26 responses so far ↓

• 1 SaabKen // Feb 5, 2009 at 4:11 pm

  Is it really necessary to have dual exhausts out of 4-bangers ?

  My parents’ Subie Legacy (2.5L boxer four) has dual exhausts. Don’t see any logical reason why.

  So would a 2.0T with dual exhausts be perceived as more upmarket ? Je ne comprend pas.

• 2 Psycho Dave // Feb 5, 2009 at 4:17 pm

  You can not see the rear axle, it is the exhaust that can be seen. Do a comparison with this Turbo X.
  http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/xass2.jpg

• 3 swade // Feb 5, 2009 at 4:31 pm

  I’d agree with you on the centerpiece, Dave, but the bits on the side look like the lower parts of the rear axle in that X photo (forgive my technical knowledge – there’s probably a proper name for them).

  On the 9-3x, the one on the right looks like it’s inline with the wheel wheras on the rear muffler on the Turbo X looks like it’s behind the wheel.

• 4 2.0T XWD // Feb 5, 2009 at 4:49 pm

  I have a 2009 2.0T XWD and although only 4 cylinder is equipped with the twin-exhaust pipes – this is as standard, and is with the Vector trim. It does look very good with the twin pipes, and I am sure that the 9-3x will look great as well!

• 5 WooDz // Feb 5, 2009 at 5:56 pm

  I’m pretty sure all Aero models have dual exhausts regardless of engine.

• 6 Razvan // Feb 5, 2009 at 7:34 pm

  looking closely the X appears clear, is no doubt for me that there is an X near 9-3; having the height of the 3.

• 7 ctm // Feb 5, 2009 at 7:59 pm

  Yes, that’s another thing… Swade insists on writing 9-3x and 9-4x instead of 9-3X and 9-4X… Why?

• 8 Razvan // Feb 5, 2009 at 8:16 pm

  does the link for the pictures still work for you?
  http://www.motorauthority.com/gallery/2010-saab-9-3x-crossover-spy-shots.html
  I get a blank page. But i got blank page also for the site: http://www.motorauthority.com/
  Both with IE 7 and firefox.

• 9 ctm // Feb 5, 2009 at 8:52 pm

  Razvan, works fine for me (Safari). Here are the same pics (+ one extra):

  http://alltommotor.se/bilspionen/sista-testerna-for-nya-saaben-1.8439

• 10 Razvan // Feb 5, 2009 at 8:59 pm

  @ctm: thanks, this one is working for me

• 11 Arcaneind // Feb 5, 2009 at 9:56 pm

  Sadly, all I see is a Volvo XC70 knock-off… about 6 years too late

• 12 Mark_Belfast // Feb 5, 2009 at 10:22 pm

  Woodz, indeed you would expect Aero to have twin exhausts, but in the UK at least they are not on the 2.0turbo versions – a serious omission IMHO since iduA have long provided this visually attractive (not sure what purpose it serves and it must cost more to repace down the years) on their engines above 1.8l.

• 13 Jon // Feb 5, 2009 at 10:47 pm

  On UK market 2.0T Aero’s they have the twin exhaust as of MY09

• 14 PT // Feb 5, 2009 at 11:12 pm

  Arcaneind – theres a lot more to this market than the XC 70. Think about the Audi AllRoad, Subaru Outback – not to mention the X3 and Q5. The XWD, added clearance and extra cladding atract a whole new segment of customers to Saab who would have thought of Saabs as city cars to date. To me this is a very clever & logical line extension that the 95 should do as well. The only pity is that it could have been going on for the last 10 years.

• 15 MarkoA // Feb 5, 2009 at 11:55 pm

  Still, just like Swade pointed out, looks like it´s been raised only modestly. Compared to my OB:
  http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/92/winter1vl7.jpg which is 195mm.

  Also 9-3x has stille very long rear and front overhang which is not good if you drive it on really extreme conditions. I thought they´d change the shape of bumpers a bit in favor to get more off-road feel to it.

• 16 Mark_Belfast // Feb 6, 2009 at 12:11 am

  Jon, long time no hear, that’s good news anyway – I’m still tempted by the ‘vert but the 2.0T always looked a bit ‘flabby’ round the rear due to the high end and no visible exhausts. IMHO diesels shouldnt feature on verts, so the 2.0 is the next best option (and much the cheapest lease version last year anyway).

  Maybe when the 300c goes back in Oct I’ll re-engage with Saab, either a vert, or more hopefully a 9-4x, but timing seems unlikey for that….

• 17 Adam // Feb 6, 2009 at 4:52 am

  I had really hoped they’d skip the fake silver plastic skid plate. They’re on all these crossovers now, but to me there’s nothing that says Fake Offroader more than a fake skidplate.

• 18 Sven van Dijkman // Feb 6, 2009 at 5:27 am

  Although the badge should say/says “9-3x” it looks to me like there is a “c” there instead of the ‘x’. Probably just a snow illusion.

• 19 SaabKen // Feb 6, 2009 at 5:34 am

  Sven van Dijkman, I guess we “c” what we want to “c” [wink]

• 20 SaabKen // Feb 6, 2009 at 6:15 am

  I cropped the badge, tried to sharpen it and increase the contrast a bit (using XAT Image Optimizer). Still can’t “C” the letter(s) next to the “3″:

  http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg281/SK9T/Saabs/250504090_B.jpg

• 21 CarPix // Feb 6, 2009 at 6:54 am

  Thats def a X, i have sent swade a closeup so he can post it here .

  Cheers
  CarPix

  The 9-5 shots where from me aswell

• 22 Mantas // Feb 6, 2009 at 7:07 am

  I hope this horrible black plastic is hiding something beautiful.. If not it will be one more “plastic” SAAB:(

• 23 ctm // Feb 6, 2009 at 7:35 am

  SaabKen,

  Maybe a “S” as in “Salomon Edition”?

• 24 Dan9-1 // Feb 6, 2009 at 7:53 am

  i think that a written Saab across the back (where the badge is) would look better than the badge in this application

• 25 Kroum // Feb 6, 2009 at 8:57 am

  Hey Mantas, I bet the plastic is just hiding the leather-wrapped sapphire-incrusted underbody of the car. Saabistas gotta take on them rough backroads in style.

• 26 Mantas // Feb 6, 2009 at 4:55 pm

  Kroum>