Wow it’s good to be home….check this out….tree guage.

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I’ve been catching up on all the info I’ve missed over the last few days, specifically all the information on the Saab Biopower Hybrid Concept.

If you can read Swedish, there’s a Microsite for it here.

It’s only going slowly, and it’s in Swedish, but it’s what a lot of people have been waiting to see….

The Aero-X in motion.

Robert Collin takes the Saab Aero-X concept car for a spin on Aftonbladet TV. The smile on his face as the roof is being raised at the end of the drive really does say it all (in every language).

Thanks to Martin for the tip.

Life will get back to normal in around 24 hours. Can’t wait. In the meantime…..

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All the real news involves a certain hybrid Biopower vehicle. There’s an article in Swedish available here today. Thanks to Jan for the link (his site – he’s a plug-in power guy – is here). He mentions via email that the car on show in Sweden this week has “a Metal Hybrid battery” but the aim is to use lithium ion, expecting a breakthrough in this technolgy 2008-2009. There is also mention made of a plug-in possibility as a future facility. It’s a concept car – market ready not earlier than around 2010.

Apparently this is the guy leading the project, Tommy Lindblom, with the battery bank in the background….

Previous news about the Hybrid is here, here and here.
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About.com seems to really, really like the 2006 9-5.

The 9-5 handles very well, with good road feel that’s balanced with a smooth ride. The 9-5 inspires confidence in a driver, with excellent road manners and ample power.

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BusinessWeek has an article that looks initially like a review of the company that sort of turns into a review of the 9-7x, including the following further testimony about the SUV’s better-than-expected credentials:

Driving the 2006 Saab 9-7XAutomotive experts and Saab buffs breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the 9-7X in the metal. There were some concerns that the brand would sacrifice its distinct heritage by building their first SUV on a GM platform, but what happened is that Saab’s engineers took the best-in-class experience from GM’s truck-based TrailBlazer, and gave it a thorough reworking — many auto journalists consider it the best version of GM’s SUV to date.

After further waxing on the 9-7x it reverts back to the rest of the range. A very good intro article for joe-public.

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GM won’t dump Saab or Hummer, apparently. Though I find it amusing that an American site like Autoblog is using an Australian source like News Ltd to get information about a conference call reported by a corresponent in New York.

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The energy-business-review reports on the chicken and egg dilemma facing the ethanol industry in the UK. There’s not enough cars, so who is going to invest in pumps?

The forward-thinkers, that’s who.

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Here’s a great SOTW shot……

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There’s a German press release from Saab about some Hirsch vehicles. I’m running short of Internet Cafe time, so if you speak the lingo, enjoy it here.

Damn I’m hating this work trip. Stuff like this breaks cover and I can’t cover it. It’s killing me.

Left Lane News has seemingly jumped the gun and published that which was due for release, by my info, tomorrow. What the heck. Here’s the picture (below) and click here to go to LLN for the low-down.

Saab do it again!! And I love the Aero-X wheels getting a wider and realistic use. Love it.

Thanks SaabKen for the tip.

Apologies to all that have emailed and commented, but I’m well and truly out of contact at the moment unfortunately. Will try and find some time and bandwidth later tonight. Feel free to tell each other all your Saab news in comments. I have one heck of a SOTW photo for you later on, though it isn’t a Saab it’s sensational.

Flicking through the inbox, I’m getting a few emails about the photo of the Aero-X filling up with fuel. Available at Autoblog.

Damn, I hate being out of action!!!

Hope all’s well.

Wow, just when I’m getting on a roll, another work trip, meaning more sporadic blogging for the next 4 days. As always, comments or email are open for discussion and any news tips.

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At considerable risk of starting some sort of link spiral, Channel 4 is quoting TrollhattanSaab with regard to the upcoming hybrid concept, and then going a step further to predict that the first we’ll see of it in production terms is the 9-2 smaller Saab in 2010.

Makes sense, but given that all the testing is being done in 9-3’s at the moment, I’ll wait for Thursday’s press releases.

(and it was no real risk of a link spiral. A – they spelt the blog’s name incorrectly, and B – they didn’t actually do the right thing and include a link – bastards!!)

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From the Detroit Free Press, vai Autoblog, there’s an interesting article about the renewed push for plug-in hybrids. Some may remember that when hybrids first came out, there was some apprehension from consumers about having to remember to plug them in etc etc. Car companies had to do a lot of re-education (i.e. spend bucketloads of money) in order to reassure people that this wasn’t the case – the car’s batteries recharge off the motor and the brakes.

Now there’s people, including US Senators, calling for plug-ins to emerge. Backers say that triple-figure mileage is more than possible.

I suppose it’s interesting given that Saab will be introducing it’s proposed hybrid drivetrain later this week. I also received an email from an environmentalist in Sweden yesterday, hoping that the Saab concept would be a plug-in.

We’ll wait and see.

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From hybrids to juice-drinking big things…..

I’m pleased to see that Trollhattan has received it’s first comment (that I know of) from a 9-7x owner. I’m pleased as punch. And Ray seems to feel exactly the same way with his 9-7x.

I wanted a vehicle that was versatile, comfortable, safe in bad weather and handled well. I considered the 9-3 Sport Combi, but thought it offered less for almost the same price. And I didn’t want to look at the exact same dashboard for the next three years [SW: he owned a 9-3 Arc and has been a Saab owner for 6 years]

The 9-7x expands the Saab line to a new category and needs no apologists. There’s enough Saab character in there to make a Saab-lover that wants an SUV happy. Mission accomplished.

I think Saab mentioned things about people leaving the Saab brand to buy an SUV etc etc when they bought the vehicle to market. Mission accomplished indeed.

There’s been absolutely nothing mentioned of this in Australia, nor in GM Media’s USA section. GM Media UK is also blank on the subject.

So I guess I better tell you.

Perhaps the most collectible of all classic Saabs is the 900 Carlsson of 1990-1991. Only a few hundred were made for the UK market. The car was distinguished from it’s Aero brothers by a subtle, yet effective body kit, pinstriping and some extra beef under the hood. Available in white, black or red, it was and remains a true collectors item.

Via GM Media in Switzerland, there’s news of a new generation of Carlsson. This translated from the original press release (in French):

Shown first at the Geneva Motor Show, the Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson marks the return of a great figure in rallying. Saab dedicates this model, with 195hp, in recognition of the sporting reputation and the services rendered by Erik Carlsson…..

As mentioned, the car has a 1.8 litre tubocharged engine pulling 185hp, up from the usual 150 from that engine. Like it’s 900 forefather, the car features a subtle body kit with special 17 inch five spoke rims and improved trim, with saddelry leather and chrome trim.

The great news is in the price. The new 9-3 Carlsson can be had (by those who can get it) for 39,800 franks (I assume they’re Swiss ones), which is about 6,000 cheaper than a 9-3 Linear optioned up to the same level.

Perhaps you can drive from your dealer straight to hirsch and have the world’s first Carlsson-Hirsch Saab!!

Oh yeeeeeeah!!!

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There is a bloody excellent book about Erik Carlsson called Mr Saab. If you haven’t read it yet, then do yourself a favour and go get a copy and sit down with it over a weekend. It’s a truly engaging story about a man who is truly more “larger-than-life” than us Generation X-ers could ever understand.

I’ve done a review of the book that you can read when you click here.

There’s also a very good Google Video about Erik Carlsson that you can view here.

Hate to help the competition, but I can’t get enough of these. Probably old news to most of you, but we’re a bit slow here in Oz and I needed to have these where I can seem ‘em quick.

The Crate:

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The Wrecking Ball

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The Catapult