Saab didn’t reveal its Subaru WRX wagon-based 9-2X sporthatch at the Tokyo motor show, but General Motors’ Swedish subsidiary did release a photo of its first production all-wheel-drive five-door model at a press event earlier this week in Tokyo.

The development of the 9-2X is being hailed by GM as a prime example of the fruits of its alliance between the company its Japanese partners. GM owns stakes in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., as well as Suzuki Motor Corp. and Isuzu Motors Ltd.

At the a press event, Kyoji Takenaka, CEO of Fuji, said the Saab-Subaru relationship was a good fit for the two automakers, which he called smaller, niche players in the global market. Subaru has also announced it will sell Saabs in Japan through its dealer network.

The decision to link up with Subaru came after earlier plans to base the 9-2 on GM’s new front-wheel drive Delta platform proved too costly and time consuming. “We are simply too small to grow on our own. If we’d done the 9-2, it could have taken 25 years – if we’d got around to it at all,” Saab boss Peter Augustsson told AutoWeek. “We have to accelerate our growth and to do this we have relied on GM’s resources.”

Two versions of the 9-2X, which Takenaka said will be sufficiently 'Saabish', will be available, the entry Linear with a 2.5-liter four, and the high-performance Aero offering the WRX’s 227-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four.

The 9-2X will be built in Japan and exported to the U.S. and Canada. There has been no firm decision on whether it will be offered outside the North American market just yet. The vehicle is set to make its debut at the upcoming Los Angeles auto show and go on sale next summer.

AutoWeek correspondent Greg Kable contributed to this report