Photo Credit: carpix autos

The Saab 9-4x Prototype has been sighted yet again, following the two sightings at the Nurburgring in Germany.

I think it’s obvious that the Saab 9-4x prototype in this instance, is not complete, when we take into consideration the obviously incomplete head and tail light setups that look nothing like the production photograph General Motors CEO, Rick Wagoneer has recently shown us back on July 16th, 2008.

I still hope as indicated, that’s a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine they are testing in this prototype as I fully expect to see a turbocharged Saab engine in the production version due next year.

Saab Automobile Great Britain’s chief of communicates, David Pugh, discusses the future of Saab Design and the Saab brand future in the Great Britain market in a video filmed at the recent 2008 London Motor Show media day on Monday.

Here is that video that has just shown up on GM Europe’s video site today. Enjoy!

The first photo of the Saab 9-4x production model has just been made available thanks to the folks at Edmunds.

Apparently those who were fortunate to be present at the General Motors Press Conference on Tuesday, July 15th, were shown some up and coming products including a blurry photo of the production version of the Saab 9-4x that has been getting some serious testing as of late.

Even though this photograph is slightly blurred, you can really see what’s going on here in terms of exterior design. I personally like the look, and hope to see this “crossover” come in with no larger than the promised 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that was referenced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show this past January in Detroit that I attended.

The Saab 9-4x is tentatively set to be available as a model year 2010 to be available in the fall of 2009.

Here is the bit from Jalopnik

In the now-infamous press conference from General Motors this morning, Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner not only spelled out GM’s strategy to save itself from impending doom, but also revealed pretty much every upcoming GM vehicle that hadn’t already been shown to the public. This includes the first photos of the 2011 Chevy Cruze, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Saab 9-4X, and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. This comes in addition to official confirmation of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe and 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon. So basically, along with GM’s own downsizing, they’re also putting plenty of enterprising spy photographers out of business too.\

Source: Jalopnik

The Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept has had some photographs recently taken during its trip back to Sweden, specifically near the Trollhättan, Sweden waterfall facility where it was also filmed.

Take a look at these photographs, don’t you think that the Saab 9-4x BioPower concept looks better in person than in the professional media photographs?

While attending the New York Auto Show this past March, while seeing the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept again in person, I also noticed at Land Rover’s booth, the LRX Concept vehicle.

At first glance, I began to pick up a variety of similiar design cues that these vehicles shared, in fact, I started to look at the LRX more closely and noticed some strong “Saab” design cues inside and out.

For comparison sake, I’ve provided the official exterior photos above for you to see for yourself. Look at the C-pillar, the lenses, the bumper designs, the roof slope, the blacked out “invisible” a pillar as well, don’t you see a lot of similiarities here? The LRX almost looks like a CUV take off from a Saab C900 or 99, don’t you think? What are your thoughts?

Photo Credit: Car Advice

The Saab 9-4x pre-production prototype that was spotted at the Nurburgring a few weeks ago has been spotted again this time by Car Advice Europe somewhere around a downtown region in Germany.

I would strongly urge you to visit their website to see more of the photos including the interior.

As a follow-up to the previous writeup on the past and present Saab designers and their achievements, it was necessary to include a chronological up-to-date listing of Saab projects both production and concepts.

This listing includes each Saab project, year introduced along with each designer and/or engineer that contributed to the given project.

This list is a work-in-progress, so any additions and/or modifications that you see necessary below, please add your comments to ensure correctness and accuracy.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

Design Contributions by Model

SAAB Scandia 90 (1946-1958)

Bror Bjurströmer

SAAB 91 (1947-1966)

A.J. Andersson

SAAB 92001 (Prototype) (1946/1947)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

Read more »

Photo Credit: KGP Photography

The Saab 9-4x BioPower concept that I covered this past January while in Detroit for its global launch, has recently been spotted during development.

The 9-4x was spotted at the Nurburgring in Germany doing presumably some high speed testing as of late. Is it me or does anyone notice that the side mirrors have been modified since the concept car’s debut when it rolled onto the platform back in Detroit?

I seriously hope that this Saab 9-4x BioPower will be introduced with an engine no larger than a 4-cylinder “right sized” complete with turbocharger and is BioPower (ie. E-85) capable as originally indicated. As a skier as shown this past March in Vermont, I also hope that the Saab-Salomon integrated inside carrier will be also included in the final production model.

Here what the auto spies at Jalopnik had to say about it:

The 2010 Saab 9-4X was caught running round the Nurburgring today just like the big boys and while we’re pretty certain the Audi (both of them) is (are) a pinch quicker, the 9-4X is definitely more economical. Word on the street is the new 9-4X will not only be replacing the porky Oldsmobile Bravada Saab 9-7X, but will be doing it with some form of “biopower” like the original show car. The crossover of Trollhattan is expected to be on sale some time in 2009 for the 2010 model year, but that didn’t stop our KGP spies from spittin’ words about this one — which you can read after the break.

For more information on the Nurburgring, please visit this link.

Take a look at the complete writeup and to see more photos on their website.

I leave you will a poll after reading some of the comments on Jalopnik’s writeup:

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Photo Credit: Auto Express

Auto Express have test driven the Saab 9-4x BioPower concept car, which was stated back in January to be near 80% of the production version that will be built in Mexico next year.

This is quite a rare experience to gain some “real life” information about a vehicle that won’t change much from concept to production.

Their third sentence in, really captured their experience with the following “We were first behind the wheel of the newcomer, and can reveal it won’t disappoint when it hits showrooms at the end of 2009.”

Take a look at their review here
.

The Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept Crossover vehicle that I covered at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan this past January, is confirmed to be built as the 9-4x at the GM facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico sometime next year as a 2010 model year, according to an late breaking inside source.

The Ramos Arizpe facility, which opened in 1981, is located west of Monterrey, Mexico. To this day, GM has been operating in Mexico for 71 years.

It is important to keep in mind that this Saab will certainly not the first to be produced outside of the Sweden. Over the years, Saab has built varying 99s in Belgium, 900s and 9-3s in Finland, the current model 9-3 convertible in Austria, the 9-2x at the Ota-Gunmas plant in Japan, and the 9-7x in Moraine, Ohio, USA.

While this news confirms the location, now we need some hard dates as to when to expect it.

Here is a photograph of the facility taken sometime in 2006.

Sources:

http://www.globalmanufacture.net/home/news/GM%20broadens.cfm
http://media.gm.com/news/releases/010810_wateraward.html
http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/global_operations/north_america/mexi.jsp

Film Credit: Auto Motor & Sport

The Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept & 9-X BioHybrid Concept have been recently showcased by Auto Motor & Sport. During this filming, the concept cars were showcased in and around the falls in Trollhättan, where Saab Automobile’s project strategist, Andreas Eskengren was interviewed.

Enjoy the video that was filmed that showcases these vehicles in Swedish, above!

Film Credits: Saab History

At the Saab Reflective Event last Tuesday evening, I managed to capture some good video coverage thanks to Saab of Hunterdon & JMK Saab in New Jersey.

This event took place at the IAC Building in New York City and began at approximately 9 pm and ended around 1am.

In this video you will see both the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept as well as the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept on stage where Saab Automobile launches their new eco-friendly clothing line.

A special thanks again goes to Saab Automobile USA, General Motors & Saab of Hunterdon / JMK Saab for making this possible.