Saab 9-4X Crossover Spied in Production Form Prior to Los Angeles debut

Here are some snapshots of the next Saab vehicle to help justify the brand's survival, the 9-4X crossover. Seen here in production guise before its LA Auto Show debut in November (unless Saab surprises us in Paris...), what we've got is a nice, safe, smart step in the right direction for the brand.

While nothing is official yet, the 9-4X engine lineup should include a ~180-hp 1.6-liter Turbo, a ~220-hp 2.0-liter Turbo, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel. A 300-hp 2.8-liter V6 may also show up, and we can expect transmissions to be 6-speed manuals and automatics in a front- or all-wheel drive layout.

From the pics, the new Saab crossover looks to stay fairly true to the 9-4X BioPower concept by showing off Saab's new rear end styling; we can clearly see its full-width taillight setup and hockey stick C-pillar. Up front is more of the same, with the only concession appearing to be smaller front fog light openings.

Also, the propeller-inspired rims are a nice touch that symbolize both Saab's aviation heritage and its new ownership by Spyker. All in all, this appears to be a welcome addition to the new Saab product range.

With a Jason Castriota-penned 9-3 on its way and possible BMW power in the pipeline, Saab looks to be viciously clawing its way back up a slope that it was so carelessly pushed down by GM.

By Phil Alex

Source: Saabsunited [Photos: Djup Strupe]

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Gallery: 2008 Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept

All-New Hyundai Elantra to join Sonata and Sorento in Alabama, U.S. Spec Model to Debut in LA

For some reason (maybe it's a revolution) Hyundai is just all up in everyone's face lately. Whether it's forging the way Stateside with its new Sonata and Tucson or diving head-first into the Russian market with its new Solaris small sedan, the South Korean automaker just appears in the news non-stop like it's no big thing.

Case in point: the all-new and very Soanata-esque Elantra (called Avante in South Korea) is going to be built in good ol' Alabama at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant.

For the record, that's three (yes, 3) models we've got being built here as "made in America", and all in the past few years. Even Hyundai knows it. The first words of the press release are "Hyundai's three most popular models will now be built in the U.S." And that's that.

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik says, "Hyundai's philosophy is to build our vehicles where we sell them, and with the addition of the Elantra to our U.S. production mix we now manufacture our three most popular models right here in the U.S."

While we've already essentially seen the Elantra (in various forms), it will make its US debut in L.A. in November. If it's anything like the Sonata, which has just plain been knocking them dead in the market, this new little looker could put the Corolla, Civic, and others in its rear-view mirror.

For more on the next Elantra, check out our previous post and get a look at what we here in the States will soon be getting. Expect to see something along the lines of a directly-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 140-ish horsepower and hooked to either a 6-speed stick or 6-speed automatic tranny.

By Phil Alex

Photo Gallery: KDM 2011 Hyundai Avante / Elantra