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SAAB UNVEILS NEW 9-7X SUV AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

SAAB UNVEILS NEW 9-7X SUV AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

Significant extension of Saab model range, targeting one of the fastest growing North American vehicle segments
Styling, performance and driving characteristics developed in Sweden, to create a sporty, fun-to-drive premium offer in the SUV segment
Comprehensive standard equipment, including leather seats, 18" alloy wheels and all-wheel-drive
Two engine options – a 5.3-litre V8 (c. 300 bhp) and 4.2-litre in-line 6, with 275 bhp
Start of sales in USA and Canada only in the first quarter of 2005, with no UK/EU sales planned
As part of its aggressive product development programme, Saab is today (Wednesday 7 April 2004) unveiling the new 9-7X SUV at the New York Auto Show. Expanding its model range to four vehicle lines, Saab – the fastest growing European premium car brand in the American market – is now targeting one of the fastest growing market segments. The American mid-luxury SUV segment increased from around 50,000 units in 1997, to 290,000 in 2003. By the end of 2004, US sales in this sector are forecast to exceed 400,000 units.

As part of its product offensive, Saab has launched the new 9-3 Sport Saloon and 9-3 Convertible models in the last 18 months. In December 2003 the company revealed the Saab 9-2X, an early offering in the emerging American small premium car sector, with sales in US and Canada only due to commence on 1 July 2004.

The Saab 9-7X will bring unique Saab characteristics to the growing US SUV segment, including; sophisticated exterior and interior styling by Saab’s Design Director, Michael Mauer, and his Swedish-based team, premium quality and design features, and a chassis tuned to deliver sporty and fun-to-drive performance. The 9-7X will appeal to buyers looking for a driver’s vehicle, with the versatility of a SUV. The 9-7X is developed from GM’s award-winning GMT360 architecture. Production is scheduled to begin in January 2005, at GM’s Moraine, Ohio, plant.

"The Saab 9-7X emphasizes the ‘sport’ aspect of the Sport Utility Vehicle nomenclature," says Peter Augustsson, Saab’s President and CEO. "It is a very dynamic vehicle that you want to drive."

Research conducted by Saab revealed that 39 percent of Saab owners in the USA also have an SUV in the household. Furthermore, almost 30 percent of American Saab customers who leave the Saab brand go on to purchase an SUV.

The 9-7X is designed to satisfy existing Saab owners, and attract new buyers to the marque. The Saab 9-7X will be positioned in the $37,000 to $45,000 (£23,200-£28,200) price bracket. The high-performance 5.3-litre V8, delivering around 300 bhp, is destined to be an attractive offer among mid-luxury SUVs. Product content will be comprehensive, including standard leather upholstery, 18" alloy wheels, all-wheel-drive and a state-of-the-art audio system.

The Design: Saab distinction at a glance

"The exterior and interior design of the 9-7X reflect the vehicle’s dynamic road behaviour, and convey the sporty feel of a Saab, rather than the ruggedness of a traditional SUV," comments Michael Mauer. "For example, the interior features such Saab icons at the air vents with their distinctive sliding plate design, the famed Saab cupholder, and our traditional central ignition in the centre console."

The 9-7X reflects Saab’s sporty and functional brand character throughout its design. Key exterior features, such as Saab’s signature three-port grille, rear quarter windows that visually appear to wrap around the D-pillars, and brand-distinctive wheels, telegraph the 9-7X’s heritage, even from a distance. Overall, the 9-7X presents a very smooth, aerodynamic, sporty appearance, with an excellent body-to-tyre relationship, derived from the car’s low stance, in combination with its standard 18" wheels.

The 9-7X’s pro

SAAB UNVEILS NEW 9-7X SUV AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW