36 responses so far ↓

• 1 Tompa // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:27 am

  400Nm of torque for a 2,0 litre, 245hp? Wow.. Must be a world record… If it´s true. Thats the torque spec for the 9-4X BioPower Concept running on E85 pumping out 300hp..

  Strange

• 2 turbin // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:59 am

  BSR tuned 2.0T puts out 247hp/388Nm with software tweaks only. the above specs for the 9-4x are not out of the question at all. What is in question is whether it is done with DI or not. Sounds like appropriate specs and character for the 9-4’s size.

  Gimmee any of the silvers.

• 3 SaabKen // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:22 am

  The Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo puts out 260 HP / 260 lb-ft from the same 2.0L direct-injected, turbocharged Ecotec four found under the hoods of the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Red Line, and upcoming Chevy HHR SS.

  I wonder if the Chilean engine spec is E85 variant ?

• 4 1985 Gripen // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:32 am

  SaabKen: I also learned the Opel GT (sold only outside of North America) also uses this engine.

  I wonder if it’s got direct ignition as well. Is Saab the only GM brand that has the D.I. cassette? I remember hearing (don’t know how true it is) that the D.I. cassette is what enables BioPower, which is why there has been no BioPower application in the 9-3 Aero (V6) engine. The Holden engine doesn’t have a D.I. cassette.

  I’m guessing that Saab of Chile was a bit overzealous about setting-up their website and were setting it up online instead of offline, using numbers they were pulling-out of the air…

• 5 Wulf // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:35 am

  Why would they already be working on putting the 2010 model on their website? Perhaps it will be released early as a 2009 or 2009 1/2 model?

• 6 1985 Gripen // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:39 am

  Wulf: perhaps their webmaster down there has some time on his hands. Maybe it’s their 9-3/9-5 salesman.

  On an unrelated note, I’m finally ready to define myself an avatar and I can’t figure-out how to do it. How did you guys get your little avatar?

• 7 Wulf // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:44 am

  You’ll need to sign up at http://www.gravatar.com and use the same email address you use at TS when posting.

• 8 Dr.Agan // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:51 am

  This is fantastic, i hope these photo’s will represent the vehicle accurately at launch!!! We will be trading in our aero spec sportcombi for this baby, cant wait for it to be out!!!!

  Turbo 4 cylinder sounds like a blessing with these current gas prices!!!!

  

• 9 1985 Gripen // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:00 am

  Thanks, Wulf. Will do. I guess you’ll see if I’m successful soon enough…

• 10 2-don // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:16 am

  That’s a cool Gravatar. Is that a micro machine? My wife already wants one of those 9-4s. If it does come with a 2.0 engine, that may seal the deal.

• 11 Wulf // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:27 am

  I am currently driving a Toyota RAV4 rental (sold the 2005 9-5 Aero and waiting to pick up my new ride) and I am kind of liking this crossover thing. It is still boring to drive (it’s a Toyota after all) but I like the higher seating position and AWD is nice to have here in snowy northern Michigan. The suspension is great on rough roads as well. I think a 9-4X would suit me very well so I am looking forward to buy a used one in 3 years for $20K.

• 12 Tiago do Vale // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:31 am

  I look at those pictures and I look… and all I see is the concept. I’m I the only one? Are you sure those are of the production car?

• 13 joemama // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:34 am

  No webmaster could be that stu-pid. I really like the aerial shot, although I don’t see a Polar White version?!?!?!

  2-Don my wife is with yours, and if it has a 2.0, I’ll consider it.

• 14 Andy Rupert // Sep 18, 2008 at 12:00 pm

  The black one looks aggressive. I like that.

• 15 1985 Gripen // Sep 18, 2008 at 12:22 pm

  Thanks 2-don! Actually, it is a drawing by a friend of mine. I’ve already forwarded the full-size drawing as well as a companion drawing to Swade, but I think he’s pretty busy. Maybe when he gets back home and settled he’ll have a chance to post it on this site!

