2005 Saab 9-2X

It's no secret that Saab's new 9-2X is essentially a nicely restyled and refined Subaru Impreza wagon, the legitimate love child of a happy union between Japan's Subaru and Sweden's Saab arranged by matchmaker General Motors, full owner of Saab and 20 percent owner of Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). Both makers, known to be quirky and eccentric, do things different in comparison to their mainstream competitors. They both have extensive experience with turbocharged gas engines (for which Saab is GM's global center of expertise), both have enjoyed success in Euro-style rally racing competition, and each can boast aircraft manufacturing as a segment of its corporate heritage.

Performance

Saab wanted to add a "premium sport compact" to its expanding model line; Subaru had available plant capacity; GM saw the benefits of a productive partner relationship; hence a win/win/win scenario. As a result, Saab got a pair of premium all-wheel-drive (AWD) 5-door 9-2Xs—standard Linear and turbocharged Aero—to attract new, younger customers and grow in North America while gaining knowledge and experience with FHI's AWD technology.


"We saw this emerging segment already occupied by Acura RSX and Volvo S40," says Saab Brand Manager, Future Vehicles, Chip Wilkerson, "plus the Audi A3 [and the coming] BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class. We felt the need to be there quickly. Looking across the GM corporate landscape for where we could fill this gap, FHI was a natural partner. We looked at other alternatives, but this one aligned the best for the type of vehicle we wanted."


Given the existing Subaru platform and structure, Chassis Integration Engineer Per Jansson's responsibility was to make the 9-2X ride and handle like a Saab, while Lead Designer Ula Gramlin was to make it look like one. With plenty of new components compared to the Impreza, Saab engineers also needed to ensure that it met their required level of quality by adding some more sound insulation and doing a few other things to make sure it felt and sounded like a Saab.

Handling

What of the criticism from some Saabophiles that the brand's image is being diluted by this "Saabaru" 9-2X and the (Chevy TrailBlazer-based) 9-7X SUV? "We've got to be pragmatic," Wilkerson responds. "Our business isn't long-term viable if we don't grow, but we can't grow at the expense of what our brand stands for. That's why it's so important that we find partners and build real Saabs off of [other suitable platforms]. As we dive into this world of alliances, we have to make sure that a Saab remains a Saab."