Saab's sporty turn

By ALASTAIR SLOANE, Motoring Editor


Swedish carmaker Saab Automobile AB will unveil its first lifestyle four-wheel-drive vehicle at the New York motor show next April.

The 9-7X is based on an existing vehicle in the General Motors catalogue and has been built to fill Saab's need for an entry in the growing sports utility vehicle segment.

The off-roader will go on sale next year and will initially be produced only for the United States and Canadian markets. An all-new four-wheel-drive model for left- and right-hand-drive international markets will follow later.

The 9-7X continues the biggest product offensive in Saab history. "We are exceeding our commitment to introduce one new vehicle or concept each year for five years," said Saab Automobile AB president and chief executive officer Peter Augustsson.

"The Saab 9-7X is the perfect addition to our model mix. It allows us to join the growing North American mid-luxury SUV market, one of the fastest-growing segments, with a dynamic, premium vehicle."

The 9-7X will come with the choice of two engines and be built at GM's Moraine plant in Ohio, starting in February 2005.

The vehicle comes after Saab shows off its new 9-2X wagon at the Los Angeles motor show this month.

The 9-2X is a joint effort with GM alliance partner Fuji/Subaru, but whether it comes to Australia and New Zealand remains to be seen.

The all-wheel-drive five-door will slot in beneath the existing 9-3 sedan in the US and will come in two models, both with Subaru engines: the 9-2X Linear using a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, the Aero using the boosted 160kW 2-litre unit from the WRX.

Sales are up 17 per cent so far this year for Saab Cars USA and the company's top executive believes that Saab, thanks to some crucial help from parent GM, is on the verge of a new era.

Debra Kelly-Ennis, the president of Saab Cars USA, says that with more new products in the pipeline, there is no reason why Saab can't maintain and build on the momentum it is showing this year.

Saab is heading towards its best sales year in the US since the late 1980s, and the ultimate goal now is to produce double-digit growth this year and also in the future years, she said.

"The beauty of the 9-2 is that it brings us back to a Saab hallmark, which is the hatchback.

"We'll have everything you would expect in a Saab - Scandinavian design, cockpit-like interior, great driving dynamics and all-wheel drive."

She said the 9-7X would also be "customised for the expectation of the Saab customer".