Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab 9-3x, or the 9-3x Cross-Combi as I like to call it, is planned on becoming available at dealerships worldwide this fall.

This vehicle will be the next vehicle available for consumers to purchase, and I hope that I will some day get the opportunity to own this vehicle.

I love the idea of the 9-3x through and through and had it been introduced in 2002 as it was supposed to be, it would’ve been an incredible sales opportunity for Saab Automobile then.

However, fast forward seven years later and the year is 2009, and Saab Automobile is now being relaunched with it’s new owner, Koenigsegg. The branding of the company appears to be continuing in a systematic way, emphasizing the outdoorsy and independently minded owners and the 9-3x shall be the vehicle that best represents Saab’s brand pillars today as their effective transition vehicle into the new era for the company.

The Saab 9-3x, utilizes a recently available & proven cross-wheel drive system abbreviated as XWD. The 9-3x compared to its counterpart SportCombi sibling, stands a bit taller, more agressive exterior styling and thus has better positioning to outsell the competition such as the Subaru Outback, Audi Quattro Wagon & the Volvo All-Wheel Drive Cross Country Wagon.

Fortunately, now living in New England where all of these cars are ubiquitous, we will see the real test for Saab, a vehicle that should serve this demographic well. So it’s all up to the funding and an all-out marketing blitz to get former Saab loyalists as well as conquest sales behind the wheel of the 9-3x this fall & winter 09/10 season.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the North East has historically been the hot bed for Saabs as we know, and should do well with this XWD equipped in a recognizable raised wagon form as an option for those sick of the typical Subaru/Audi/Volvo or SUV/CUV options. While the Turbo-X was the halo vehicle for the technology packed in a performance oriented product, the 9-3x will be the renaissance vehicle for Saab’s XWD, reflecting all of company’s virtues, most notably, utilitarianism outfitted in a right-sized, and Swedish designed yet agressive form.

I have test driven many cross-wheel drive Saab vehicles beginning with a 9-3 XWD prototype, then later, the 9-3 Turbo-X, and more recently a 9-3 SportCombi with XWD & eLSD and I must say the latter was by far the best, but I don’t see it ending there. It is my hope that I can test drive the 9-3x Cross-Combi this winter season here in the North East through some real snow and inclimate weather and send the message that Saab is here, their products are ready for the consumer and they’re on the move as they say in Sweden.

If I start seeing Saab 9-3x Cross-Combi’s in my neighborhood here in the next year, then I’ll finally be able to convince myself, that people are listening, learning and responding to this new era for the company. The specific region that I live in here in New England is all about the outdoors and all-wheel drive, so if this vehicle is not a hit here, Saab’s marketing in the United States has failed because the car is a winner, period. Here’s hoping this year’s marketing blitz sets the tone for the best advertising we’ve seen yet.

So, here’s hoping we begin to hear more about the 9-3x arriving at dealerships this fall, specifically what options they will come with, when exactly they will be here in the fall and so forth. I am hopeful that one of my site sponsors will receive one of these in the not-so-distant future and could provide me the opportunity to review it here on Saab History.

I am excited and eager along with my supportive Wife as we have our Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes & our recently acquired LL Bean tent, ready for a weekend real-life test drive & Saab adventure to report on here on Saab History.

For more information on the Saab 9-3x, please visit my archive, there are nearly 50 posts related to this product alone.

Saab Automobile AB recently published photos of their advertising arm, Lowe Brindfors, filming their new advertising campaign.

In these photos you can see the Manager of Interactive Marketing and Advertising Johan Grundin, Simon Padian, the Saab Brand Design Chief and Kaj Zachrisson all in the studio amongst other staff preparing for the filming of yet another tv ad, promo or some other content.

If you have not already seen the first tv ad in this campaign’s launch that debuted back on March 13th, please take a look at it here.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile France

It looks like the Saab 9-3x launch event at the Jardin Garden in Paris went over quite well according to the Saab Newsroom blog.

I encourage you to take a look at the other photos below from the three links for more details.

Here are some highlights below.

Jardins Jardin is an event that took place in the heart of Paris last weekend in the famous garden Jardin des Tuileries. “Jardins, Jardin” is a unique and original event associated with the values of creating the landscape, environmental protection and sustainable development.

The theme for this year´s event is the latest trends in outdoor design and temporary gardens are created by landscape architects, artists, creators.

Surrounded by trees, plants, water and flowers the all new Saab 9-3X was exposed in France for the first time. This green BioPower car in white fit very well in the garden!

Click on these articles to find out more and see pictures
JardinsJardin
Eve-Auto
Xelopolis.com

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile France

It looks like Saab Automobile France have launched the Saab 9-3x in their market at a Parisian garden in the heart of Paris this past weekend, emphasizing sustainable development can co-exist in nature.

The focus of this 9-3x launch will consist of their E-85 BioPower Engine range.

Saab introduced the Scandinavian garden from 5 to 7 June at “Gardens, Garden.”

* The Swedish first present the Saab 9-3X in the middle of pure nature.

Saab is now for the third consecutive year to “Garden Garden” (from 5 to 7 June 2009 at the Parc des Tuileries, Paris), the event ephemeral Parisian garden in the heart of Paris where the red wire is sustainable development.

The Saab stand, designed by Bruno Fortuner, landscape architect of the Jardins de Gally, presents its latest model, the Saab 9-3X, at every turn in a whole declined in white and transparency: the white pots and the cosmos, the transparency of water and mirrors, the color symbolic of Scandinavia. The presented car, the Saab 9-3 X first Cross-Hatch (all paths) flex-fuel, changes in the white world without degradation, trace its path in the flowers without damaging them, because it has a BioPower engine that works E85 fuel, consisting of 85% ethanol from the distillation plant. This technological choice justifies the presence of the Swedish manufacturer, which was entirely in line with the philosophy of “Gardens, Garden” event held itself in the heart of a metropolis.

