This is one of the images off the press kit CD for the Saab 9-4x concept vehicle.
It gives an explanation as to what each of the sectors is for. Just some interesting viewing for y’all.
Saab Cars – Trollhattan Saab
Saab 9-1, 9-3, 9-4x, 9-5, 9-7x News
I would rather have the tail lamps “point” downwards at the side, like on the OG9-3.
ctm, that would be a ‘sad’ face
And they do mirror the front lamp assembly which I am liking better now, and partic if those light pipes were on….
I don’t like these lamps at all! Really over-worked, I hope the real thing is much simpler.
The application of LED technology should enable much more innovative lighting approaches, instead of which this harks back to the early 80′s when bigger was better- thinking 5-series, 900 saloons, and especially the Audi 100 and 9000 with those gaudy plastic strips(!).
Lamps nowadays need to be a bit edgy and the 9-3SC showed the way years ago – this is sadly a huge step backwards. At least if they were whited or blacked out they could blend with diff body colours. As it is, they are in-your-face huge plastic lumps – they also appear not to align well between the rear panel mounted lights and the tailgate mounted. Never a Saab strength that one – 900 rarely matched convincingly.
No, simpler could be better here me thinks…..
mark,
Yep, a sad face – or a determined one
The back end should have a strong, solid feeling on a (premium) car, and having the lines go up gives me a more “soft”, “feminine” expression. Also, from the side I think it looks strange when the cars lamps on both front and back have the same design lines. In this case, it probably because of the strong C-pillar that goes down and around the back. But I still don’t like it. 
No rear fog light? That’s been standard on Euro cars for years.
Robert Collin (Aftonbladet) liked the 9-4X very much. He makes an interesting claim abut the tail lights in his article:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article1622613.ab
“The glowing red line will be kept [on the production version] and will appear on all future Saab-models”.
Swade, maybe you could ask A-Lo if you meet him again…
Also very strong opinion to claim 9-4X as a best Saab in 25 years. The best new Saab shown since unveiling of 9000.
Somebody said about light tubes (eyebrows) on frontlights? I cannot see any?
MarkoA
yes, the lightpipe has been evident in all CGIs and pics to date, but Swade’s pics show them best – easily mistaken for a chrome strip following the lower line of the lamp from top and then under and in towards the grille.
Swade, is it defo a lightpipe?
Hey Swade –
Any information (pictures) of the BioPower Ecotec on that CD? Those would be cool to see along with any information on it.
Nice detail. Definitely inspired by the fancy tail lights on the Lexus CUV. Not inspired in appearance, but in a competitive sense.
What’s more important is the interior on the 9-4x. This is where Saab can sell some freakin’ cars. One ride in the blandly styled Toyota Avalon convinced me that it was a great car — great interior and a great drive. Styling wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad, either.
Mark, just posted video where Anthony points out the lightpipe, so yeah, defo.
Rodmylon, I was sitting in the car with Robert Collin when he asked most of his questins to Anthony, but am unsure if I remember that one, but he probably had other times to ask questions, too.
They are very coy about answering directly questions as to what’s going to be kept for the production versions.
Tedjs, I’ve posted all the press releases. Nothing more on there, I’m afraid.
Maybe they could have one tail lamp going up and one going down?
Swade, cheers for that, well done, enjoying the coverage, have a great time!
Weird isn’t it that the signature lighting couldn’t be turned on – faulty or just not ready yet? Or saving it for the ‘real thing’?
I don’t see rear fog lights. Does this car have them?
I’m highly doubting these light assemblies will pass U.S. DOT requirements, so we will possibly have more conventional ones here on the production model. I’m pretty sure everywhere else will get more conventional lights as well because as people have pointed-out already these assemblies look pretty over-engineered. Haven’t the GM Europe engineers who supposedly designed this vehicle ever read that one of Saab’s design rules has always been form follows function?
Kudos to the engineers for trying something different though.