The Saab 9-4X crossover is unlikely to be offered with a diesel engine option that would be crucial to its success in Europe.
The car, revealed last week at the LA motor show, will launch in the US in May with two petrol V6s – a 265bhp 3.0 and a300bhp 2.8T – and sales will follow in Europe with the latter engine from August.
See official pics of the new Saab 9-4X
Saab sources have conceded to Autocar that sales will be hampered by the lack of a diesel and company boss Jan Ake Jonsson has said a diesel 9-4X is unlikely to ever be launched.
“If you then look at the life cycle of the vehicle, typically five or six years, before we actually have a diesel engine, we have to find one, we have to test it, we have to install it, validate it, and you are two years into the life cycle,” he said.
“And then you have a very short payoff period. So I think it is unlikely.”
Read the full story on the new Saab 9-4x, plus see more pics
Jonsson has also confirmed the firm will begin distribution in China in 2011 and a similar deal for Russian distribution is likely to be confirmed with the next few weeks.
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Re: Saab 9-4X diesel ruled out
The 9-4x could do with a diesel but for various reasons that we'll never know for sure, no diesel will be available. That doesn't mean the 9-4x cannot use an more cost efficient alternative. Diesels usually cost more than their petrol counterparts. The price would be higher if the manufacturers didn't eat into their margin to create more of an incentive. However; for roughly the same price of what it would cost to have a 265hp diesel, a CNG conversion could do the trick for many buyers. Less expense at the pumps and in a lot of European countries less in road tax too.
Re: Saab 9-4X diesel ruled out
Why not?? Not everyone in Europe is diesel mad. The main market for this car of course is in the US, but if they can sell a few thousand in places in Europe where diesel isn't worshipped like here, then it will have been worth it.
Anyway, I don't think the 9-4X is crucial to Saab's survival, or even the new 9-5 for that matter, it's the next gen 9-3 that's going to decide the long term (or not!) future of Saab - - I do hope they get it right...