QUEBEC CITY, CANADA – Pulitzer Prize winner and noted New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman claims in his latest book that the world has gone flat, and after listening to Saab executives say Bonjour et Bienvenue to their new Swedish SUV built on an American truck platform in a Moraine, Ohio, assembly plant it was easy to see globalism at work. Saab was speaking to a small cadre of journalists assembled for the maiden media drive of the 2006 9-7X sport-utility in the province of Quebec, a charming, craggy land boasting unpolluted air and pure waters that is not much different from Saab’s homeland of Sweden. Plus, Quebec City is often considered the most European city on the North American continent, a fitting backdrop to our test drive since Saab is General Motors’ solo premium European brand.

What we came to see, however, was something far beyond the beautiful Canadian landscape. We came to see whether this proud Swedish marque could take GM’s four-year-old, mid-size SUV platform and wave its engineering wand to build an authentic Saab. Or if the 9-7X is simply just a tall, boxy, badge-engineered Buick dancing down the highway in a country that still loves sport utes.

During our 250-mile ride and drive, we ferreted out a few answers. Saab’s first SUV is now in production, endowed with sheetmetal and interior trim that are distinctively Saab. Its driver-oriented handling and level of safety equipment is up to par with most Saabs, which until recently were built exclusively in Sweden. But, there’s nothing Swedish about the sound that comes from the 9-7X’s powertrain. It’s an everyday American tune that plays out with some harshness, and therein lays the rub.