From 9-X concept to Saab 9-1 - what would you like to see?
So now we’ve seen it.
The car that Jan-Ake Jonsson says shows what Saab could bring to compact car design in the future. The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept vehicle.
Like all concept cars, it’s full of goodies both real and conceptual that may or may not make it into a real vehicle in the future. So out of all of them, what are you favourites? What would you like to see in the production version of the Saab 9-1 when it comes?
——
Super efficient and torquey 1.4 litre engine running on E85, with direct injection and capable of 40+ mpg and 200hp.
Hybrid powertrain assistance with regenerative braking, fuel cutoff and engine restart
Six speed sequential gearbox
Solar roof panels to charge the hybrid batteries (or to provide cabin cooling at rest?)
Lane departure warning system
Automatic dipping of high beams when the vehicle senses oncoming headlamps
Four point electric seat belts
Aero-X inspired front end
Extended light pipes across full front of vehicle
Cut off rear end, as opposed to sloping rear on many hatches
Touch sensitive, keyless entry
Retracting rear view cameras
Active aerodynamics: extending rear spoiler, raised during braking, pop-down rear diffuser
Radical driver oriented cabin styling
Acrylic surfacing for driver and passenger interfaces and gauges
Ambient, adjustable interior lighting
Seamless use of phones, media players, PDAs
Two part tailgate
Friction surfacing in load area
Retracting load rails
——
That’s a reasonably long list full of some fundamental items that Saab should definitely be looking to add to this vehicle when it actually comes to pass.
Some might sound fanciful, but this car’s most likely two to three years away. Audi, BMW and Mini won’t be letting their cars sit idle between now and then. What kept Larry Bird practising basketball even when he was at the top of his game? It was knowing that Magic Johnson was somewhere on the west coast practising his game, too. Saab have to get hungry.
It’s a pretty decent list of choices. What do you want to see most?
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Swade.
The Saab video is avalible from the microsite..
http://www.saab.com/main/GLOBAL/en/9X_biohybrid/index.shtml
Wow! Look at the lightpipe and the taillamp.. Mmm
Hi Swade,
Thank you again for your very well documented coverage.
As I mentioned before, I would like to see regular side mirrors. And after checking the 9-4X again, I really like that interior. I also saw the above mentioned CGI Video, and the car in motion looks down right amazing. Especially tail lights and moving rear spoilers. This car needs to be build asap. I can’t understand why they would wait so long. Even though 2010 is only 16 months in car terms away.
Anyways, cant wait to see how the “trunk” opens, haven’t seen pictures yet, is the 9X-ish?
Also 9-X = 9-1X, just think about it, quit clever actually.
Later, Nico
I’ll tell ya, what I DON’T want to see make the jump from 9-XBH to 9-1 is that huge, van-like derriere. Give me the sloping rear hatch and the link to the heritage.
I’ve re-ordered your list and added two of my own:
1. IIHS Top Safety Pick
2. Passes Saab Moose/Elk test
3. Six speed sequential gearbox
4. Cut off rear end, as opposed to sloping rear on many hatches (No sloping hatch please, reduces usable interior space too much. I had one once)
5. Radical driver oriented cabin styling
6. Active aerodynamics: extending rear spoiler, raised during braking, pop-down rear diffuser
7. Hybrid powertrain assistance with regenerative braking, fuel cutoff and engine restart
8. Solar roof panels to charge the hybrid batteries (or to provide cabin cooling at rest?)
9. Four point electric seat belts
10. Aero-X inspired front end
11. Acrylic surfacing for driver and passenger interfaces and gauges
12. Extended light pipes across full front of vehicle
13. Touch sensitive, keyless entry
14. Seamless use of phones, media players, PDAs
15. Friction surfacing in load area
16. Ambient, adjustable interior lighting
17. Lane departure warning system
18. Automatic dipping of high beams when the vehicle senses oncoming headlamps
19. Retracting rear view cameras
20. Two part tailgate
21. Retracting load rails
True hatchback, not this minivan rear it has now. Keep the front end, have a performance version (a la GTI) with XWD and the 300 hp direct injected 2.0 liter the 9-4 X mentioned.
