9-7x Viggen

[900t]

Time for some Genetic Modification!



Plus:

(Courtesy of GMInsidenews)
2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS


TRAILBLAZER SS: SPORTS CAR PERFORMANCE WITH MIDSIZE SUV CAPABILITY
Sleek styling with unique fascias and monochromatic color scheme
LS2 6.0L V-8 rated at 391 hp (291 kw) and 395 lb-ft of torque (535 Nm)
Available all-wheel drive
Available this fall
NEW YORK – Chevrolet announced the 2006 TrailBlazer SS, the first SUV to wear the legendary SS badge and offering sports car performance combined with the functionality expected of a utility vehicle.

The TrailBlazer SS has unique exterior styling and specific interior appointments, including prominent 20-inch flangeless wheels. Power is delivered by the Corvette-derived LS2 6.0L V-8, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. A performance suspension with lowered ride height also is part of the package and was tuned by GM’s Performance Division at several racetracks, including Germany ’s legendary Nürburgring – a challenging road course that features more than 12.5 miles of turns and drastic elevation changes. The TrailBlazer SS is available in two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.

Chevrolet introduced the TrailBlazer SS at the 2005 New York Auto Show, along with production versions of the Malibu SS and Malibu Maxx SS. These three new vehicles join the SSR, Silverado SS and Cobalt SS Supercharged, as well as the ’06 Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS, in bringing Chevy’s lineup of exciting, attainable-performance vehicles to eight – the most SS models ever offered at one time.

“The TrailBlazer SS definitely emphasizes the sport in an SUV,” said Brent Dewar, General Motors North America vice president of marketing and advertising. “It represents the product diversity under the SS badge, bringing attainable performance to anyone who wants it.”

As the first truck developed by GM’s Performance Division, TrailBlazer SS’s performance look and feel is complemented by strong SUV functionality. The towing capacity is up to 6,700 pounds with the two-wheel drive model and up to 6,500 pounds with the available all-wheel drive model. Cargo volume is 41 cubic feet (1161 liters) behind the rear seat and 80 cubic feet (2265 liters) with the rear seat folded.

Additional specifics include:

Clean, aggressive monochromatic exterior styling, including blacked-out mesh grille, specific front and rear fascias and bright exhaust outlet
Interior with monochromatic ebony and elegant flat satin color scheme, performance-oriented gauges with prominent tachometer, front bucket seats with pronounced side bolsters, available leather seating, SS embroidery on the seat backs, T-shape shifter with aluminum insert, and chrome accents throughout
LS2 6.0L V-8 rated at 391 hp (291 kw) and 395 lb-ft of torque (535 Nm)
New Hydra-Matic 4L70-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission
Available all-wheel drive designed for on-road performance
Suspension tuned on the racetrack and including StabiliTrak electronic stability control
Standard 9.5-inch heavy duty axle with limited slip axle (400-pound pre-load)
Twenty-inch flangeless, six-spoke polished aluminum wheels and 255/50R20 V-rated performance tires
Four-wheel disc brakes with large, 12.8-inch (325 mm) front rotors and twin-piston calipers
Available accessory front brake cooling package for optimized track performance
Ride height reduced by approximately 1 inch (25 mm in front, 45 mm in rear)
Rear air-leveling suspension with onboard air compressor

These features create a vehicle that John Heinracy, director of GM High Performance Vehicle Operations, believes surpasses the original TrailBlazer SS concept first shown at the 2002 SEMA show.

Nobody but me thinks this would be a winning combination, eh?

[Raven18940]

Two piston brake calipers, they're really going all out.

Is it stick shift yet?

[sethsev7n]

SS trailblazer! woohoo!!


silly americans.

[edusaab]

I read in automotive news, that whit the 9-7x and all the good job of Saab "tuning" and adapting the Trail blazer to the "Saab preferences" in chasis, handling in resume with more sportier feeling, Chevrolet decided to take all this job and take the 9-7x as a base of this Trail Blazer SS.

it is quite disapointing, that saab always make the job for the others and GM didn't take it seriously to adapt this engineering to his models. For example, this SS that some chasis tune are from the 9-7x, the V6turbo that in the BLS will have 275-280bhp and the Saab only 250bhp as other GM products, when the Turbo version and many job in this engine is made by Saab....

greetings

[1BadPig]

Great, with the price of gas at all time high and getting higher, this will definitely help SAAB sell more cars/SUVs.

[Fast_Ed]

I like to think of myself as open minded about GM and its direction with SAAB. Even when they decided to made the 9-7x. But if they make an SUV and call it a Viggen, I cant be held accountable for my wrath.


I dont even know how I would or could react. Perhaps I'd just have to paint all of my saab badges black in mourning. That's just too close to home.

[cpenning623]

thats messed up, nothing other then performance 9-3 should come remotley close to "viggen"

[900t]

Originally Posted by 1BadPig

Great, with the price of gas at all time high and getting higher, this will definitely help SAAB sell more cars/SUVs.

Don't say nothing. A 2005 Pontiac GTO with the 400hp 6.0 litre LS2 V8 and the manual transmission gets better milage than my 165hp 2.0 litre turbo 4cyl manual transmission Saab 900!

[Toreador93]

Originally Posted by 900t

Don't say nothing. A 2005 Pontiac GTO with the 400hp 6.0 litre LS2 V8 and the manual transmission gets better milage than my 165hp 2.0 litre turbo 4cyl manual transmission Saab 900!

I think that has more to do with 10+ years of technological advancement.

You should also take note that Holden Monaro, I mean, GTO sales are lagging quite a bit. At launch, Mustangs had sales they don't usually see until spring, and that's with 100 less horsepower.

[Buddhabman]

Now it would be nice for them to offer a special build model with all the Trilablazer SS equipment, and call it Aero or Viggen. Make it a special order. My concern with the standard 9-7X is that they didn't upgrade the brakes enough to come to Saab standards of strong braking.