All Entries Tagged With: "Boston"
Key To Saab’s Future, The 9-X Biohybrid Returns To Home Away From Home
By Gunnar Heinrich
SAAB public relations man extraordinaire Jan Willem-Vester sent yours (and countless others, no doubt) a press release announcing that Saab is holding a really big party for owners and fans in its home away from home – Massachusetts – us New English really love our Saabs.
If you haven’t read ADL’s Turbo X Drive in Beantown this past Spring, do so here >
Saab’s Stage: Bostonian Spring
The Turbo X Spectacular! The Talk In Herb’s Garden
The Turbo X Spectacular! Part II: Lost (Briefly) In Beantown
The Turbo X Spectacular! Part III: Thrashing Saab’s Best
So from Sonnet to Viggen, every bit of Saab’s past will be on view in the town of Devens from tomorrow August 21st through Sunday, August 24th.
Flying over from Sweden to make this party is the very special – nay, crucial – 9-X Biohybrid concept: a svelte Swede that brings the Scandinavian anti-bling of Bang & Olufsen and must sell like Ikea.
The challenge is whether Saab can keep it real enough for the fans and cheap enough for the accountants. There’s been talk that the someday-production-car is already being downsized (but hopefully not downgraded) from the original show car that debuted last March (see the concept in our video here).
Fuel efficiency is the likely rationale, though flexibility of platform to match future Opels and Chevys is also probable. Which would be fine so long as the production version of the 9-X (aka 9-1X) looks, feels, and smells nothing like them whatsoever.
[Linked: Motor Trend]
The Turbo X Spectacular! Part II: Lost (Briefly) In Beantown
By Gunnar Heinrich with Photos By Kevin Kusina
DRIVING off the lot from Herb Chambers in the new Turbo X with ADL shooter Kevin riding shotgun and Saab media rep. extraordinaire Jan-Willem Vester giving directions from the back seat, we embarked upon a preordained route that wound us northward to North Andover where in a more secure, open setting we would be able to beat the Turbo X like the redheaded stepchild it isn’t.
The trouble was getting there.
Not a problem you’d think, Jan-Willem had the directions. The route was charted. Tuesday morning traffic was light. We’d be as right as Swedish pork-filled potato dumplings with cabbage rolls.
Boston, bless it’s eighteenth century heart, had other ideas.
To Boston!
By Gunnar Heinrich
AUTOMOBILES DE LUXE is on the road to Beantown where Saab USA will show off their latest, (hopefully) greatest, jet black, charged and cross-driven Turbo X.
Over the next forty-eight, ADL photographer exemplar Kevin Kusina and yours will meet with GM reps, Saab dealers, fellow automotive writers, and a line of Saab “heritage” vehicles – notable models from the marque’s past which I’m really keen on reviewing.
And of course, we’ll have some road and (heh) track time with the Turbo X.
Despite the General’s gracious hospitality shown by once again keeping us luxuriously fed and housed, their Swedish division’s $40K+ flagship has an uphill battle to win this writer’s approval.
The standard, Epsilon platformed 9-3 sedan which I drove a few years back was a good, but mostly forgettable experience. And the latest technological magic that the Turbo X is meant to cast will come from the same, albeit facelifted version of that same milquetoast four door.
Holding true to my belief that Saab is a (supafly) niche car company that shines best when it produces cars like the 9-X concept, on first take the Turbo X seems like more vain Teuton chasing. Saab’s strengths lie outside the midsize luxury sedan market.
Still a fair hearing the Turbo X shall get and you shall read in the coming hours.
Keep it locked.
[Linked: Saab Turbo X]
