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I expect to see the Saab advertised right alongside the Silverado, and country music playing in the background.

"It'll tow a load of bricks, and your horse trailer, too. Saab, Like a Rock."

The Saab 9-7X will be offered with GM's 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine and 5.3-liter V-8. The 9-7X likely will compete against truck-based SUVs such as the Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer.

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_co...t_code=00720392

BTW, I don't hate OHV engines. I have one in my Bonneville. I just hate the idea of one in a Saab, when GM has been teasing us with a turbo Inline-5 for years now. <_<

I think the Inline 6, while not a Turbo, is an acceptable engine for Saab. It's modern, techy, and does more with less displacement in the Saab tradition.

But they just had to BADGE ENGINEER it, didn't they? Or suspension and sheet metal engineering, that is.

"But why deny people the option of a V8 when slippin it in there is sooo easy?" The Beancounter asks.

Why not put a Pontiac spoiler and fake hood scoops on Buick LeSabre? It's called brand character, and despite all of GM's high and mighty talk about protecting it, they go for the low-buck solution, instead of upping the horses of the I-6 or putting the turbo I-5 in.

"Wait a few years, maybe they will!"

The damage is done.

 

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Originally posted by mgescuro@Dec 23 2003, 05:15 AM
:angry:
No turbo??  Most likely the SAME engine as the Trailblazer/Envoy/Ranier.

So.. how can the 9-7X have "better performance" without a "better engine?"  Change the suspension too??
This isn't a Saab.  It's a farce!!  But maybe GM will surprise us?  At least the 9-2X followed in Saab's heritage of performance!!  GM should have been targeting the XC90 not that joke SUV Aviator.
Cadillac should have taken this platform and added it to the Escalade line.

Might as well base the 9-5 on the Bonneville while you're at it! 
:angry:

Better performance = It's a little lower to the ground, and takes the turns faster. :woot2: <_< <_< <_<

Yep, it's a Beancounter's dream, using the same engine combo as every other Trailblazer clone out there.

Don't give them any ideas about the Bonneville!

Yes, the Saab 9-2 deserves much credit for getting a hatch and a turbo inline-4 in the Saab tradition. I realize the 9-7 is an SUV, but did GM have to be so blatantly open about its platform/engine sharing? They could have offered the V8 at a later date, only when pressed to do so by the Saab buyer, which I don't think is going to happen. Not at least in the numbers that justify the erosion of brand character.

 

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Originally posted by sykboy@Dec 26 2003, 04:27 PM
I think some Saab buyers will appreciate the torque of the v8, after all, they like the torque of the turbo 4's.

Honda needs to put the GM Series II 3800 V6 engine in its Civic Si in exchange for that VUE Redline engine. I'm sure the Honda fans will appreciate the torque they've been denied all these years.

 

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Originally posted by sykboy@Dec 27 2003, 10:24 AM
I could see a Saab owner warming up to a V8 that runs on 87 octane and produces more than 300lbs in a fat curve, of course, I could be wrong.

I won't disagree that once they are in the driver's seat, they will like GMs OHV torquey V8.

The problem is all of the negative press it will get. Would Mazda put an LS1 in their RX-8 or RX-7 when it is supposed to be a rotary powered sports car? Heck, they'd get more bang for the power buck if they did, but imagine the negative reaction from Nissan fans.

Image aside, it also stinks of badge engineering. Platform sharing is one thing, but having the exact same engine options as Buick, Isuzu, Chevrolet and GMC.... ....like no one is going to miss this obvious cheapness....

GM could have put in the I-6, and then made a high-po version of the I-6 with more torque and horsepower. Look at the Saab lineup - they even have variations in their turbo power range like this.....

They might as well just give the Saab 9-3 the 3.9L V6 that is going in the Pontiac G6, and ditch all of their turbos. :blink: