Comments on: My 0.02 on the Aero-X http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html Saab 9-1, 9-3, 9-4x, 9-5, 9-7x News Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:34:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: 1985 Gripen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2680 1985 Gripen Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:13:23 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2680 Agreed, Jacek. The more I think about it, that gimmick with the doors, top, and windscreen being connected and moving forward to open (obviously trying to evoke comparisons to a fighter plane) is a safety liability. First, it's got to be made of a lightweight material to be opened by the average human. That probably means that the tradeoff was strength. The only way this could be AS STRONG as steel and light enough to open would be if the assembly was made of carbon fiber. But there's no way a production car can have that much carbon fiber and still be affordable. SAAB is known to traditionally reinforce the top and A-pillars of their cars to protect the occupants in event of a rollover. I'm guessing that the top and doors assembly on this concept is a material like fiberglass or aluminum, which would not be very safe in event of a rollover. Also, in event of a rollover, if the car is resting upside down, how do rescue crews get in to rescue the occupants? Better hope there isn't a fire in that crash. This is a sensational, but unsafe design, IMHO. Agreed, Jacek. The more I think about it, that gimmick with the doors, top, and windscreen being connected and moving forward to open (obviously trying to evoke comparisons to a fighter plane) is a safety liability.

First, it’s got to be made of a lightweight material to be opened by the average human. That probably means that the tradeoff was strength. The only way this could be AS STRONG as steel and light enough to open would be if the assembly was made of carbon fiber. But there’s no way a production car can have that much carbon fiber and still be affordable. SAAB is known to traditionally reinforce the top and A-pillars of their cars to protect the occupants in event of a rollover. I’m guessing that the top and doors assembly on this concept is a material like fiberglass or aluminum, which would not be very safe in event of a rollover.

Also, in event of a rollover, if the car is resting upside down, how do rescue crews get in to rescue the occupants? Better hope there isn’t a fire in that crash.

This is a sensational, but unsafe design, IMHO.

]]> By: Jacek http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2679 Jacek Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:41:12 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2679 Saabscene pics are better, I can see our griffin. Looks great and back tells me that could be new SONETT. But for a public we need new door version. Saabscene pics are better, I can see our griffin. Looks great and back tells me that could be new SONETT.
But for a public we need new door version.

]]> By: MuzX http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2678 MuzX Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:32:49 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2678 Hmmm... I have to change my mind. Yes, it's could be a Saab! :)) Even this style is far from the traditional Saab, I can feel some Saab DNA in it. I can't explain... it reminds me maybe to the Sonett, not because it's similar, but it's stylish! On these new pictures it looks much better, I like it! Hmmm… I have to change my mind. Yes, it’s could be a Saab! :) ) Even this style is far from the traditional Saab, I can feel some Saab DNA in it. I can’t explain… it reminds me maybe to the Sonett, not because it’s similar, but it’s stylish!
On these new pictures it looks much better, I like it!

]]> By: Teddy http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2677 Teddy Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:12:40 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2677 OMG, omg, omg, omg. That is one sexy looking SAAB. Finaly something that will make everyone that said Saab never had the looks to say WOW. OMG, omg, omg, omg.
That is one sexy looking SAAB.
Finaly something that will make everyone that said Saab never had the looks to say WOW.

]]> By: 1985 Gripen http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2676 1985 Gripen Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:01:07 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2676 After seeing the SAABScene pics, I actually do like the concept whereas I didn't from the original view we had. I STILL don't think it looks at all "SAABy", but if you forget it's a SAAB it's a pretty cool looking car. I don't know what elements of the design to imagine being SAAB's future design direction though. I can't imagine any of these elements transitioning to a coupe (9-3), Sedan (9-5), or SUV (9-4X). That rear end is really only appropriate for a two-seater as it tapers horizontally AND vertically. And this is a front-engined car, right? What's with the useless hatch on the back? Kudos to SAAB for putting a hatch on the car (obviously trying to evoke memories of the Sonett), but how high would you have to lift your groceries or golf clubs or whatever to get them into that trunk? I can see scratches all over the rear deck already! In summary, it looks cool, it looks fun, but it doesn't look "SAAB". SAAB's design ethos are form FOLLOWS function, safety, and utility. I don't see any of these things with this concept. After seeing the SAABScene pics, I actually do like the concept whereas I didn’t from the original view we had. I STILL don’t think it looks at all “SAABy”, but if you forget it’s a SAAB it’s a pretty cool looking car.

