Saab began to decline his muscles. At Detroit, the automaker has shown the 9-4X concept, an SUV crossed a stage of production. The 9-X, presented on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show in March, is also far from being a design and production has been developed in parallel to the 9-4X GM Europe Design studio in Russelsheim, Germany, headed by Vice President of design for GM Europe, Mark Adams. The two concepts to illustrate how Saab intend to expand their narrow two cars to normal (average upper 9-3 and large 9-5) the development of sales and settle properly as a premium brand. While the 9-4X is slightly to competition in the U.S. market, the 9-X previews the 9-1 which competes directly with the European market Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series.
Based on the platform Delta GM shared with the Opel Astra, the show has an advanced car “biopower” transmission, including a direct injection turbo 1398cc engine capable of producing 170hp on gasoline (E85 on 200hp) and a lithium-ion electric motor / generator (undisclosed power) low-speed operation and increase the total power, like the Toyota Prius.
The design is based on two concepts previous Saab, “is a mixture of the form of Aero and the 9X concept of” Interior Designer chief Richard Shaw EUR said, referring to the original 2002 designed under 9X then Executive Director Saab design, Michael Mauer, and the Aero X past two years, developed under then Executive Director of Design GM Europe, Brian Nesbitt.
From 2002 9X, the new 9-X borrows its two-door “shooting brake design basis, although clearly this origin with sixty sports shooting brake” drawings. This typology is also near the recent production concepts such as the Audi Shooting Brake, Renault Altica and producing debut of the Volkwagen Scirocco, also in Geneva.
The new Saab concept derives its grille, hood and wheel theme, a portion of surface treatments around the wheelarches and flanks and the “block of ice” retail theme used in lamps and interior of the 2006 Aero X concept. Other benchmarks theoretical basis in the 9-X are the archetype Saab envelope glass house, flat roof and C-pillar shape.
But clearly if the design is closely linked to previous models Saab, it has its own character. This is most evident at the 9-X is compared to other premium European brand C-sector car as the Volvo C30, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Compared to them, the Saab is about 5 cm wider, 5 cm lower and more critical, more than 20 cm. This extra length, in combination with a vertical tailgate, is central to its strong break / shooting brake design identity that distinguishes it from its competitors hatchback. Interestingly, the 9-X dimensions are almost identical to the Alfa Romeo Brera, even if it is 4 cm greater.
This shooting brake character is based on the proportions of the car, but then built on only by the rest of the exterior design. Boris Jakob, chief designer Exterior, “said CAN how he wanted a very different design that follows the relationship of the DLO the rear fenders and rear wheel:” everybody is going for this wedgy, high line belt. But I ‘m not a big fan. I think you need a close relationship between the DLO and the rear wheel. ” More precisely, what Jacob has done differently is to reduce the volume of fender above the rear wheel by deepening the DLO to make a more brilliant aesthetic that complements the shooting brake profile. And he seems to have reached this in a contemporary, although it is a more common design four decades ago. This proximity of the horizontal line shoulder also gives the car a more robust or “planted” feel - just as it does on the Scion Xb and Mini.
Beyond the exterior design main theme there are great detail the innovative design solutions, such as the clamshell rear (it is worth the cover is not a clamshell design as archetypal models Saab past) whose color exterior sides and top surface slides backwards as a rear spoiler.
The interior, like the outdoors, develops themes established by the critically acclaimed Aero-X. Central among them are the instrumentation and jewellery general cabin, Interior Chief Designer Richard Shaw described as the “block of ice and quartic form,” adding, “we try to get more 3D “.
But these details are secondary to the inner calm theme asymmetrical, which sees an area that extends from the driver’s door until the driver’s area of the dashboard.
On the passenger side of the IP and doors are dark gray and white combined with dark gray front seats and rear seats (an aesthetic explained Shaw was used to make the 9-X seems to be a car when only two places two people are on board) to mark clearly a unique approach inside. Adjustable ambient lighting to replicate the “northern lights” of Scandinavia, an exquisite small propeller / rescue snowflake motif on the white sheet of paper main surfaces, partially hidden vents between gray and white elements intellectual property, low-friction runners that rise up when the trunk is slipped floor, and a fixed platform unusual flying are other highlights.
There is much to like about the 9-X, but it had its detractors. Several designers we spoke in Geneva felt that the 9-X was not enough innovation or distinction for a concept, the hope is that when “productionised” it will be another Saab missing the mark too conservative. If this proves to be the case, then it will be a problem given how important it is for Saab to be seen as confidence follows his own path with a proposal distinctly call - as other premium brands.
But if it fails May last round, 9-X does show a convincing small car new direction - from 96 products from 1960 to 1980 - that mark essentially conservative. It is an attractive design that progress in new themes and that we would all to see in all Saab models of production. Let us hope that the 9-1 will be as good as the 9-X promises.
