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Saab 9-4X leaked before LA debut
 
The Saab 9-4X is coming at us in November during the Los Angeles Auto Show, but since no one in the auto industry can keep a secret for long, the first undisguised image of the future crossover has already surfaced on the internet. Good for us, probably even better for Saab since the buzz will only pick up with each leaked photo or spy shot. The 9-4X will be built on an all new platform called the Theta Premium that mixes components from GM’s Theta and Epsilon 2 platforms. It will find itself with its own exterior and interior styling, but will have a dashboard design that will be similar to the new 9-5. The 9-4X will be offered with a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine as the sole engine, but Saab is working on a diesel option for the future. The 9-4X BioPower concept was powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter BioPower turbo engine that delivered 300 HP and strong torque of 295 lb.-ft. With this engine, Saab wanted to demonstrate its commitment to “rightsizing” – achieving sufficient levels of performance with a smaller, more efficient engine. Saab 9-3 To Get BMW Power...Officially
 Spyker, the company that purchased Saab from General Motors, has released an official statement confirming talks with BMW about component sharing. These talks, which we heard about back in June, were originally thought to benefit the new 9-2 first, but it seems the larger 9-3 will get the first taste of BMW’s goodies. An all-new BMW-sourced motor that will produce around 220 horsepower, according to Bloomberg, could power the new 9-3 schedule to be released by 2012. The report also stated that a BMW engine might find its way into the 9-5. Though the 9-3 will be the first to receive the BMW treatment, we shouldn’t rule out the 9-2. Saab hopes to launch the teardrop shaped car by 2014 if it can find a partner. The Mini Countryman’s underpinnings might be used on the 9-2, as well as some small displacement motors from BMW. Check out Spyker’s brief statement after the jump. Full story 2011 Saab 9-3 ePower
Saab will be bringing its first ever all-electric model to the Paris Auto Show in less than two weeks time. It is called the Saab 9-3 ePower and it will continue its development next year as Saab intends to send out a fleet of about 70 vehicles in Sweden. This testing will take place in order to evaluate the ePower in real-world driving conditions and create a purpose-built, electric Saab vehicle. The 9-3 ePower features a 184 hp electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. The sprint from 0 to 62 mph is made in just 8.5 seconds, while top speed is limited to 93 mph. The electric engine is powered by a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack accommodated in a modified floor-pan, in a space occupied by the exhaust system and fuel tank on the standard 9-3 SportWagon. This allows for optimum weight distribution and excellent driving dynamics similar to those of a standard SportWagon. "The 9-3 ePower programme is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect. We now look forward to working with our technical partners in developing such a product." Press release after the jump. Full story 2011 Saab 9-3
After a credible source gave us some specific details on the Saab 9-3 about a week ago, Saab has joined the party by officially releasing all of the details on the sedan. The main change for the 9-3 will be more advanced twin turbocharged engines. All diesel engines will offer a CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km and an exceptionally low combined cycle fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg. The 1.9-liter diesel line-up includes a 130 hp TTiD unit (replacing the previous 120 hp TiD engine), a 160 hp version (replacing the 150 hp TiD engine) and a range-topping 180 hp/400 Nm variant. The SportWagon offers an impressive 61.4 mpg and low CO2 emissions of 122g/km and for the Convertible, the respective figures are 54.3 mpg and 137g/km. The list of equipments will include: Bluetooth phone integration and heated front seats as standard, a ‘change-up’ indicator in the instrument cluster, a clutch interlock system on manual transmissions; child seat top tether anchorage points and a perforated leather sport steering wheel on Aero models. Full story plus press release after the jump. Full story Saab Boreas Sports Coupe Concept
Things sure have a way of coming full circle, don’t they? It wasn’t that long ago when Saab was teetering perilously close to getting sent to the chopping block until a last minute intervention by Spyker not only gave Saab a new lease on life, but an opportunity to make things right again. Now that Saab is finally on the right track, it doesn’t surprise us that design proposals bearing the Saab badge have been coming out left and right, with the latest one done by Spanish designer, Jorge Martí Vidal. Vidal’s work is all kinds of sexy, if we do say so ourselves. Calling it ‘Boreas’ as a reference to the Greek God of the North Wind – yeah, we’re nerds too – the design features some pretty awesome curves coupled with a shiny pearl exterior paint that ironically accentuates the overall simplistic look of the concept. Truth be told, Vidal’s work merits a pair of thumbs up and, if Saab does want to get back in the good graces of their customers, then they can’t do any better than having this car see the production line. Sure, that’s still unlikely to happen, but we’re just saying Vidal’s design is a sure winner. Saab 9-4X confirmed for L.A. Auto Show
