New Saab 9-4X crossover debuts at LA Auto Show

The new Saab 9-4X premieres at next month's LA Auto Show, marking the brand's first foray into the growing crossover market segment with a product that they hope will appeal to "independently minded" crossover buyers.

Crossovers, a relatively new phenomenon, are intended to offer car-like driving dynamics mixed with SUV-like interior space and rugged appeal, and the 9-4X certainly looks tough enough with sharp angles everywhere and a wide, square shoulder-line.

Performance should be towards the more impressive side of things thanks to a 300bhp, 2.8-litre, turbocharged V6 engine, but we'll only really get to sample those "car-like dynamics" when the 2000kg Saab is shown a threatening set of bends at anything other than a relative snail's pace.