A manual transmission.
Using Saabyurk’s list, I think we need to look at it differently:
Give me:
1. IIHS Top Safety Pick
2. Passes Saab Moose/Elk test
3. Six speed sequential gearbox
5. Radical driver oriented cabin styling
7. Hybrid powertrain assistance with regenerative braking, fuel cutoff and engine restart
14. Seamless use of phones, media players, PDAs
Save me money and forget about:
4. Cut off rear end, as opposed to sloping rear on many hatches (I’ve had both and prefer the sloping hatch)
6. Active aerodynamics: extending rear spoiler, raised during braking, pop-down rear diffuser
8. Solar roof panels to charge the hybrid batteries (or to provide cabin cooling at rest?)
9. Four point electric seat belts
10. Aero-X inspired front end
11. Acrylic surfacing for driver and passenger interfaces and gauges
12. Extended light pipes across full front of vehicle
13. Touch sensitive, keyless entry
15. Friction surfacing in load area
16. Ambient, adjustable interior lighting
17. Lane departure warning system
18. Automatic dipping of high beams when the vehicle senses oncoming headlamps
19. Retracting rear view cameras
20. Two part tailgate
21. Retracting load rails
I would like to say we need three distinct versions of this car. A base model, a middle
of the road version and the all out I just spent
1/2 of a Ferrari on this super hot hatch because I can model. We need to include younger, new buyers to our brand for long term success. And we need this car NOW not in 2011.
And forgot to add my own.
Give me:
0. Excellent reliability in whatever design and design features we end up with
1) actual, brand spanking new product in the showrooms for me to touch, feel, smell and drive
everything else is gravy.
First and foremost :a viably produceable model in the showroom no later than Oct.2009.
Adaptive cruise control is missing, I think…
post-script to my previous post …does anyone know what Volvo and Audi’s timeline from concept to showrooms were on the C-30 and A-3 models?
things I’d like to see:
*back end re worked: center or side exhaust integrated into bumper cover; also plate holder.
*The whole back end taken from Aero X concept.
*Viggen model added with interior from Caddy CTS couple concept.
*Keep new panel layout with Sony-Erikson features.
*starting price nicely equipment under $23k(Viggen around 30+/-K)
For you out there that needs to see a more typical Saab rear end, I made this quick shop. Is that realy better????
http://upload.isaab.net/Saab_9-X_render.jpg
I think not.
Keep:
Engine, body, most of the interior.
Make optional:
Sequential gearbox (I would rather have a clutch pedal).
Solar panels (that’s weight up high, and they are probably only powerful enough to run the radio).
Hybrid powertrain (a lot of weight and cost for little benefit).
Active aerodynamics.
Lane departure warning system.
One video display, as long as it gives real usefulness (it should give the owner access to all of the information available with a Tech 2).
Ditch:
Video mirrors and display.
Video gauges (analogue gauges are much easier to read).
21″ wheels.
Anything that adds weight and cost without improving the actual driving performance (anything a Buick owner would want, really).
Door controls (they should be in the center).
Well for my personal taste they could leave the air-CON control in the center and go back to the design used in 9-4X but thats just me….
Except that the could also remove the Shrek.Ears( umph… I mean mirrors) and replace them with something more stylish and aviation-like..
THEN I would LOOOVE to have the rest just like it is WITH the 1,4 hybrid engine!!!
SAAB: GIVE US THIS CAR IN THE SALES NOOOOOW!!!!!
And no matter what people say: I LOVE THE REAR END!!!
Lane departure warning - introduced by Citröen
Fixed steering wheel centre - introduced by Citröen
Cool features, but not Saab-pioneering.
Active aerodynamics. Why?
