Saab and Subaru have gone into partnership to create the Saab 9-2X – an all-wheel drive turbo wagon due to be launched at the Los Angeles auto show later this month.
Saab and Subaru have gone into partnership to create the Saab 9-2X – an all-wheel drive turbo wagon due to be launched at the Los Angeles auto show later this month.
Saab has signed a deal with the Subaru holding company, Fuji Heavy Industries, to build a Subaru Impreza-like car which retains Saab’s curvaceous front. It manages to integrate the typical three-hole-grille and the low horizontally emphasized headlamps that wrap around the sides of the car.
On the top-of-the-range 9-2X Aero model, the clean line of the bonnet is accentuated by the prominent air intake that feeds air to the intercooler of the turbo engine.
The Saab 9-2X’s advanced full-time all-wheel-drive and boxer four cylinder engines are firsts in Saab’s history. Further technical highlights include four-wheel independent suspension and ABS to provide enhanced driver control. Traction and handling performance of the 9-2X Aero is further improved by a viscous limited-slip differential at the rear.
The turbocharged and intercooled two-litre high performance DOHC 9-2X Aero engine produces 170kW at 6 000r/min.
The power plant of the Saab 9-2X’s base model is naturally aspirated and delivers 123kW at 5 600r/min. Both cars are equipped with a five-speed manual transmission with an optional four-speed automatic transmission.
“As the new 9-2X range is tremendously fun to drive and since we are targeting a young and enthusiastic customer, we decided to express the strong and dynamic character of the 9-2X in its design and even add a bit more of an aggressive touch compared to the rest of our line-up,” commented Saab’s executive director of design, Michael Mauer, to .
“The Saab 9-2X needs to look as aggressive as its driving capabilities,” says Mauer. “Additionally, even though it is a functional 5-door vehicle, it shouldn’t look like a traditional wagon. Therefore, we spent a great deal of time making sure it had a strong face and sleek Scandinavian lines.”
The move away from the traditional Saab turbocharged inline-four scheme has taken years to get the go-ahead, but is now considered crucial to the company’s recovery plan. As Saab boss Peter Augustsson said at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, “It’s time for Saab to quickly and effectively expand its range.”
