First Saab 9-4X rolls off the production line

The addition of the 9-4X to Saab's range marks the start of a new era following a period of tough uncertainty for the Swedish carmaker, and the 9-4X goes into production barely three months after it was first unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Motor Show last November.

"This is a great day for Saab," said Saab Automobile President & CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. "The arrival of the 9-4X is another important step in the fulfillment of our business plan. This sporty and distinctive product will significantly broaden the appeal of our brand and give us access to an important new vehicle segment that is still growing, particularly in the United States."

The first car bears the chassis number 0001, and is a 9-4X Aero in Ice Pearl metallic, powered by a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 engine. Saab says that the first unit will be brought to the USA for media test drive events, before being shipped to Sweden to be displayed in Saab's car museum.

The Saab 9-4X is based on the Cadillac SR-X, and features Saab's advanced XWD all-wheel-drive system and adaptive chassis control. The new crossover will go on sale in the U.S. in May, with European and worldwide sales set to commence by August.