Saab Rolls Off the First 9-4X

The dawn of a new age for Swedish manufacturer Saab is upon us, in the year when the automaker plans to launch the biggest new models offensive in its history. An offensive which began this week with the start of production for the company's crossover, the 9-4X, and the roll off of the first model of the series, wearing chassis number 00001.

The model, which will be written in the company’s history books, is an Ice Pearl metallic Aero model equipped with a 2.8l V6 turbo engine. The crossover will be shipped from its place of birth, the Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico to Sweden for display at the Saab car museum. Before that, however, it will clock a few miles in the US, where it will be used for media test drives.

“This is a great day for Saab,” said Jan Ake Jonsson, Saab CEO. “The arrival of the 9-4X is another important step in the fulfillment of our business plan. This sporty and distinctive product will significantly broaden the appeal of our brand and give us access to an important new vehicle segment that is still growing, particularly in the United States.”

The 9-4X was presented to the public last year, in October, as the car maker's first attempt to tackle the luxury mid-size crossover segment. The vehicles is, design wise, a combination between the Aero X concept and the Cadillac SRX.

It will be launched with only two V6 engines, a 3.0l naturally-aspirated (265 hp) and a 2.8l turbo (300 hp), paired to six-speed automatic transmission. Sales of the model will begin in May in the US and in August in Europe. Prices have not yet been announced.