Saab launches the 9-4X at the Los Angeles Motor Show

The 9-4X is based on the Cadillac SRX crossover, and is one of the last cars produced in collaboration with Saab's former owners GM, before the Swedish carmaker was sold to Spyker. The 9-4X slots between the 9-3X and 9-5 in Saab's range, and will be built alongside the SRX at GM's plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

The 9-4X comes with bi-xenon headlights, a dual-exhaust system, and 18-inch alloy wheels, upgradable to 20-inches for the Aero. Inside, there is leather upholstery, eight-way power seats, wood trim, or faux carbon fibre in the Aero, mesh-style air vents, and a centre console-mounted push-button ignition. Saab also offers a Bose audio system, GPS navigation with an eight-inch touch screen, tri-zone climate control, and a rear entertainment system.

Under the bonnet, the 9-4X is powered by either a 3.0-litre V6 with direct injection which produces 265bhp and comes with two or four-wheel-drive, or a 2.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with 300bhp and 400Nm of torque and standard all-wheel-drive. Both models come with six-speed automatic transmissions under adaptive, electronic control, which sends power to the wheels through Saab's XWD all-wheel-drive system.

"We are now embarking on the biggest new product offensive in Saab's history," says Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. "The 9-4X is the second new car we have introduced this year and it will significantly broaden the appeal of the Saab brand by giving us entry to the fast-growing crossover segment with a vehicle that is sporty and unmistakably a Saab."