• 16 Alex // Sep 18, 2008 at 12:28 pm

  That’s awesome if the engine really IS a 2.0 making 245/300. Like Ken said, the DI engine in the Cobalt SS makes 260/260, so the 245/300 number makes some sense if they decided to re-tune the engine for less power and more torque (like an LPT engine). Think the Cobalt SS engine but running higher compression with a more restrictive head and possibly a smaller turbo.

  All of which are things that would make the engine torquier and far more drivable when it’s hauling around a big, heavy CUV. I just hope that GM has wisened up and decided to bring the 4-cyl model to the US.

  I really like the look of it in all of the different colors, with the right marketing this could be a big, big car for Saab.

• 17 riku1100s // Sep 18, 2008 at 4:02 pm

  Strange, if the 2010 9-4x only has colours from the 2008 Saab palette, especially considering where it will be built.

  Even those 400 Nm from a 2.0 (turbo) gasoline engine sound slightly too good to be true. The hp number sounds realistic.

  But who knows…

• 18 Martin N // Sep 18, 2008 at 5:46 pm

  Tiago,
  You’re not alone. As far as I can see, that’s the concept. The site is probably a dummy they are building so that they can go online quickly when they gett real pics and specs.

  Isn’t this the real thing, as far as we know:
  

• 19 Martin N // Sep 18, 2008 at 5:53 pm

  And here’s the concept picture to prove it. They just changed the colours.
  

• 20 Martin N // Sep 18, 2008 at 5:59 pm

  Can’t post links to the pics, so please forgive me for spamming… Here’s a page at Dailycars dot ru. Second picture from the top.

• 21 The Fop // Sep 18, 2008 at 8:30 pm

  They clearly made this lot up. Very enterprising of them, but not very informative!

• 22 ctm // Sep 18, 2008 at 11:56 pm

  Swade,

  Never heard of the Buick Rendezvous, so I googled up some pics. Must be one of the most ugly cars I have ever seen. Designed in China?

• 23 montsaab // Sep 19, 2008 at 12:52 am

  The car looks great. And that’s the production car for sure. The buzz being created by the 9-4x, 9-1/3, and 9-5 is really beginning to gain momentum. Maybe there’s life left in Saab afterall.

• 24 SaabKen // Sep 19, 2008 at 12:53 am

  Gripen,

  Sorry for confusion, but “D.I.” in the current context refers to direct injection, not direct ignition as we know it in our Saabs. Direct injection is summed up here:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_direct_injection

  “Gasoline direct injection is a latest variant of fuel injection employed in modern two- and four- stroke petrol engines. The petrol/gasoline is highly pressurised, and injected via a common rail fuel line directly into the combustion chamber of each cylinder, as opposed to conventional multi-point fuel injection that happens in the intake tract, or cylinder port.

  Gasoline direct injection enables a stratified fuel charge (ultra lean burn) combustion for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emission levels at low load.”

  I know the CTS’s 3.6L is DI, and I believe it’s starting to trickle through several other GM models now. Audi, BMW and VW(?) I think also utilize this.

• 25 Tompa // Sep 19, 2008 at 1:13 am

  Ctm.. The Buick Rendeszvous isn´t that ugly.. There are much worse like the Lexus RX, All Infinity monsters etc.

• 26 Sven van Dijkman // Sep 19, 2008 at 1:51 am

  The ams.de site has ex- and interior pics and tech specs as well (in German). Here’s the link: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/auto_-_produkte/hxcms_article_515539_13987.hbs . They claim it’s exclusive!

• 27 Tompa // Sep 19, 2008 at 2:46 am

  Continuing on the Direct Injection talk..
  The Vectra/Omega 2,2 litre (L engine?) i still argue to be an engine to work on and that has been given to little attention. It has been used atleast since 1999 in Opels/Vauxhalls. It´s Direct Injected and has got a timingchain instead of a belt (Saaby).

