New Saab 9-2X to debut at Los Angeles in december

[kak]

The Saab 9-2X - a new, all-wheel-drive, five-door model - opens up a new, fast-growing market segment for Saab and will be unveiled at a special event in Los Angeles in mid-December in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new, sporty Saab 9-2X continues Saab's biggest-ever product offensive by taking the Swedish manufacturer into a new market segment with a fresh expression of Saab's traditional reputation for combining fun-to-drive enjoyment and smart versatility.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://car.kak.net/modules.php?op=mo...ticle&sid=1334

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"The new Saab 9-2X will be produced in Fuji Heavy Industries’ facilities in Japan . . .the 9-2X is the first production Saab to have all-wheel drive and will offer excellent driving dynamics"

Fuji Heavy Industries = Subaru.

"The entry level Saab 9-2X will be powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine and the top Aero model will feature a 227 bhp, 2.0-liter turbo unit"

naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine = Impreza TS
227 bhp, 2.0-liter turbo unit = Impreza WRX.

You can buy one from your Subaru dealer today.

[kak]

But not as good-looking as this Saab-version!

[nhibbert]

Originally Posted by kak

But not as good-looking as this Saab-version!

I think it would be difficult to pick a winner in a beauty contest between a Saab and a Subaru. Both have gotten 'better' looking in the part few years, but both are losing their individuality (some might say quirkiness).

What I don't understand is why the big automotive corporations take a car from one company, put a slightly different body on it, and sell it as a car from a different company. Would I buy a Saab 9-3 if it had a Subaru nameplate on it? No. I would go buy it from the Saab dealer. Both Saab and Subaru have a very loyal customer bases, and those people buy their vehicles based on what's under the hood, not based on the nameplate (unlike say Ford customers).

I think, in the case of Saab and Subaru, it would make more sense to combine the dealership network so that both Saab's and Subaru's could by bought and serviced at a larger number of dealers, but keep Saab's coming out of Saab factories and Subaru's coming out of Subaru factories.

On the other hand, if they are going to combine Subaru with another company, Saab is an excellent choice. I hope Saab fans feel the same way about Subaru.