Manufacturer Saab (General Motors) Model years 2011-2012 | Production 2011 Body style 5-door crossover | |
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Assembly Ramos Arizpe Assembly, Ramos Arizpe, Mexico (General Motors) Class Compact luxury crossover SUV (J) | ||
The Saab 9-4X is a compact luxury crossover SUV introduced by Swedish automaker Saab at the LA Auto Show 2010. It is based on the all-wheel-drive GM Theta Premium platform which also forms the basis for the Cadillac SRX. The 9-4X began production in 2011 and was built at Ramos Arizpe, Mexico but stopped before the end of the year due to the bankruptcy of Saab.
Contents
The focus of the 9-4X took shape once the Saab 9-6X project was cancelled, after the divestment by General Motors of its holding in Subaru. The 9-4X replaces the larger U.S. built Saab 9-7X mid-size luxury SUV, production of which ceased in December 2008. The 9-4X concept made its debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. The car was released at the 2010 LA Auto Show as a 2011 model year vehicle. The production car is almost identical to the 2008 concept on the exterior and similar to the second generation Saab 9-5 on the inside. The car began selling as a 2011 model year vehicle in June in the US and in August elsewhere. The 9-4X was the first and only Mexican built Saab.
Production
General Motors manufactured the 9-4X and the closely related Cadillac SRX at the Ramos Arizpe, Mexico assembly plant. In November 2011 General Motors announced that production of the 9-4X would end because General Motors was unwilling to provide a modern chassis and engine to a Chinese buyer that was a potential competitor to General Motors in China. It has been reported that 614 units were assembled during the 9-4X's brief 2011 production run. However, VIN numbers for 2011 go over 600, and there were approximately 60 2012 models produced. According to information at the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden, 814 9-4X units were produced.
Specification
The 9-4X was launched with a choice of two petrol V6 engines: a 3.0 L producing 265 bhp (198 kW; 269 PS), 223 lb·ft (302 N·m) torque and a 2.8 L turbo with 300 bhp (224 kW; 304 PS), 295 lb·ft (400 N·m). The main challenge, according to Svante Kinell at the marketing department at Saab, is to find the right diesel engines for the European market. As a result, the vehicle is V6-only.