Saab supersizes

Newswheel staff :: 21 January 2005 :: Filed under Four wheel drive, SUV, Saab, Saab 9-7x, US,

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We’re beginning to think GM really has it in for poor old Saab. It seems forcing the beleaguered Swedish marque to re-skin mediocre Vauxhall saloons (Opel for our Euro friends) and re-badge Subarus isn’t humiliation enough. No, what’s really required is a re-panelled 5.3L push-rod V8 version of the dynamic tour de force that is(n’t) the Chevy TrailBlazer. Known as the Saab 9-7x, it’s now available in the US. How depressing.

It’s a Chevy Jim

Hardcore Saab-ites (if there are any left) probably view the 9-7x as the final insult. But given the SUV-crazed state of the US market and Saab’s modest means, it was inevitable that Saab’s first light truck would be a hastily re-jigged Chevy. And hey, if it “does a Cayenne” and both guarantees the future of the Saab brand and helps to fund future models worthy of the marque, you won’t see us complaining.

For those that care, the 5.3L lump knocks out a leisurely 300hp and propels the 9-7x to 60 in 7.8 seconds and on to 119mph (limited). Meanwhile, the antediluvian solid rear axle, body-on-frame chassis (shudder) delivers no surprises. Still, the plausible and admittedly rather slick styling alone is probably enough to secure healthy showroom traffic until a rumoured monocoque-chassised replacement arrives in late 2006. No news on whether the 9-7x will make it’s way over the pond, but for now US prices kick off at $37,000 for the 4.2L V6. Yippee.

A Chevy TrailBlazer, yesterday.