New SUV Model

Saab has revealed the new 9-4X – the car that marks the manufacturer's first entry into the burgeoning crossover segment.

The 9-4X will make its debut at the Los Angeles motor show next month; its presence at the US event marks the importance of the model's position in the domestic SUV market.

The 9-4X shares its platform with the Cadillac SRX and will be built at GM's production facility in Mexico. The car will be offered with the same twin-turbo 2.8-litre V6 engine that's currently found in the top-spec 9-5, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and Saab's XWD all-wheel drive system.

The manufacturer is promising car-like driving dynamics from the 9-4X, which is equipped with the DriveSense adaptive chassis that uses real time damping control to adapt to road conditions.

Inside the car is a five-seater – no third row for the kids – and includes the usual tributes to Saab's unique heritage, including a wraparound, driver-focused dash and a rolling 'aircraft attitude' meter as a speed read-out.

Standard kit should include cruise control, dual-zone climate control, electric handbrake, 20-inch turbine alloy wheels, parking sensors and Saab's infotainment navigation system.

The 9-4X is due to go on sale in the US next May, but won't make it to UK showrooms until after the summer.