Saab's first-ever SUV, the 9-7X, will carry price tags of $50,900 and $53,400 for its Linear and Arc models, respectively, when it goes on sale this spring across Canada.
Though the five-seat SUV will have a unique appearance and interior appointments (including the famous console-mounted ignition), it will also be familiar to anyone who knows the other mid-sized SUVs in the General Motors family.
Saab 9-7X uses the GMT360 architecture that is the basis for the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy, and that has drawn some criticism from hardcore fans of the eccentric Swedish marque.
Many others have welcomed the notion of a vehicle using that excellent architecture and the Griffin logo, especially if it's different and upscale enough to do justice to Saab's reputation.
The folks at Saab and GM of Canada certainly seem to believe that's the case, and that enough big-ticket buyers looking for an all-wheel-drive SUV with a difference will think so as well.
The marketing manager for Saab in Canada, Lars Hygrell, certainly believes that. ''The 9-7X joins the Saab lineup at the right time because the demand for premium midsize SUV's is strong,'' he says. "About forty percent of current Saab owners already have an SUV of another make in their garage. With the 9-7X, Saab will be able to take advantage of the continued growth in this segment.''
Hygrell says Saab owners will feel right at home in the 9-7X ''with its Saab styling, familiar cockpit-inspired instrument panel, in-dash cupholder and center console-mounted ignition.''
Standard equipment on the 9-7X Linear model includes all-wheel drive, leather-appointed and heated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, OnStar, a six-disc CD Bose audio system, xenon headlamps, adjustable pedals side-curtain airbags, integrated roof rails, and a choice between a moonroof or a rear-DVD entertainment system.
All of this is pulled around by a 4.2-litre inline-six that sends 275 hp at 6,000 rpm and 275 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.
For the extra money that the Arc costs, the big attraction will probably be the 5.3-litre V-8 and its serious power ratings -- 300 hp at 5,200 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 -- but there are also unique 18-inch wheels, an integrated roof rack, and of course the pleasure of knowing that your neighbor can't one-up you with a more expensive model.
As for the 9-7X's look, Hygrell says it ''reflects Saab's sporty and functional brand character. Key features, such as Saab's front fascia three-port grille, rear quarter windows that visually appear to wrap around the D-pillars and brand-distinctive wheels, convey Saab's heritage at first sight.''
In general, Hygrell maintains, the 9-7X ''presents a very smooth, aerodynamic, sporty appearance, with an excellent body-to-tire relationship derived from the vehicle's low stance in combination with its standard 18-inch wheels.''
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Saab 9-7X uses the GMT360 architecture that is the basis for the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy, and that has drawn some criticism from hardcore fans of the eccentric Swedish marque.
Many others have welcomed the notion of a vehicle using that excellent architecture and the Griffin logo, especially if it's different and upscale enough to do justice to Saab's reputation.
The folks at Saab and GM of Canada certainly seem to believe that's the case, and that enough big-ticket buyers looking for an all-wheel-drive SUV with a difference will think so as well.
The marketing manager for Saab in Canada, Lars Hygrell, certainly believes that. ''The 9-7X joins the Saab lineup at the right time because the demand for premium midsize SUV's is strong,'' he says. "About forty percent of current Saab owners already have an SUV of another make in their garage. With the 9-7X, Saab will be able to take advantage of the continued growth in this segment.''
Hygrell says Saab owners will feel right at home in the 9-7X ''with its Saab styling, familiar cockpit-inspired instrument panel, in-dash cupholder and center console-mounted ignition.''
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All of this is pulled around by a 4.2-litre inline-six that sends 275 hp at 6,000 rpm and 275 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.
For the extra money that the Arc costs, the big attraction will probably be the 5.3-litre V-8 and its serious power ratings -- 300 hp at 5,200 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 -- but there are also unique 18-inch wheels, an integrated roof rack, and of course the pleasure of knowing that your neighbor can't one-up you with a more expensive model.
As for the 9-7X's look, Hygrell says it ''reflects Saab's sporty and functional brand character. Key features, such as Saab's front fascia three-port grille, rear quarter windows that visually appear to wrap around the D-pillars and brand-distinctive wheels, convey Saab's heritage at first sight.''
In general, Hygrell maintains, the 9-7X ''presents a very smooth, aerodynamic, sporty appearance, with an excellent body-to-tire relationship derived from the vehicle's low stance in combination with its standard 18-inch wheels.''