I don’t know what elements of the design to imagine being SAAB’s future design direction though. I can’t imagine any of these elements transitioning to a coupe (9-3), Sedan (9-5), or SUV (9-4X). That rear end is really only appropriate for a two-seater as it tapers horizontally AND vertically.

And this is a front-engined car, right? What’s with the useless hatch on the back? Kudos to SAAB for putting a hatch on the car (obviously trying to evoke memories of the Sonett), but how high would you have to lift your groceries or golf clubs or whatever to get them into that trunk? I can see scratches all over the rear deck already!

In summary, it looks cool, it looks fun, but it doesn’t look “SAAB”. SAAB’s design ethos are form FOLLOWS function, safety, and utility. I don’t see any of these things with this concept.

]]> By: Napahlm Sweden http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2675 Napahlm Sweden Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:56:28 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2675 NEW PICTURES!!! looks alot better http://www.saabscene.com/saabforum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/31595750/an/0/page/0 NEW PICTURES!!!

looks alot better

http://www.saabscene.com/saabforum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/31595750/an/0/page/0

]]> By: tobias http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2674 tobias Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:50:10 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2674 Take a look at the other pictures. Now the car is coming together... I wonder if Saab was forced to leak the real picture now that the "semi"-fake hit internet. http://www.saabscene.com/saabforum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/31595750/an/0/page/0#31595750 Take a look at the other pictures. Now the car is coming together…

I wonder if Saab was forced to leak the real picture now that the “semi”-fake hit internet.
http://www.saabscene.com/saabforum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/31595750/an/0/page/0#31595750

]]> By: Ted Y http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2673 Ted Y Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:30:27 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2673 Guess, after looking at the Saabscene pictures, it's growing on me. It's only the 2nd Saab I've thought had a good-looking back end, the other being the 9-3 Sportcombi. Saabs have never looked quite "finished" to me in the styling department. Kind of neat, a smooth, non-threatening, minimalist rear end, hiding a menacing smile at the front end. Guess, after looking at the Saabscene pictures, it’s growing on me. It’s only the 2nd Saab I’ve thought had a good-looking back end, the other being the 9-3 Sportcombi. Saabs have never looked quite “finished” to me in the styling department.
Kind of neat, a smooth, non-threatening, minimalist rear end, hiding a menacing smile at the front end.

]]> By: Robby G http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2672 Robby G Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:26:45 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2672 The pics on Saabscene.com are very impressive. Love the rear end! The pics on Saabscene.com are very impressive. Love the rear end!

]]> By: David Wishart http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/02/my_002_on_the_a.html#comment-2671 David Wishart Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:56:24 +0000 http://s18881.gridserver.com/archives/753#comment-2671 Hardly a break-through. For a company that desperately needs replacments for the 9-5 and 9-2, why are they spending time on a 2-door concept that will never get built? This looks like the result of a drunken meeting between GM executives. I'd rather see an example of Saab innovation in practical transport - replacements for the 9-2X or 9-5. Unimpressed. Hardly a break-through. For a company that desperately needs replacments for the 9-5 and 9-2, why are they spending time on a 2-door concept that will never get built? This looks like the result of a drunken meeting between GM executives.

I’d rather see an example of Saab innovation in practical transport – replacements for the 9-2X or 9-5.

Unimpressed.

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