25 February 2009 - 16:00
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Told you it was the season for jacked-up, plastic-bumpered pseudo offroaders. Last week we saw the Audi A4 Allroad and the Skoda Fabia Scout, and today brings the Saab 9-3X: a slightly taller version of the 9-3 XWD estate.
So it has the same two-litre petrol engine putting out 207bhp, and the same four-wheel drive system (which makes it only the second Saab to ever get all-wheel drive – the 9-3 XWD estate was the first, unbelievably).
Predictably, the 9-3X gets a lovely set of wipe-clean plastic bumpers and wheelarches, along with a shiny new skid pan. Saab has raised the ride height by a heady 3.5 centimetres, too. Vertigo is a very real risk.
“The 9-3X is an efficient all-rounder for anyone who doesn't want or need an SUV- type vehicle,” says Saab designer Simon Padian. “Simply put, we are offering a trekking shoe that will do what's required in more comfort and style than a heavier mountaineering boot.”
The 9-3X goes on sale this summer, but if you can’t wait that long, we’ll see it in the metal in Geneva next week.
Paul Horrell's written about it on the Foreman blog here and here.
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This looks HIDEOUS.
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Haha! It looks like an obese Saab - one that has REALLY let itself go on the chocolate Quite scary when you think about it really, it looks ready to roll and squash anyone who dare poke fun of it's fatness
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did they copy the back off of the horribe bmw x3 and x5?
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So anonymous it makes Gordon Brown look like a high-profile public figure. Another great example of vehicular Temazepam.
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Plastique commented on this article
25 February 2009
Actually, there was another AWD Saab recently. The North American market only Saab 9-2X was based upon the Subaru Impreza with some minor modifications. This car is also known as the Saabaru.
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