It seems the 9-4X will be making 245 HP at 5,300 RPM and 295 lb-ft of torque at 1900 RPM from its 2.0-liter turbo mill. That'll be good for a 0-62 MPH run in 6.4 seconds — if we're to believe the numbers published on the Chilean Saab website. Fuel economy is impressive for the power output: 25 MPG city and 37 MPG on the highway, though we assume those aren't US EPA numbers. Chilean pricing is about $66,000 including taxes, but it's tough to divine a US dollar equivalent from that number. [Saab Chile (Translated) via WCF]

Though we've seen the crossover lapping the ring with everyone else, we don't expect the Theta Premium CUV to be a challenger to the CTS-V or ZR1 anytime soon. We do expect it to premiere sometime within the next six months. [The Car Connection]

Saab has hit the Nürburgring with their new 9-4x midsize crossover. While we've seen the Swedish variant of GM's Theta/Theta Premium people movers on GM test tracks and on the public roads around Michigan, this is the first time we've seen it getting a true workout to test its handling dynamics at the limit.

5.) Saab 9-4x BioPower: Stainless-steel ski rack. Sure, it looks fine, and having the titanium-carbon-fiber Rossignols on the roof is just too risky these days. But where will the douchebag couple who spends the eight hours to Vermont talking about their trip to St. Bart's sit? Think about it.

4.) Saturn Flextreme: Clamshell trunk. While shellfish and trunk space are both well liked, combining the two is a pipe dream that'll, unfortunately, never be fulfilled. Saturn designers deserve credit for out-of-the-mollusk thinking, though. Hiho!

3.) Lincoln MKT: Those massive gauge tubes were reportedly inspired by Swarovski crystal. While they do add an upmarket, Ice Pirates ambiance to the Lincoln, no corporate lawyer in Scarsdale who's ever had a knock-down-drag-out with his spouse in the living room would risk another crystal decanter to the face, under any circumstances.

2.) Maybach Landaulet: Rear-seat convertible top. When everything shakes out, the 2010s may be known as the decade robber barons returned to lord it over the faltering middle class. But will the new JP Morgans and Vanderbilts really want to be chauffeured al fresco? We're betting not. These days, the proles have guns and laser scopes.

1.) Mazda Furai: Itself.

BONUS: One Feature Missing from a Detroit Concept Car: Hummer HX. Notwithstanding its visual connection to the Halo 3 Warthog fighting vehicle, the Hummer HX concept could be a great success on the dystopian streets of post-revolutionary America. But the kids would demand a turret mount, a glaring omission from the concept. Keeping the Covenant from attacking humanoid refugee shelters would be impossible without it.

Whispers about the upcoming Saab 9-4x mini ute and its European Cadillac BLX cousin have been circulating via those lovable sorts at Trollhattan Saab. Now, the Swedish mafia media is in on the act. According to Teknikens V rld — which also commissioned the rendering above — Saab's 9-3 based X3 contender may be shown in concept form as early as the next Detroit show. It's also expected to spawn a similar Caddy for the European market. It may even make it in time to join the deluge of premium small SUVs like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes MLK headed to market. – Mike Spinelli

[Teknikens V rld via Carscoop]

Related:
Predicting the Saab 9-4x: Replacing the 9-7x? [internal]

The Saab watchers at Trollhattan Saab rounded up the latest dirt on the next rebadged (sorry, guys) appropriated GM product to round out the Saab line. Word came down late last year that a new crossover would join the Swedish bunch, culled from GM's upcoming line of midsize CUVs, like the Buick Entourage and Saturn Outlook. Now, Wards talked with Saab Boss Jay Spenchian, who says such a vehicle would substitute the truck-based 9-7X SUV after GM updates the platform that underpins it. Wards uses the vague construction "slots in for" instead of "replace," however, so we're far from definite on this. Still, TS has more to say, as per usual.

9-4x is coming [Trollhattan Saab]

Related:
Saab Looks to GM for Saaburu Replacement