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New Saab 9-4X to share Caddy platform

inspirion7 submitted on 12/12/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 5:03:05 AM

12 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: info.detnews.com

This production model of Saab's new 2010 9-4X CUV looks very much like the Saab BioPower concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show in January.

This Saab is expected to start production in late 2009, although it might now be delayed by several months. It will be based on GM's new TE chassis and will share this platform with the 2010 Cadillac SRX. In addition to regular gasoline motors, the 9-4X will pack a new 250 horsepower diesel engine with 406-pound-feet of torque developed by GM and VM Motori.

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New Saab 9-4X to share Caddy platform

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inspirion7

"Show me the money" - Cuba Gooding Jr. The bigger the Government, the smaller the man.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)


User Comments

fatandsassy

Who cares? Another rebadged GM product. Why does Saab need to even enter this market?

— fatandsassy (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 9:17:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

pchera01

+1
why they still doing this... so they can save more money

— pchera01 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 9:31:06 AM | | Votes: 1   

204E60

Actually, it's probably not Saab that's doing it. I'm sure they get their direction from GM. I would love to see Saab being wholly independent again, but that's probably not going to happen in this economic climate.

— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 10:53:40 AM | | Votes: 1   

bmwdrvr

everything in the acura lineup is based on the accord, except the RDX, everything in the infiniti lineup is based on the same platform as the Z car, and you are complaining about Gm doing it, are you kidding me...........

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 3:30:16 PM | | Votes: 1   

bmwdrvr

and the RDX is basedon the civic based crv....lol perception is crazy GM cant win forlosing its ok for everyone else to platform share but not GM your kidding right

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 3:30:58 PM | | Votes: 3   

aznstuart

There's a difference between badge engineering and platform sharing.

Badge engineering is the difference between a Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt or the a GMC Sierra and a Chevy Silverado--basically--90% of the vehicles are the same.

Platform sharing is just that--sharing the platform. Even though the RDX and CR-V share the same platform, they totally different engines (Turbo vs. NA), a different AWD system (SH-AWD vs. RT-4WD), they're in a difference price bracket (Luxury vs. Non-Luxury), and one is geared toward sport and luxury while the other is towards fuel efficiency and comfort.

When GM or any other American automaker Badge Engineers, they basically take the same car and throw slightly modified headlights and grille and call it a different vehicle. Think Mercury and GMC's whole line up.

Platform sharing is a viable business strategy. Badge Engineering shows laziness and lack of innovation.

— aznstuart (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 6:49:59 PM | | Votes: 3   

Hyundai

Ummm.. this is EXACTLY why GM is failing..

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 10:31:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

bmwdrvr

why because of platform sharing....if that werethe case than honda, toyota, and vw, and everyone else would be failing....ignorrant comment

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 3:28:26 PM | | Votes: 0   

Hyundai

Needless replicas of the exact same car.

Cobalt, G5.

Yukon, Tahoe.

Torrent, Equinox, Vue, XL7 (Suzuki).

What's the point in all these vehicles if they are the same damned thing?! They are stretching themselves so thin instead of focusing on one good product.

You cannot relate this to Lexus/Toyota or Honda/Acura. There are major differences between the ES and Camry or the GX and 4Runner. There is no comparison.

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 7:33:35 PM | | Votes: 2   

M53R

I dont understand the whole point of SAAB. Can Anyone explain please? I mean, where is it positioned in the market, what it competes with etc...

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 1:51:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

inspirion7

A car company needs a butt full of money to develop a new platform for every vehicle. Fiat, Lexus, Infiniti, ( Alfa Romero, Ferarri and Maserati share platforms to cut cost with using the same platform together) so the notion that badge engineering is bad is depending on your snob index. Alfa's 8c Competizion, Mazerati MC12 and the Enzo use the same platform with obvious different outcomes. I might be wrong about the Alfa's shared platform, but they do share with Ferrari. Audi, Porsche and VW share. So why is it so wrong? Are the companies mentioned stupid for doing so? Does it really make a difference?

M53R is it that you don't get SAAB, or just don't like the company. A company not managed to the best potential, but a great history for a company that was to compete with the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Infiniti. Again, I feel this company has great potential, but severally underdeveloped.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 4:40:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

ktu01

I don't think there is anything wrong with platform sharing. This is a perfectly viable business and engineering solution that has been adopted by many manufacturers. Many companies do it and produce great cars off of the shared platforms.

Rebadging cars, on the other hand, is different from platform sharing. As aznstuart mentioned above, rebading is simply taking one car and changing minor elements and calling it another. There are numerous rebadged cars within the GM brands, Ford/Lincoln/Mercury, and Chrysler/Dodge (and before, Plymouth, Eagle). This is just an extremely cheap way to save development costs, but at the same time, dilutes the brands and scatters focus. In all fairness though, GM also does platform sharing, some of which are quite successful. See the latest Opel products for example.

— ktu01 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2008 3:57:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

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