Saab 9-4x: your Saab interior of the future….
This is the interior of the Saab 9-4x BioPower concept vehicle. Click on it to enlarge.
I was lucky enough to sit inside it at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2008 and I can tell you that it’s one of the most exciting positives for me to come from the whole vehicle.
Following are a number of detail images from the vehicle. Click on any of them to enlarge.
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Here’s an overview of the cabin. It was finished in white leather seats and white trim elsewhere around the cabin, whch gave it a very light and airy feel. It might play havoc if you’ve got kids, though, so I imagine that in the production version we’ll be looking at something a little less pristine.
Looked awesome in this concept car, though….
The acrylic dash area really is something to behold. It’s an evolution of the interior treatment that started with the Saab Aero-X. But this is much, much better than the interior of that car. I was chatting with Robert Collin from Aftonbladet (oh, I’m such a name dropper!) and he was of the opinion that the interior of the car appeared to be very close to production-grade. It certainly looked very, very well done.
Below: the button cluster. Not as simple as dials and as we’ve learned from the 9-3, people seem like the simplicity of dials. I’m a button guy, though, so I’d love it if they could actually do this. These appear to control both the entertainment and navigation systems (above the CD slot) as well as the HVAC system (below the CD).
That whole cluster would look just brilliant at night!
Shifter, hazard lamps, night panel, parking brake and ignition button.
I’m 6-feet 1-inch and weigh in around 105kg. I’m not exactly Shaquille O’Neal but I’m not Spudd Webb, either. Plenty of room there.
A more detailed look at the steering wheel and surrounds.
Using the flash on the camera, you can see the vents quite clearly….
And a close-up of the door controls. I’d really prefer the night-panel etc to be on the dash and the window controls to be in the center, the way Saabs should be.
The front seat is right back in a typical driving position. As you can see, there’s plenty of rear leg room as well.
The ‘hatch’ area (hey, I can dream) is quite accommodating with plenty of room and the capacity to fold down the rear seats and swallow several large mammals.
And here’s the sliding floor, which exposes some flat storage areas underneath. In the concept car, these are warmed areas that are supposedly good for wet ski gear, etc. I propose that it’ll keep your pies warm as you head off to the football!
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As mentioned, the cabin of the Saab 9-4x concept vehicle was a real treat. I don’t get excited over SUV’s at all, but the potential for this interior to be produced and adapted for other future Saabs is one very good reason to feel pretty positive about the future.
I’ve never seen anything quite like it, which is exactly what you should be able to say about something designed by Saab.
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I believe one of the most exciting things about the 9-4X is that it was actually conceived and designed right in Trollhattan. It is certainly promising, enough to give BMW, VW, Acura, and Audi a run for their money.
And I agree with you Swade, I wish the window and door lock controls were still in the center. Two years ago, I went from a 1999 9-3 to a 2003 9-3, and of course, the newer models have the controls on the door. I forgot how convenient it was to have all of that in the center!
Sorry, I should say the controls “should still be in the center”
I totally agree with that! Controls back to the center!!!! My personal opinion is that you use the hand on the window side for steering (do the people with right steering cars agree?) so the other hand just gives support and it´smuch more comfortable to use the “non steering hand” for other control devices! (I had a 9000 before I got the 9-3II and I didn´t like the 9-3s window and door controls)
I’m longing for this car. Interior looks beautiful, just hope there wont be too many reflections on the inside of the windscreen from the fancy looking dashboard. Another thing I noticed is the way the dashboard connects to the doors, looks much better than in my 2005 9-3. Really hope we will see many of these features in production cars.
Hey, it has ventilated and heated seats! Yaaayy!!
I agree with ya’ GripAustria… Having driven manuals all my short life, I find it natural to steer with my window hand while the other is free to shift or do other things that need to be done in the car
I love, love, love this vehicle. I can’t wait to see a production model. Thanks for all the great close up shots of the interior! I also wish they’d move the window controls back to the center. I still reach toward the console in my 9-3 to roll the windows down like I did in my ‘99 9-5.
a “spud webb” reference?–…not afraid to go “old school” on us, swade, huh? jajaja.
on the door handle, what part do you grab? the chrome-looking piece seems like it’s oval, rather than a bar-shaped piece, which i’m used to seeing in a saab.
eh, the insidedoor handle.
Difficult to place controls in the console when Americanos wants to have cupholders there…
Now that is a “statement” interior. Very elegant AND functional. I only wish they applied the same thinking to the exterior.
Ken H - I know you were joking there, but unfortunately, it’s true.
