Saab 9-3X Crossover: Spy Shots

Motoring Channel Staff - 27/November/2008

Trollhattan, Sweden — In the Swedish face-off between Volvo and Saab (owned by Ford and GM respectively), Volvo appears to be winning the war, especially in the SUV department.

But as these new spy shots show, Saab is on the verge of launching a new soft-roading model that would rival vehicles such as the Volvo XC70, and to a lesser extent the Subaru Forester.

Snapped by TrollhattanSaab.net, the images show that the vehicle is very close to production. 

With a strong family resemblance to the 9-3 Sportcombi - essentially the Saab 9-3 wagon with a raised ride height and XWD four-wheel drive as standard - the new model should add a few more pages to the Swedish car maker's sales list.

Saab may be concerned that SUV sales are starting to wane and aren't as strong as they once were, but at least now the European car maker has a cost-effective entry-level compact AWD.

The new compact AWD features the same head and brake light treatment as the 9-3 Sportcombi, but the front and rear aprons are slightly different with wider, more robust look.

With ride height increased to 200mm and roof rails as standard, the new model will be marketed as an adventurous addition to the Saab range.

Power will come from similar engines to the 9-3 range, including 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel units and possibly turbo V6 engines.

Saab was expected to launch the new model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show a couple of months ago, but that never happened.

Likely launching pads for the Saab 9-3X Crossover include the Detroit Motor Show in January 2009 or the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009.

We'll publish more news on the Saab 9-3X Crossover as we get it.

Related Links:
- Saab Turbo X (2008)
- Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept (2008)
- Saab 9-3 Aero (Road Test)
- Saab 9-4X Concept (2008)
- Saab 9-3 (2008)
- Saab 9-3 SportCombi (2008)
- Saab 9-3 BioPower (2007)
- Saab 9-5 Linear (Road Test)
- Saab 9-5 (2006)