The New York auto show will serve as the North American debut of Saab's new 9-3X. In the vein of Volvo's XC70 wagon and Subaru's Outback wagon, Saab's 9-3X is "a rugged all-rounder designed to take outdoor enthusiasts to the start of their adventure," according to the Swedish company. And with more people feeling the need to step down from large SUVs and crossovers, the 9-3X wagon appears to be on the right track.
Its styling says "take me slightly off-road," with front and rear bumpers, side skirts and flared wheel arches finished in a dark gray, grained material intended to give better protection should the 9-3X owner take the car off the beaten path and encounter mud or loose stones. The car also features skid plates with a matte-aluminum finish, front and rear.
The 9-3X backs up its tough looks with a 1.4-in.-higher ride height and Saab's high-tech Cross Wheel Drive (XWD) system, which we first saw on last year's limited-edition Turbo X. This active system uses an electronically controlled Torque Transfer Device (TTD) to vary power between the front and rear axles. The rear axle also comes standard with a limited-slip differential.
The 9-3X will come to the U.S. with Saab's tried-and-true 2.0-liter dohc turbocharged 4-cylinder with 207 bhp. Both a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic transmission will be offered.
Saab says the 2010 9-3X, which was developed and will be manufactured at Saab's Trollh?ttan, Sweden, headquarters, should go on sale in the U.S. by the fourth quarter of 2009. Prices will be announced later this year.
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