Besides, really, how often do you have to roll down the windows while shifting gears?
…Well, that’s not a good question, I never roll down my windows, because I’m weird like that.
The cupholder thing is dead on. We Americans do love our cupholders and you always see people complain about teh ones in their Saab. I love teh one in my 9-5, but would also like there to be one for a passenger.
Need to figure a way to put pockets in those seat backs before it makes it to production, a la a “real Saab”.
Also, I too like the window controls in the center, and they’d be a benefit to Saab that way too: only one set of buttons instead of two halves the cost of the window controls. You don’t have to have two separate part numbers for each door panel for RHD and LHD either, so that’s another cost savings. To the owner the centralized window controls are more ergonomically-proper.
We’re always teased by concept car interiors and then get the run-of-the mill interior in the production version. I, for one, would really like white leather interior on a white car, but I’m weird.
Ken H: even after they moved the window controls to the door on the 9-3SS they didn’t utilize the space saved in the center console to install decent cupholders for us pesky ‘Maricans.
I think the controls in the centre is a Saabism that needs to be kept or reverted to. I got used to having them their in my C900, then my GM900 and currently my OG9-3. Stuff the cup holders, Saab can put them back in the dash and glovebox anyway.
To me, the inside of the 9-4x is the best part, but how much of that sort of design will make it into any production Saab? Will we be similarly teased when the 9-1 concept car is displayed?
Markac: you can count on it (being teased with a much more ambitious interior in the concept than will make its way past the beancounters to production…).
I think the window controls being moved to the door was probably because they already had the switches in the GM parts bin and putting them in the center console would have required a switch set unique to Saab. Same thing with the exterior door handles. The door handles on the ‘08 9-3 are not only also found on the BLS (along with the door panels themselves), but on lots of other GM products. Buying in bulk saves money! My local Costco calls it a “bargain”, but big corporations call it “taking advantage of economies of scale”, while the unfortunate side effect is that the cars differ less and less from each other.
GripenAustria: For RHD drive I find the window controls in the centre quite convenient. Keep them away from the armrest and that way that front passenger can use them as well.
Although if you read US reviews of SAAB they always complain if the window controls aren’t on the driver’s side door. But then the comments above from US readers of this blog support having the window controls in the centre console. Maybe it’s just another cost cutting exercise from GM.
Parts sharing is rife. I saw two Opels recently and recognised (i) the rear view mirror control module from the 9-5 and(ii) the automatic transmission handle. Even Holden in Australia has the same door handles as SAAB now.
I like the 9-4x and can’t wait for it to get into production. I think the interior looks quite amazing. Since my first Saab was a ‘04 9-3ss, then I got used to the window controls being in the door handle, but I do agree with you all. It seems it should go back into the centre console area.
Coincidentally, my mom’s 3-series BMW from 2005 has then in the centre console (last year of that model lineup) and now, the new 3 series has them in the door. Not sure why they went that route as I think they should have stay in the centre.
I hope some of this technology in the 9-4x will come in the new 9-5 that is slated to be introduced in about a years time or so.
i agree with controls being out back on the center console,I’m truly waiting for the 9-1 hopefully the ‘apple ipod type’ interior will stay and less of the chrome and black stuff that scratches,cracks or is sun dyed over time.also bring back the sport cloth in the lower model.even if its lined with leather.
Control on the center get my vote too. I really like the position on our C900´s and 9000. Now 9-3 SC has them on the door and I always open rear windows by mistake when I´m waiting in trafficlights etc. Has anyone seen cupholders of new Nissan X-Trail? They are on the front “corners” of cabin and I thought it was a perfect place for them. And they were heated/cooled, of course.. I hate the two stupid cupholders of 9-3, they do not function. The one behind ignition lock cannot be used for holding a cup at all. Very poor design and it should be changed immediately. Actually everything between ac controls and center armrest is of very, very poor desing if you think of functionality. Easy to get dirty (shifter surrounding) difficult to clean, handbrakelever - stupid. And the smartslot..come on.. it´s more like a fart slot IMHO. But those are the only details I don´t like and everything else is very good or extremely well designed. Except MY08 doorhandles…
Everytime you read a review on SAAB the journos always complained about the window controls being in the centre console, so eventually SAAB moved them. To the better? At least it pleased the journos.
And, oh yes, forgot to mention: Get that DieselHybrid ready, with XWD please.
http://www.autoweek.nl/nieuws.php?id=7734
(In all series 9-3 & 9-5 plus in 9-1).
Sorry, again wrong topic today. Posted comment above was ment to occur in “the general’s generals”.