I tell why not:
- Moving parts, advanced electronics = trouble
- Mechanism is extra weight.
- No real benefits other than styling wise.
- The underbumber spoiler thingie, just imagine the amount of slush and dirt it would lift up, right at the boot… Gloves needed. A fixed diffuser is more than adequate, if done right. And not as heavy.
As someone commented - white dashboard, to make driver snow blind? Thought Saab was about sensible, clever solutions…
@16: Come for a ride in my ‘87 Buick Turbo. :-)Anyone else too that thinks a car this small needs 300hp.
a no-brainer:
“it soon”
as in: I would like to see it soon
The sooner the better, and that’s just covering the part of how badly Saab need this/any new model.
well we can’t do anything when its a concept get it out asap, saab desperately need stuff.
I’d say all fo the styling, except the wingmirrors, just normal ones please and have the dash of the 9-4x,
split tailgate, just purely cos it looks cool, and some means of changing gear, oh and an engine (the 1 from the concept but up the power to 250-300 which im sure saab can do with the hybrid)
and make it better than the 1 series to drive (XWD version) and make it better looking, which it is and make it better equipped for less, more luxurious too and hopefully this will be the mini flagship with saab need to make better cars up the range (popularity increase with this might make saab look again and sharpen up their game).
@16: Come take a ride in my ‘87 Buick Turbo. Anyone else too that thinks a car this small needs 300HP.
All these options are going to put the 9-1x right where the 9-3 is, at too high a price point trying to compete with cars that may in the same class on paper, but not in the eyes of perspective buyers. Does Sabb really need anohter car that will end up being discounted by $3-5K each year to get folks to buy it? Don’t get me wrong, we have a 9-3 Aero SC and a 9-5 SW, but we got them both with $5-6K off.
I’d like to see a better looking hatch/rear. If the pop up spoiler is not for production, the rear needs even more work. More slope would be better!
I’d like to see a clamshell bonnet. Saab keeps zig-zagging with these. It’s a Saab trademark. Stick with it!
I’d like to see a choice of regular door mirrors or cameras.
The car should have a range of engines from the 1.4 up to 2 litres including diesels.
It should be avaiable in 3 and 5 door versions across the whole range from basic to Aero spec..It would be good to keep the pillarless look for the 3 door.
The 9-4x dash looks more feasible so far, but I’m interested in this cars dash also.
I’d like to see a production prototype of the 9-1 (or whatever it’ll be called) by the end of this year. GM put some money where your mouth is for a change!
I want to see a production vehicle for MY2010.
THIS MEANS by end of 2009 or by mid 2010 at the very latest. No talk of late 2011 or 2012 etc.. The market will have changed by then!
GM, we’ve had enough “pie in the sky”. We need deeds not words! Let Saab make something for once!
I love the body style! Especially the front. LOVE the moving rear Spoiler!! I would like to see 4 cycle Turbo and XWD is a MUST to compete with German rivials. I would Definitely buy one in a heartbeat! Ijust hope it comes out sooner then later. Great coverage on the 9-1x Swade!!
I think that Saab needs to get away from it’s “no options, only packages” mindset. I know they’ve always done it that way, but this is aimed at younger people, and we love huge options lists. As much as I hate Scions, the way they gave the cars a mile long options list is genius. I say, the car should look exactly like the concept on the outside, have the 9-4x interior, and have all the extra junk as OPTIONS. I mean, it just makes me angry that I have to pay $1,200 for express up windows (because you can only get them with the moonroof) and $1,700 for wood trim and fog lights (because they only come if you get the Premium package). Split up stuff like this on the 9-1 and the cars will be much more appealing to younger buyers.
Also, for God’s sake, don’t make the interior white plastic, that’s a horrible, horrible idea and will result in lower sales and a huge class-action lawsuit when it causes tons of accidents because it blinds the drivers.
Oh, and sell a Draken performance version, along with a Viggen Mach II 9-3 (see what I did there!?)