2005 Saab 9-2x Aero – Saab USA Heritage Collection

Posted on 21. May, 2007 by Ryan in 2000-2009, 9-2x, United States

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile USA

2005 SAAB 9-2X AERO

Following the successful launch of the entirely new 9-3 Sport Sedan, Saab set an all-time sales record in the United States in 2003. But clouds loomed on the horizon, as several European competitors announced new premium compact products, threatening to undercut the 9-3’s market position.

Lacking a homegrown answer, Saab found a suitable product solution by creating the 9-2X. It was produced for Saab by GM’s strategic alliance partner, Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan, with exterior and interior styling, chassis development and overall refinement done by Saab in Sweden.

Being the first-ever Saab to offer all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard equipment, the 9-2X debuted in the United States and Canada in the summer of 2004. It was available in two versions, both featuring horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines: the normally aspirated 165-horsepower 2.5L Linear and the turbocharged, intercooled 227-horsepower 2.0L Aero. The latter was directly recognizable by a more aggressive front fascia, plus a functional air intake on the hood.

The 9-2X attracted a passionate following, consisting mostly of young customers who were new to the Saab family. The car also won important awards and recognitions. It received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” Gold Award (along with the Saab 9-3) for its outstanding crash test performance. Consumer Reports named the 9-2X (along with the Saab 9-5) a “Recommended Buy.”

Saab sold nearly 10,300 9-2Xs. When GM and Fuji Heavy Industries dissolved their partnership, production of the Saab 9-2X came to an end in 2006.

The Smoke Silver Metallic 9-2X Aero in the Saab Automobile USA Heritage Collection is a very early 2005 model. It served as a long-term test car with Los Angeles-based European Car Magazine, which provided the car with several enhancements and upgrades.

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