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The 2010 Saab S80
Living in the city, I’ve never had a large vehicle, but I do enjoy the raised platform, winter readiness and cargo space that SUVs and crossovers provide. If only there were a winter-ready vehicle that combined the higher view and interior space with a more compact frame. Bottom line for me: I need it in the mountains for hiking and skiing.
Enter the 2010 Saab 9-3X.
There are so many new 2010 models I look forward to test driving and other general ogling, and the Saab 9-3X is near the top of the list.
Saab’s Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD) system will come standard on the 9-3X, and the Torque Transfer Device (TTD) will be able to transfer power between axles, making it ideal for the winter months in Chicago (September-May) and the dirt and gravel mountain roads I seem to find myself on.
A look into the cargo space of the 9-3X at the Geneva Auto Show.
The 9-3X is also designed to make loading my hiking and skiing equipment easy. The rear cargo area has a low floor and is said to fit more than you would think. The rear suspension has a very compact design that translates to a deep interior space. It boasts 72.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down and almost 30 cubic feet with the seats up, meaning there is still ample room for a group ski trip. With the seats folded down I’m sure it’s enough room for a night’s stay if, for instance, you would find yourself tent camping during a rainstorm that dropped three inches of rain in two hours, a phenomenon that caused a tree branch to fall and rip a 2-foot gash in your newly purchased $529 ultra-light packing tent that you just wanted to try out before the big climb the following week. But instead I had you would have to just pack up everything in the middle of the night, sprain your ankle on a tree root and drive home. The point is, the 9-3X would be nice to have.
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The 2010 9-3X is scheduled to make its American debut at the New York Auto Show in April.
If you want to see one of these new crossovers at your Saab dealer in Chicago, the 9-3X will hit the show rooms at the Chicago Saab dealer this fall.
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