into the 21ist century. However, now that they have done their work, they are allowing the brand to become stagnant.
I am not saying that I want them to cancel Saab… that would be a complete travesty. But, they should look into selling Saab to a company like Porsche AG who can do some wonderful work with our favorite brand.
But, I do believe that new elements like XWD, and even perhaps this new “9-3X” can bring some new life. But, I believe that the brand has been led astray. Let’s hope for the best positive outcome.
So is the 9-3X supposed to be taking the place of the 9-1? I know that hasn’t been said but….. I’m curious. I had no clue this was coming! So it’s an off road 2 door coupe with XWD and a 2.0t engine? Any clue as to whether or not it will look like the concept?
2-don: no, the original concept which carried the “9-3X” name was a 3-door (2 door hatchback) back in 2001, but as was seen with the 9-X the name appears it will be recycled into something different. The 9-3X which will go into production in 2009 is a jacked-up ruggedized version of the 9-3 w/ XWD. Sort of an XC60 competitor, I think.
Great catch there, Gripen. Thanks. I’ve amended the post to make it clearer that this isn’t an interation of that original concept car. – SW
The AMS Germany site claim London. http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/auto_-_produkte/hxcms_article_513864_13987.hbs
They also claim an new Aero version of the BioPower for the 9-5 and 9-3 plus a FWD 2,8 280 hp Torbo V6 for the 9-3. Always a reliable source these germans.
I want to hear more about the 9-1!! Saab needs a 9-1. although any new models would do Saab some good in the states.
When/where can I get a “trollhattansaab.net” window graphic? It’d make my saab so much cooler! haha
Thanks Sven. I’ve updated the article accordingly.
John – stickers have been on the agenda for some time. Will hopefully get to it some time in the near future.
The German AMS page doesn’t talk about the 9-3X Audi allroad-style SportCombi but about the XWD versions of the 2.0T sedan and SportCombi. These two will be presented in London, not the 9-3X.
bk, as I was at work I didn’t have time to run the AMS.de article through a translator. Now that I have, I see you’re correct, and have updated the post accordingly. – SW
It´s too late already. What the **** are they waiting for? Well, okay there must be some technical issues to be cleared to have it available for both engine/transmission layouts. But to me this waiting for 9-3X with no official info tells that it´s still not confirmed yet. And I hate this situation. 9-3 TurboX was recently tested by finnish tv auto show and they really liked it. But they claimed it to be a bit too old fashion. So why´s the wait for 9-3X?
(GM/Saab) Give us a spy shot and we could keep our hopes high for the coming allroad version. Not eveybody wants to have track day 4wd or bulky SUV! Hmph.
This would be my ideal car… but please, no chrome. That’s just ridiculous for a more “rugged” wagon. Make any accents flat black, charcoal, or carbon metallic.
If this truly comes to pass, I’d combine my 2 cars and be happier than a pig in, well you know.
So where are the pictures!? Show me the pictures. (luv TS spy pics)
London= 2,0T XWD.. When will they release the XWD TTiD?
Paris= 9-3X
Sadly I believe that both Vauxhall and Opel will steal both shows with the Insignia.
What Saab nead now is the viewing of the 9-5 and a definitive releasedate for the 9-4X. Would be cool if Saab could show off a 9-4X Aero 2,9TiD in Paris… France is after all the biggest dieselcountry in Europe.. Is it not?
/Tompa
Mark – I agree. A 9-3 All road version…yawn. Just another variant of the 9-3. How many versions do we need?
9-3, 9-3 Anniv, 9-3 turboX, sportcombi.
Enough already! This isn’t how you diversify your product portfolio!
Get the darn 9-4 released, the new 9-5 and the 9-1. That’s what we need. Not another band-aid.
Ok,
Can anyone explain to me why I can get a more powerful version of the 2 liter turbo in a Chevrolet commuter car????? Is this really that difficult for Saab engineers?
I think it’s the funding more than the engineers! Thanks for the update guys!