• 28 Tompa // Sep 19, 2008 at 2:58 am

  AND why oh WHY does not Saab sell Diesels in the US when VW is launcing a Touareg TDi and the New Rabbit as TDi in the US in early 2009?
  Imagine.. The 9-4X and the NG 9-5 with the new 250hp 2,9TiD V6… Eh america?

• 29 mo // Sep 19, 2008 at 2:59 am

  saab has confirmed that the image above is not the production 9-4X, but rather a creative photoshop of the 9-4X Concept from last year’s Detroit Auto Show produced by third-party reps down in Chile.

  from autoblog

• 30 Tiago do Vale // Sep 19, 2008 at 3:07 am

  Ufff Finally!!!! Comme on!!! I was getting crazy with you guys!

  But I was amazed with the amount of people excited about this: that shows that the 9-4 is generating a lot of enthusiasm!!! That’s good!

• 31 1985 Gripen // Sep 19, 2008 at 8:32 am

  SaabKen: Thanks, but there is no confusion. I know that the D.I. you were referring to is “direct injection” (as opposed to port injection, which Saab still uses in ALL of its engines, despite most cutting-edge auto companies having switched to D.I. already). I was changing the subject when I mentioned direct ignition.

  Does Saab exclusively have direct ignition within GM? I think that is what made their Trionic system (which has since been replaced by Bosch’s Motronic system) so capable of handling the BioPower application.

• 32 N // Sep 20, 2008 at 7:34 am

  Sorry to say, the 2.0T will be 220hp as in the Insignia..

• 33 Jeff // Sep 21, 2008 at 7:43 am

  Ooh, I’m excited to see what Swade thought of the Rendezvous. If he liked it, that’s cool, but that’s doubtful. If he didn’t, I can tell him it doesn’t matter, because Enclave.

• 34 1985 Gripen // Sep 21, 2008 at 8:24 am

  The 9-4X is slated to only be available with the normally-aspirated V6 in the North American market if the rumors are true. We in N.A. won’t be offered the more fuel-efficient (and therefore more desirable, IMHO) 2.0T version even if they do end up putting that engine into the 9-4X.

  Also, there will be no excuse for any new Saab vehicles to be equipped with a port injection engine. All new Saabs must have direct injection to not be a laughing stock when even Pontiacs, Saturns, and Opels now have it. The “premium” brand should be given the cutting-edge technology first, not have it trickle-up from the brands lower down the prestige ladder. Talk about mis-managing the brands, GM…

• 35 Johan // Sep 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm

  “Does Saab exclusively have direct ignition within GM? I think that is what made their Trionic system (which has since been replaced by Bosch’s Motronic system) so capable of handling the BioPower application.”

  No, direct ignition is not a Saab exclusive, although it is a Trionic exclusive. Trionic 8 is currently found on all Saab gasoline engines in 9-3 except the high feature V6 (and the naturally aspiranted 1.8 XE availible in europe). The high feature engine uses Bosch Motronic E9 and the 1.8 uses a system called Simtec.

  Direct ignition with Trionic 8 is also no longer in the form of a cassette but with separate ignition coils and a unit called CDM which analyses the ionization current for the ECM. The ionization current is not related to the BioPower function which is handled through lambda sensor inputs. Ionization current replaces conventional knock sensors and phase sensors.

  Trionic 8 does not have high voltage ignition drivers, so it can not handle direct injection applications. Nor is it currently availible to control variable cam phasing, something which improve torque over the whole rpm range, reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Kjell AC Bergström, the boss at GM Powertrain Sweden have however said that they are working on a new engine management system which will be able to control the whole drivetrain in all kinds of GM vehicles, even with hybrid applications, so one can assume that Trionic 8 will be replaced in a not too distant future.

• 36 fuzzi from luxembourg // Sep 21, 2008 at 6:01 pm

  what about Diesel engines for the 9-4 X ? in Europe 60% of people are buying Diesel engines !