The new Saab 9-4X and its sister car, the Cadillac BRX, have been caught testing in Germany. These are the first shots of the Saab, which will go on sale next year after being unveiled at the Detroit motor show in January. Developing the 9-4X alongside the Cadillac BRX has saved enough money for Saab to design its own bodyshell and interior. On the outside the car will be very similar to the concept, retaining the distinctive angular door frames and big Saab grille. The project's chief designer, Andrew Dyson, said that the car will be bold with simple shapes. There's a roundness in the front end, with the front corners rounded off, but simple body sides with big wheels and arches.The cabin will also draw heavily on the concept, so expect an update of the shapes and forms used in the 9-3 and 9-5,- but with more modern materials and better build quality.Our spies tell us that, unlike the 9-4X concept, this test car is fitted with GM's 2.8-litre petrol V6 and an automatic box. We also know it's running on 255/55 tyres on 18-inch rims -- more practical than the concept's 21-inch wheels. The production 9-4X will be 4.95m long and 1.92m wide, a company source has told Autocar. Along with the Cadillac BRX it uses a new platform -- a mix of GM's Theta 4x4 platform and the new Epsilon II chassis known as Theta premium.Both cars will be built in Mexico.
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