It's been a holiday here today. Regatta Day.
For the first time in about 4 years I've actually got to sit down and watch the Superbowl. Congratulations to New Orleans on a tenacious win. Payton Manning's body language in the 3rd gave it all away, didn't it?
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UPDATE: No urgency to this report. It's from February 7 last year (d'oh!)
The Saab 9-4x has been caught doing some snowy testing once again. I don't know about you but I'm becoming much more open to the Saab SUV idea. I mean, I liked this car when I first saw it in Detroit back in 2008, but I'm becoming more accepting of the idea of one of these eventually being parked in my driveway.
Maybe I'm getting older or something, but that's a foxy looking vehicle.
Don't believe the engine talk in the article. This SUV will come with the same engines as the Caddy SRX, that is a 3.0 litre normally aspirated six (said to be a bit anemic) and the 2.8T V6 (said to be quite good in this car).
All I hope is that it's significantly lighter than the Caddy as that will improve the driving experience no end from what I've read so far.
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There are some awesome photos of the Thailand Saab Support Convoy here.
These guys seem to love their Saab 9000s.
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And whilst we're talking photos, here's a 99 rally vehicle I'd not seen before, on Flickr and posted by Mattijs
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Saab 900 wins the latest instalment of the 24 hours of LeMons as covered by Jalopnik. Simply awesome.
I noted last night that these guys were the overnight leaders and it's good to see they survived all the lead changes to hold on today.
Thanks Ted for the heads up!
Looks like it has fair ground clearance ~ just hope it doesn't roll over.
I welcome it with open arms ~ but still might go with a 9-3X
I'm slightly amused by all these pics of the 9-4X during the past 2 YRS doing testing. OK I guess these recent ones are production versions vs. earlier "concept" versions. But if there are supposedly 50 (or more ?) pre- or full- production versions already out there, why do these ones still need to be disguised ? Where are the un-disguised versions ?
Enquiring minds want to know :-)
I'm sorry, but this is just another boring SUV/Xover of which there are already too many on the road. Sticking on a Saab grille and putting the ignition key between the chairs doesn't make a Saab.
Since we seem to be stuck with this Frankenmunster let's hope it generates some revenue to pay for the development of the new 9-3.
I think it's a good looking vehicle and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the engineers have done with it.
I am looking forward to 15Feb when Spyker seals the deal to buy SAAB from GM.
Why would you think that the engineers have done anything to it?
Sorry if I sound a bit grumpy, but I just don't think a SUV makes sense on paved roads. Most people just get them to sit higher than the rest or for a misplaced sense of safety. They guzzle gas, need a ton of stabilizing gear to prevent them from toppling over and they just make it impossible to see anything when they are driving in front of you.
All this just doesn't sound very Saaby to me. Luckily the 9-3x is an excellent alternative, even for off-road use and in the snow. If my wife's 9-5 ever goes to Saab heaven then we'll probably get her a nice snow-white 9-3x.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f14/mystery-day-chart-shows-new-saab-9-4x-already-production-88315/
"The long-awaited GM-engineered 9-4X crossover will finally hit the market in early 2011, and will be built by General Motors in Mexico, likely through the end of its life cycle. This allows General Motors to turn a healthy profit on the 9-4X, given that it can charge cost plus a markup to Saab Spyker Automobiles for the fully completed vehicles, recouping development costs and leaving Spyker to absorb any potential loss-causing discounts or incentives. The 9-4X is based on the same underpinnings as the latest Cadillac SRX."
Buying a 9-3X would give Saab a much healthier profit.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?
Oh the 80s ! :-D
A link to a few pix of the collection is here:
http://www.vdlaansaabspecialist.nl/saab_museum.htm
It is a fantastic looking car and according to reviews of SRX, it should be a fabulous car to drive.
I´m probably one of the few who really really would love to build both the 9-4X as well as the 9-X BHBD models.
These cars looks absolutely awesome on roll...
Especially the 9-X....
http://www.automotorsport.se/tv/?m=14406
I would love SAAB to build tose cars....:)
My wife and I have three elementary age children who tend to squabble when packed into the back seat of a 9-3. I'm about 6' 3" and need the extra leg room. So, driving a small car doesn't make sense anymore. And when you consider that I drive the kids to school every day, it makes sense to have something larger to throw all their gear in. That's why I'm currently driving a 9-7x. It's a great vehicle.
So, when people deride the SAAB SUV, I figure they (1) don't have a family, (2) are smaller than me, (3) like seeing people squashed together, or (4) haven't driven one yet. Don't get me wrong, I like driving the smaller SAABs. But driving a smaller car is impractical when you need the extra room.
Those guys (and gals) win every time.
26,000 of Audi's 100,000 planned 2010 sales in the United States of America are expected to be the Audi Q5. It is one of the fastest turning vehicles in the Audi line up worldwide.
The only problem with the 9.4x is that is should in showrooms now, not 10 months from now.
Alas, General Motors burned through their cash so here we are still waiting.
Our clients are either SUV buyer or car buyers. Good to have products for each group.
US SAAB & Audi dealer
Swade that was the most glorious onside kick ever!
I added today a gallery of one of the races of Harm's last race season, 2008, on the Nurnburg Ring in Germany. He won this race in his class.
http://saab.singaworld.net/view_album.php?set_albumName=Nurnburgring-YoungtimerTrophy