And the embargo blowing game begins... Oh yeah! OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL LEAKED PHOTOS!
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European websites overnight leaked the latest concept by Swedish company Saab. Dubbed the 9-4x, this new crossover is expected to be close to a production model being released by the company in 2009. Saab has been one of the pioneers of ethanol fuel so it’s only fitting that this concept is fitted with a 2.0L ‘BioPower’ branded engine that develops an impressive 300hp and 400Nm when used with E85 fuel.
Power is transmitted through all four wheels with the help of a 6-speed gearbox and a Haldex AWD system equipped with their new electronic limited slip differential. Using standard fuel in the 9-4x drops performance figures to 245hp and 353Nm, which is still high for a 2.0L engine. The crossover will hit 100km/h in just 8s and goes all the way to a 235km/h top speed. Saab is also emphasizing the low C02 output of the 9-4x of just 252g/km using normal fuel and significantly less with E85. Fuel consumption is expected to be approximately 10.5l/100km.
The production version of the Cadillac Provoq concept unveiled today will also share the same platform with the 9-4x and both are expected to be built in the same plant in Mexico. Saab is moving production of this model overseas because of the low US dollar exchange rates and also because the US is expected to be a large market for the new crossovers.
So does every division of GM need to sell the same product? We've gone back to the days of the J-cars except with better window dressing. So far, we've got the Saturn VUE, Cadillac BRX and now the Saab 9-4x. Soon we'll add the second-generation Chevrolet Equinox and the new GMC Terrain, which replaces the Pontiac Torrent. What distinguishes them, besides styling? They're all five-passenger, five-door, similarly-sized, Theta-based crossovers.
"No, honey, you don't look retarded at all! I'm soo happy you cut your hair like I told you to [the girls will love this one. For my next trick I'll have him jump off the Brooklyn Bridge]"
So does every division of GM need to sell the same product? We've gone back to the days of the J-cars except with better window dressing. So far, we've got the Saturn VUE, Cadillac BRX and now the Saab 9-4x. Soon we'll add the second-generation Chevrolet Equinox and the new GMC Terrain, which replaces the Pontiac Torrent. What distinguishes them, besides styling? They're all five-passenger, five-door, similarly-sized, Theta-based crossovers.
I concur. You'd think they'd learned given the past 100x it went bad.
What is sad is that the designs and products are 100x better than the proliferation of the past, BUT... you STILL have the issue of WTH does each division need one? You CANNOT justify the investment unless you conquer about 75% of that market class... and as good as everyone else is (regardless how good you are)... it ain't gonna happen!
Caddy should stick with RWD Sigma SRX and be happy. It does NOT need to step down in class. The Saab could make sense ONLY IF there are ~(2) MAX Thetas between the lower end divisions. To have Saturn, Chevy, and GMC also have them is retarted.
The same can be said of the Lambdas... excellent products that stand a great chance of confusing consumers and competing internally instead of externally.
It makes you wonder about all these companies and their belief in the CROSSOVER, though. Look at Chrysler and how they are crossover crazy! They all will saturate the market and do nothing but lose money because of bad ROI. I guess the consumer is the only winner, because the market is so flooded that there will be fire sales to rid them.
P.S. IF they wanted to use this strategy, the BEST way to maintain proliferation is to sell the BRX in Europe only. Separate some Lambdas, too.
The investment use to differentiate the Thetas and Lambdas can easily go to funding other difficult projects. I guess this is the result of the Power of the Dealer Lobby.
Look, I'm not saying the Thetas are bad products. If I thought that, I wouldn't have told my sister to add the Vue to her short list of vehicles to consider when she replaces her RSX next year. But there needs to be more done to keep the vehicles differentiated from each other.
Well this is not exactly a Theta, and there is a size, and of course engine difference. If this is the same size as the Cadillac, it is then 10" longer than the VUE, riding on a 4" longer wheelbase. And you know the Saab will likely have turbo4 and turbo6 engines, and biopower availablity. If they are pitched at different markets, and the Saab / Cadillac vs. Saturn / Chevy / GMC certainly are, then I have no problem with it. I am not 100% sold on 3 Thetas for the mainstream brands, but two TE's (Theta/Epsilons) for the upscale brands makes sense to me, as I think Caddy and Saab serve different markets
bwahahaha, that's great Zerin! finally beat ol' wimbly to the punch! IMO it's hideous though.
In The Garage: 08 TT 3.2Q 6MT, Ice Silver/Ebony S Line, 82' Scirocco 8v, w/ Lots of mods, currently in pieces. Gone, but not Forgotten: 04 A4 1.8T Quattro MT6 Dolphin/Ebony Ultrasport, Revo stage 1.
I can haz VR6? I promise I'll watch out for the fents and the crubs. if you want a Vdub in the south IM me, I'll hook you up.
Well this is not exactly a Theta, and there is a size, and of course engine difference. If this is the same size as the Cadillac, it is then 10" longer than the VUE, riding on a 4" longer wheelbase. And you know the Saab will likely have turbo4 and turbo6 engines, and biopower availablity. If they are pitched at different markets, and the Saab / Cadillac vs. Saturn / Chevy / GMC certainly are, then I have no problem with it. I am not 100% sold on 3 Thetas for the mainstream brands, but two TE's (Theta/Epsilons) for the upscale brands makes sense to me, as I think Caddy and Saab serve different markets
someone buy this man a !
I'm frustrated by the celebration of anti-intellectualism and the fear of ideas.
This is so frickin' stupid. The 9-5 has languished for longer than most cars' entire replacement cycles, and GM shows us another platform job/ethanol concept SUV -- because the 9-7X is such a goddam hit, right?
I like the look of it, but does anyone even buy Saabs anymore? Heck, we haven't had a dealer here for 10 years.
I think it may have been longer here. I think the Saab dealer folded around the same time the Peugeot dealer did. The local Saturn store experimented with selling Saabs years ago, back when they still sold Isuzus. They had a 9-5 and a couple 9-3s on the lot but after those sold no more Saabs appeared.
Back on topic, I think the 9-4x looks quite sharp. It could sell well and might help rejuvenate the Saab brand in North America.
This is so frickin' stupid. The 9-5 has languished for longer than most cars' entire replacement cycles, and GM shows us another platform job/ethanol concept SUV -- because the 9-7X is such a goddam hit, right?
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive ! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve ! [...] - July 14, national day of France
I've always had a soft spot for Saabs. Anyone notice that they aren't putting the round saab logo on it?
"Saab boss Jan Ake Jonsson said the 9-4X will get GM's new diesel engine co-developed with VM Motori, which puts out 250 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque."
I like the sound of that and I like the look of it too.
The buying public does not know the individual brands of GM (or any other manufacturer). I have been at car shows, and in dealerships where people have asked "Don't Chevy make Dodge?" or "Ain't a Lexus a fancy Honda?". So, even if Saab makes the 9-4X and Caddy makes the BRX or "Provoq", the average car buyer won't even know that there is a connection. GM's research shows that there is limited cross-shopping between their brands. When Olds folded, those sales did not automatically go to Pontiac or Buick. Saturn shoppers rarely consider Chevy. It is also likely that a Saab customer is never going to go into a Cadillac store.
Quote, originally posted by justanotherusername »
There are plenty of existing technologies that produce emissions free electricity. There isn't one single technology in the world that produces emissions free gasoline.
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