In 2008, there was a little concept by the name of the Saab 9-4X BioPower that was introduced at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Two years later, Saab has finished polishing off the production version and will be revealing the second all-new model to be launched under the Spyker ownership at the Los Angeles Motor Show in mid-November. The 9-4X will be built on an all new platform called the Theta Premium that mixes components from GM’s Theta and Epsilon 2 platforms. It will find itself with its own exterior and interior stylings, but will have a dashboard design that will be similar to the new 9-5. The 9-4X will be offered with a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine as the sole engine, but Saab is working on a diesel option for the future. The concept was powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter BioPower turbo engine that delivered 300 HP and strong torque of 295 lb.-ft. With this engine, Saab wanted to demonstrate its commitment to “rightsizing” – achieving sufficient levels of performance with a smaller, more efficient engine. Sales in the USA will begin in late 2011. Saab 9-4X Crossover set for LA Motor Show debut
So it looks like the Saab 9-4X Crossover – yep, that very same vehicle that we’ve been waiting a long time for – is finally ready to for its time in the spotlight. And, according to event organizers of the 2010 LA Auto Show, that time will take place later this year at their event. If you’re having a little difficulty placing where you last saw this vehicle, it was actually a little over two years ago at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show where it was presented in a slightly different tag as the 9-4X BioPower Concept. At that time, Saab was still owned by General Motors and the concept that was shown in 2008 carried the same powertrain with that of the Cadillac SRX. Now that Saab is under the Spyker brand, there’s no telling what kind of powertrain will be available for the production version of the 9-4X Crossover. The good news is that we won’t have to wait past the LA Auto Show to get the scoop on Saab’s new crossover. Saab could make its return to the World Rally Championship in 2012
Looks like MINI won’t be the only brand that’s returning to the World Rally Championship. Reports are coming out that the reinvigorated Swedish brand, Saab, is also set to make its return to the most prestigious rally racing series in the world, which, if everything pushes through, could happen in the 2012 season. Saab has been absent from the rally scene since 1979 and the brand’s return to the WRC could be in-line to the recent revival the automaker is enjoying under its new ownership. Details are still sketchy at best, but there appears to be mutual interest from both Spyker - that’s Saab’s new owner, if you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months – and officials from the WRC for Saab to make its rally comeback. Given the brand’s rich history in rally racing, we’re going to be surprised if their return to the WRC doesn’t happen. In the event that Saab does come back to rallying, it is expected that the brand will be fielding a modified 1.6-liter turbocharged Saab 9-2, which, interestingly, will also be the same platform that the MINI Countryman will be using when it makes its own return to the world of rally racing. Saab Junkie Renders a New 9-5 Coupe
Although Saab will most likely not create a coupe version of the new 9-5 saloon anytime soon, the idea has been in the heads of Saab fans for quite awhile. The 9-5 pictured above is the Photoshop-rendered 9-5 coupe done by an anonymous reader of the "Saabsunited" webpage. What we have to say about the rendering is it is quite good, from a technical stand point. The fact that it was rendered by a presumably amateur artist makes it all the better, but it doesn’t quite make the cut. It looks as if the artist simply cut out a foot or two of the sedan and did nothing more. Its alloys are about five sizes too small and the door’s trim is half rubber, half chrome. Plus the roof-line is practically identical to the awkward looking roof-line of the Nissan R35. For those who like the design, a 9-5 coupe is not among Saab’s priorities.
Saab and BMW To Join Forces On 9-2
It’s been an interesting year for Saab and now things just keep getting better. AutoExpress is reporting that BMW and Saab are linking up to work on the new Audi A1 rivaling 9-2. Auto Express spoke with new boss Victor Muller at the recent Saab Festival in Trollhattan. “We could build the 9-2 on our own, but that wouldn’t make sense,” he said. “Thanks to the crisis in the industry, everyone is willing to share everything. So Spyker couldn’t have bought Saab at a better time.” Saab will look to take advantage of BMW’s joint project with PSA Peugeot Citroen. The group will work on a front-wheel drive chassis that will be on the new Mini. Front-wheel drive is in the company’s history, so it seems like a smart buy for Saab. For BMW, this also seems like a smart move. Gaining partnerships will help reduce the cost of the new Mini and it shouldn’t hurt sales given the Mini’s reputation. Yet, we haven’t heard anything from either company, so we will have to wait and see. | Saab cars reviews2012 2011
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Saab cars
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