The Saab 9-4X crossover-SUV is highly unlikely to receive a diesel engine, at least in its current lifecycle. According to Saab head Jan Ake Jonsson, the costs and development time associated with creating a new diesel engine for the Saab 9-4X would be such that nothing would be available for at least another two years, with the first phase of the car’s lifecycle rolling in only three years after that. He says:

“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. And then you have a very short payoff period. So I think it is unlikely.”

The problem is that without a diesel engine, the Saab 9-4X will have limited success in Europe in a market where diesel options are very attractive. It looks as though Saab will try and make up for this shortfall by heading to other markets, most notably China and Russia where distribution of the 9-4X will start soon. We can’t help feeling that Europeans might miss out on a great car for the lack of the diesel option, but if Saab continues with this model into another generation, we hope we’d see one developed.

Source | Autocar

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