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Ultra-rare 2011 Saab 9-4X up for grabs on Cars & Bids

Saab's sad saga is full of might-have-beens and missed opportunities. As the 21st century dawned, it became clear that the Saab brand could not survive without an SUV in its lineup. In 2005, the 9-2X, a badge-engineered Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, was rushed into production (GM being a part-owner of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries at the time). That same year same GM also put a new nose on the distinctly mediocre Chevrolet TrailBlazer and peddle that as the Saab 9-7X. The last of the GM-based Saab SUVs was the 9-4X, which was mechanically twinned with the second-generation Cadillac SRX and built alongside it in Mexico. By the time the model was introduced for 2011, GM had already off-loaded Saab. But the new ownership would be short-lived, and production of the 9-4X ended after only a handful of 2012 models had rolled down the line. It's believed that a total of only 803 9-4Xs were built, of which 622 were sold in the United States, which explains why you haven't seen one lately. Or, perhaps, ever. But now you can buy one, as this 2011 example is available right now on Cars & Bids. This is a top-spec Aero version, which means it gets a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 and the Saab-developed X-drive all-wheel drive, rather than the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 in the base and Premium trims. That gives you 300 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, although this one sports a VTuner Stage 0 tune, so it could have more. With five days still to go, bidding stands at $8,500. For the Saab fans out there, don't let this be another missed opportunity. Related Video: Saab 9-4X concept introduced at Detroit Auto Show

GM wins appeal, dismissal of $3B Saab-related Spyker suit

It's been a long time since we last heard of the legal battles between Spyker CEO Victor Muller and General Motors, the automaker from which Muller's company purchased the embattled Saab brand back in 2010. To refresh your memories, after struggling through 2011 and entering into bankruptcy, Spyker attempted to save the Saab brand by selling it to a Chinese consortium. General Motors, though, blocked the sale because it did not want any of its intellectual property, of which Saab was in possession of from its days under the GM umbrella, in the hands of a potential rival automaker. Spyker then sued GM for intentionally blocking what it said was Saab's only chance of survival. The $3-billion suit was dismissed after a judge ruled in favor of GM, which apparently had granted a license to Saab to continue building cars using its technologies, but reserved the right to cancel that agreement if Saab again changed hands. Spyker appealed, and, according to Reuters, the appeals court upheld the previous ruling, again siding with GM. National Electric Vehicle Sweden, the company that eventually purchased Saab out of bankruptcy, managed to restart production for a short period before itself falling into financial trouble. We have at least another month to wait before hearing how Saab's next chapter may read.

Even Ferrari swept up in latest Takata recall expansion

The scope of Takata's deadly airbag problems continues to widen. Eight manufacturers announced recalls Friday that affect more than 12 million vehicles, according to documents filed with federal regulators. The automakers include Honda, which is recalling 4.5 million units, Fiat Chrysler with 4.3 million, Toyota with 1.65 million, and Subaru, which is recalling almost 400,000. Some of these cars include the Saab 9-2x and Pontiac Vibe that Toyota and Subaru made for General Motors. Mazda will recall 730,000 vehicles and Nissan has 400,000 affected units. The smallest numbers were posted by Mitsubishi, with 38,000 Lancers manufactured from 2006 to 2007, and as a noteworthy high-end manufacturer, Ferrari is calling back 2,800 vehicles. These are all US-market cars. Beyond America, the Japanese Transport Ministry has announced seven million additional vehicles will be recalled, which means 19.6 million vehicles across the globe are affected by recalls announced. The defects have been traced to an insufficiently manufactured airbag inflator, which lacks a drying agent that would prevent the inflators from deteriorating over time. Thirteen deaths have been linked to the faulty airbags, which have become unstable and are prone to exploding and showering vehicle occupants with lethal amounts of metal shrapnel. A private equity firm, KKR & Co., has been named in a possible buyout of the struggling Takata. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Honda Mazda Automakers Mitsubishi Nissan Pontiac Subaru Toyota Saab Safety