SAAB 9-3X Snapped Ahead of Geneva Debut

Saab 9-3X spy photos / CarPix

SAAB is making the last testing and adjustments on the new 9-3X in the snowy and cold parts of Sweden

February 4, 2009 2:40 pm
Filed Under: European, Geneva Motor Show, Saab, Spy Photos

SAAB is making the last testing and adjustments on the new 9-3X in the snowy and cold parts of Sweden. SAAB has finally realized that the Audi Allroad, Volvo XC70, Subaru Outback and Skoda Scout have been alone on the market for too long now, and with traditional SUVs losing more and more interest with buyers, this type of "mild" SUV are attracting new buyers.

As with the competitors, the SAAB 9-3X is a station wagon with all-wheel-drive, about 30 mm raised suspension and off-road-looking bumpers. And for a beefier look, the fenders are also wider. The four-wheel-drive system is supplied by Swedish manufacturer Haldex, just like on the SAAB 9-3 XWD.

This prototype was equipped with the 210 horsepower engine from the 2.0 XWD, but we are sure that there will be diesel options as well, with the 1.9-liter TTiD developing 180 horsepower as a top diesel model.

Debut is set for Geneva in 3 weeks.

Source: CarPix

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Tags: SAAB 9-3X spy photos, SAAB 9-3X, 9-3X, Geneva Debut

New Saab 9-3X Revealed with Video (3 comments
Saab 9-3X spied with no camouflage (11 comments

Comments

ivanadrive

February 4, 2009 8:04 pm

Oh boy, I doubt this will sell well outside Sweden. The R&D money should have gone to a more modern mirror design and improving the interior quality. I'm amazed at how they manage to design some of the best looking concept cars and ruin their current cars at the same time by putting chrome spectacles or strange black plastic addenda on them.

Imasa

February 4, 2009 9:04 pm

Quite boring. Trying to be an Allroad.

ericthedog

February 4, 2009 9:24 pm

They need a 95 replacement before this surely

Edited by user on February 4, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Xanavi23

February 4, 2009 9:41 pm

I hope Saab doesn't bite it man. I always liked their cars, and im still a big fan of the 9-3, they're good cars IMO, but for some reason they have tough times selling.

RS5

February 4, 2009 9:44 pm

I honestly think that Saab are quite handsome cars, especially some of their newer models with LED lighting technology and innovative designs. Nonetheless, the fact that most of them are FWD, and that the company itself is owned by GM are detracting points for the brand's appeal to me.

Xanavi23

February 4, 2009 10:53 pm

That is very true about FWD, now they don't have the money to change it...bad.

Bristol411S3

February 5, 2009 7:24 am

SAAB has been FWD for a long time though. It never hampered their appeal in the halcyon days.

BabyMilo

February 4, 2009 10:17 pm

it is just a 9-3 kombi AWD with some plastic molding and a raised ride height. Pretty much like the allroad but the allroad manages it abit better

Jaakkoe

February 5, 2009 4:20 am

You guys are too pessimistic, afterall this could be the model that introduces TTiD with XWD. A big step technology-wise.

jasb

February 5, 2009 6:03 am

But this is still based on a 15 year old platform - the old, old Opel / Vauxhall Vectra. In what way is this progress? Surely it only highlights GMs lack of investment and joined-up thinking. I'm afraid it's just way too little, way too late.

Beetle

February 5, 2009 7:43 am

Actualy its based on the New Subaru chassis , izuzu , gm based

jasb

February 5, 2009 9:15 am

Sorry Beetle. the drivetrain may be new but the chassis, suspension etc are definitely ex Vectra. My point about the mis-management and lack of imagination stands.

Edited by user on February 5, 2009 at 9:15 am

Beetle

February 5, 2009 10:21 am

Ok no worries , i just though that there was no all wheel drive vectra??

Jaakkoe

February 5, 2009 12:30 pm

Umh... the current 9-3 sits on the Epsilon platform which is in no way 15 years old, more like 6.

On the other hand, one of the most dynamic large cars (imo), the 9-5_is_based on the 21-year-old(!) GM2900 architecture. But who cares if it shares some bolt patterns with the A Vectra, cause that's really what platform sharing at its best is all about, nothing more.

rickyb

February 5, 2009 10:17 am

And that's my biggest issue with it... based on the Vectra, a good platform but it's now behind the times. Back in the end of October, I drove a Passat VR6 4Motion wagon back-to-back with the 93X Aero Sportcombi XWD. The Passat felt lighter on it's feet, more responsive, more agile and overall more fun to drive. Kind of sad because I think the Swedes (Saab and Volvo) make THE best mass produced car seats in the industry and I like their quirky intereiors. In the end, I bought the Passat and have been absolutely happy with my decision.

Saab really needs to modernize their line up... and fast.

Edited by user on February 5, 2009 at 10:20 am