The first model will be sold in the US market in over a week. Things look rosy as Saab has already garnered bookings for a hundred more.

Doesn’t that sound impressive? For a company that has managed to sell only 323 units in the US in June, the orders placed for the 9-4X could augur well for the company.

The Saab 9-4X hides under the hood a 3.0-liter V6 with 265 PS (195 kW / 262 hp) and will boast of 302 Nm (223 lb-ft) of torque. The car carries a tag starting at $34,205.

The 9-5 SportCombi will come with exotic features including that of adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, head-up display as well as three-zone climate control. It will be equipped with Saab’s XWD all-wheel drive. The vehicle is expected to arrive in Australia towards the end of 2011 It will be offered with the same drivetrain options as the sedan in overseas as well.

It is also learnt that the manufacturer is not only introducing SportCombi, but will also  debut the Saab 9-3 facelift known as the Griffin line-up and the 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition too alongside.

The details which are out now indicate that the concept follows Saab’s unique Scandinavian and aircraft-inspired design heritage. The alleged 9-2 concept is likely to feature all wheel drive with an electrically powered rear axle and a ground-breaking car communications platform using the Android operating system.

The new vehicle is likely to be a preview of the 9-2, the much anticipated

model. The teaser images are also out. It shows the new vehicle as a hatchback. It is likely to have got a classic teardrop shape like that of the original 92 from 1949.

We already know that Saab CEO Victor Muller has prioritized 9-2 development. He also stated that the car will ride on a shortened version of the 9-3 platform or a platform from another automaker.

The new vehicle will be introduced in 2013 or in its succeeding year. The manufacturer pals to produce a total of 30,000 to 60,000 units annually. No more details are available on the concept.

The car parts are sourced from various automakers, especially BMW. But the model will be based on a modified version of the Epsilon I platform and we expect the company to offer it as a three- and five-door hatchback.

Saab made an engine purchasing agreement with BMW during last September and that made them to have an access to a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine equipped with start/stop technology.

This turbo engine that is featured in the MINI Cooper comes with three level of options – 175 PS (129 kW / 173 hp), 184 PS (135 kW / 181 hp) and 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS).

BMW’s new 2.0-liter turbo engine with 222 hp (166 kW / 225 PS) is also rumored to be features in the 9-3.

The Saab 9-3 will be a 2012 launch and the company has further plans to introduce a hybrid version of the model. They will also launch an electric vehicle by 2016.

Via: Worldcarfans

The SportCombi has a sporty look to it with a solid looking front, ‘wraparound’ rear window graphic. The sweeping roof-line is continued by a deep-rear spoiler combined in to the top of the tail gate. The roof rails used are extremely slim which does not disturb the car’s flowing lines. The ‘hockey stick’ belt lines and ice-block tail lights borrowed from the 9-4X are really nice touches.

Interiors have been generously carpeted and designed for more space and ease of use. The boot has a storage capacity of 527 liters (18.6 cubic feet) and when the 60/40 split rear seats are folded it can hold 1586 liters (56 cubic feet).

There is a 12V power outlet in the cargo area along with 4 tie-down loops. Further, an under-floor storage is provided which can be opened by an aircraft shaped handle, hooks on the underside of the floor can be used to hold bags. Along the outer sections of the floor runs a U shaped track for more space utilization, the cargo area can be split using the telescopic dividing rail.

The different capacity engines for the wagon haven’t been announced but it is expected to be the same as in the 9-5 sedan which are: – 162 kW (220 PS / 217 hp) turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 221 kW (300 PS / 296 hp) turbocharged 2.8-liter V6, and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel with 118 kW (160 PS / 158 hp).

SportCombi has a host of features such as XWD all wheel drive, DriveSense adaptive chassis, Bi-xenon adaptive lighting, adaptive cruise control, tri-zone climate control, heads-up display and keyless entry.

The 9-5 SportCombi is expected to hit the roads this fall, but pricing is yet to be known.

Sources at Saab say that the updates and revisions that the car will undergo will include a revised suspension and a better interior. For changing the suspension, Saab will be reassessing the suppliers they were previously dealing with – which came to Saab from GM.

The Interior of the vehicle will be revamped to be on par with top of the line luxury vehicles like Mercedes, Audi and BMW, said the source. All of these changes will be incorporated when the 9-5 SportCombi gets into the production phase in 2011.

(Via WhatCar?)

But this attitude is only ‘paint deep’ – the inside of the vehicle is straight-laced when compared to the outside. Nevertheless, the eight-way power seats, the wood trim on this model will be faux carbon fiber on the Aero model; air vents are mesh type; ignition is a push button mounted on the center console. Other optional elements that customers can choose to have are power-adjustable pedals, Bose audio system, GPS navigation, tri-zone climate control, and a rear entertainment system.

Reports say the vehicle will have  two engines – one is the naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter V6, which produces 265 PS (195 kW / 262 hp) and allows the car to get from 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Second is the one in the Aero- a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 with 300 PS (221 kW / 296 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.

This helps the vehicle to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. Powered by Saab’s XWD (all-wheel drive) system, that expertly varies torque between the front and rear axles, the vehicle also has an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential (eLSD), which can transfer up to half of the torque to the rear wheel with the most traction.

The crossover is all set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Word is that sales in the U.S. are slotted for May 2011, with Europe and the other markets getting it next August.

It is expected that the car will be coming with a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine. But there are some who suggest the possibility of the 2.0-liter turbo four which is seen in the new 9-5 (already out on the road). Both engines will most likely be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

There are also rumors that the tail lamps might look different when the production model comes out. Just wait until the car is unveiled at the auto show and you will know a lot more about it.

(Via Autoblog)

Featuring a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 135 kW (184 PS / 181 hp) electric motor, the ePower can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, hit a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph), and travel up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) on a single charge.

Depleted batteries can be recharged with a standard household outlet in less than six hours. Charging time can be significantly reduced if the voltage of the electrical feed is higher says the company, because there is no limit to the battery’s input capacity.

Sources say that 70 ePowers will be “evaluated under a variety of real world driving conditions as part of the development process for a purpose-built, electric Saab vehicle.” The plan is that Saab will enlist hundreds of drivers as well as their families for test-driving and evaluation.

These tests are likely to take place in central, west and eastern Sweden during 2011-12. In order to keep track of essential data, each car will have aircraft-style, black box recorders. The company says that the car will not be going into mass production.

The new Saab 9-4X will come sporting a 7″ dash, a console-mounted ignition, and egg-crate air vents. To be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 245 hp (183 kW / 248 PS) and a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 with 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS), the car is expected to come with capabilities to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and have a top speed of 250 km/h. Not many details are available right now, though. However, it is speculated that the car might roll out into US dealerships by early spring.

(Via Twitter)