Bruno Fortuner, Jardins de Gally: white, symbol of purity

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

Saab Automobile United Kingdom announce pricing on the Saab 9-3 Cross Combi, and I have been able to show some currency conversions on their prices to United States Dollars, and believe that these could be the price ranges we could expect on the models.

I’m still very frustrated that the 9-3x does not have a TTiD/XWD combination, apparently it was an impossible engineering feat. The price looks like it will be about the $39,999 range I suspect for the United States market.

Anyways, here’s the press release.

24,995.00 GBP=37,836.38 USD
27,506.28 GBP=41,643.18 USD

2009-05-05

NEW 9-3X STORMS UK CROSSOVER SECTOR WITH SUB-£25K ENTRY PRICE

* Price announced for 9-3X, from £24,995 OTR for the 1.9TTiD model
* Premium design and leading technology across the range
* On sale from May 2009

Competitive pricing has never been more topical, and the good news for Saab customers is the much-awaited new 9-3X has stormed the crossover sector with an entry price of just £24,995 for the 1.9TTiD model.

The newcomer, revealed at the Geneva Motorshow earlier this year to rave reviews will arrive at Saab dealers in August 2009.

The 9-3X is available with a choice of two engines: the punchy 1.9TTiD diesel engine produces 180PS and 400Nm of torque, or the 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 210hp, with the additional benefit of Saab’s technically advanced Cross Wheel Drive system (XWD). This model costs from £25,995.

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The 2010 Saab 9-3x Cross Combi and all of the rest of the Saab 9-3 lineup specifications have now been posted on GM’s website.

It looks like right now the colors will be in snow silver metallic, arctic white, nocturne blue metallic, black, titan gray metallic, laser red, jet black metallic, fusion blue metallic, carbon gray metallic and glacier silver metallic.

For more details, please check out this adobe pdf document for the full details.

Saab USA Parts that recently announced their spring sale, are now extending their offer on all original equipment Saab Thule racks and ski, bike, kayak, canoe, surfboard and other adapters.

With the good weather finally here for many of us in the United States, this is a great opportunity to get geared up at deep discount prices!

Spring is Here! To celebrate, Saab USA Parts is having the biggest Saab/Thule Sales Event of the year. Original Equipment Saab/Thule Racks & Adapters are now on sale. Insist upon Genuine Saab Parts & Accessories (no imitations, please!).

Available now at special pricing are Saab Roof Racks (standard & c-track), bike carriers, windsurfer holders, surfboard adapters, load stops, kayak/canoe holders and much more.

Click here to visit the website directly.

Roof Rack Standard 9-5 Sedan

Our Price: $125.00
List Price: $147.00

Roof Rack C-Track 9-3 Sport Sedan

Our Price: $123.00
List Price: $143.00

Read more »

Photo Credit: Adam H

Adam H of Saab Automobile has recently provided Saab History a wonderful photo of the Saab 9-3x on a billboard outside of the Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg, Sweden.

This billboard is also very close to where Saab Automobile AB’s advertising, marketing, sales and design office is located in nearby Mölnlycke, Sweden.

I am guessing this billboard was in plain view to all of the prospective visitors as they departed from the Landvetter Airport in Göteborg as they headed North to Trollhättan? If so, good planning over the past three weeks?

A thank you to Adam for the photograph, it must be exciting times at Saab Automobile Sweden at both this office and the main facilities in Trollhättan.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile Belgium

The Saab Automobile importer in Belgium has been kind enough to e-mail Saab History some excellent photographs of the Saab Automobile traveling roadshow that is traveling throughout Belgium. This roadshow, completely organized by Saab Belgium has recently started at their headquarters and it will continue to some other dealerships in the area following this event.

On the car carrier, there was what she indicated, a 9-3x, 9-4x BioPower Concept and many Saab 9-3 convertibles on display for people to look at and get excited about.

I wonder if there will be a road show in the United States as well at some point, this is a very good idea.

A thank you to Sofie for providing the photographs and the following information to Saab History!

The roadshow is still going on in Belgium!

Yesterday evening, 6 of our 33 dealers invited their guests at our headoffices, where we exposed the 9-3X, the 9-4X Concept and several 9-3 Convertibles. People were offered a glass of champagne and a walking diner.

We had a great attendance!

(The other dealers invite their guests at their own dealership, on other days)

That’s me in black and my colleague Myrth in purple on pic 414 :-)

Saab Automobile AB’s President, Jan-Åke Jonsson, as part of the Saab 9-3x promotional activities in Northern Sweden (Jukkasjärvi), discussed the future of what an independent Saab will look.

Another thank you to Jan-Åke Jonsson for this insight, your leadership, management style and information, it is very comforting to hear about the future of Saab Automobile from you.

In this video, Saab 9-3x Project Manager, Jan Tammpere & Kaj Zachrisson discuss the new Saab 9-3x’s utilitarian capabilities inside and out. Enjoy!

Another thank you to Saab Automobile for providing this video to Saab History.

Saab History has recently received some videos from Saab Automobile that showcase this vehicle in some truly positive promotional material.

This particular video features Bengt Dahl of the Saab Performance Team taking the Project Manager, Jan Tammpere of Saab Automobile to the 9-3x where Jan Tammpere discusses the technical aspects of this new addition to the 9-3 product range.

The new Saab 9-3x Cross Combi has been up in Jukkasjärvi near Kiruna in the North of Sweden during it’s launch this past year and this is one of many videos promoting it. I hope you enjoy it!

A thanks to the folks at Saab Automobile AB for providing this video to Saab History.