Saab are due to show a concept vehicle at the Paris Auto Show, which starts next month. Whispers on the wires are telling me though, that they may pre-empt the Paris show and actually debut the vehicle much sooner than that.
There’s still no official images leaked yet, but a guy some of you from SaabCentral may know as Boon94 has put his photoshop talents to the task and come up with the following…
The image, as will be the car itself, is based on the Saab 9-X BioHybrid that we saw in Geneva earlier this year. We know that it will be a convertible, so Boon94 has applied his artistic skills to the roof of the original concept car.
Click to enlarge:
This is a top-down image and Boon94′s used advice that I received, suggesting that one think of a boat in some respects.
As we can see here, he’s applied that in the form of a windscreen that wraps right around, all the way back to rear of the car. The result is a pleasing Audi TT-esque shape that I think looks pretty good. It’d be interesting to see a proposal for the roof on a model like this. I think it might be hard to make it work, but then, what do I know?
My thanks to Boon84 for giving us something to think about while we wait. If you’ve got any ideas of your own and can transfer them to actual photoshopped imagery, feel free to send it on to swade99-at-gmail.com
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It would be so nice if Saab could turn one of these many concept vehicles into reality…
I am thinking maybe if Saab stopped spending money on concept cars they might be selling more vehicles. The 9-3X, the 9X, the 9-xBiohybrid, AeroX were a drain on valuable resources. At least the 9-4X appears to becoming a reality but I think it hit the market way too late and wont sell that well.
The 9-5 will be Saab’s do-or-die model.
It’s sad, only the most boring concepts only usually make it to production.
All of these concepts, and the most we’ve gotten is an Aero-X face on the 08 9-3. Just making concept cars that don’t trickle down to the showroom isn’t very Saab-like.
-Rogan
great concept
A+
now send it GM.
opps.
To GM
My bad
I don’t mind concepts that feature cutting edge innovations like the fancy roof that the 9-X Air is supposed to have. That is, if we’ll actually see GM put it into production.
So far GM’s track record when it comes to helping cool Saab concepts make the mystical journey into series production isn’t all too stellar, to put it lightly. I know I’m not holding my breath.
wow! that was my first thought when seeing that ‘shop. so would the roof go up and down on a track atop the windows/b-pillar? if there is a back seat, there would be zero headroom with the top up. still, a neat idea that i am sure they can run with given the chance.
with regard to saab’s concepts in general — i don’t get it. why don’t they make them? the aero x could have been engineered with regular doors, and made into a sexy halo sport coupe like the audi r8. gm knows saab is a niche player, so why don’t they give them back some freedom to run and push the envelope? it’s not like they have much to lose… so much potential, so underutilized.
sell saab to dawoo let them produce the cars
2020 dawoo buys GM
everyone is happy
This Photoshop looks nice and evokes the Sonett that I so would love to see Saab offer. Kudos to Boon94.
Great job, Boon. Just make sure Swade doesn’t demote you to “Boon84″ again next time [grin]
I think concepts do more that show innovative features. They carve out a design line and an image that the general public can define. This is something lacking at Saab right now with most not knowing what Saab stands for. Heck I don’t quite know what Saab stands for these days. The Aero X announced to the world that this was Saab’s future, Eco-Clean, fast, sleak, and very prestige. It’s difficult to play the Safety card these days as most manufactures produce vehicles that hit the 5-Star NCAP rating here in Europe.
Saab needs these concepts as they are cheaper to produce than production vehicles. They put Saab on a pedestal when they with awards and gives an outlet to the media where they can talk more about up coming models.
Saab could launch a production vehicle but the impact on the market would not be as effective. With the steady flow of concepts and CGi images, people are now starting to talk about considering the brand.
As for the picture above it’s not the first Speedster concept to hit a motorshow. It clearly shows the car is not ready for production. As a piece of Photoshop work I like it and understand the time Boon94 spent creating it. I can see the idea but I can’t see how a roof mechanism would work. For a concept fine, However; if Saab are looking at debuting an innovative roof concept, I think the overall design will look a bit different.
Hello Audi TT
I´m sorry.. But I can´t be kind and say what a nice shop. It does not evoke the Sonett and realy looks more like something Renault would come up with.
No, the 9-X is best left untouched and speculations can be put to rest til the day the Air is presented.
Cheers/Tompa
A word of caution about speculating on the roof of this concept vehicle.
A year or so ago I spoke to a guy who told me that Saab had been working on a new convertible mechanism that would be totally different to what we’re used to seeing on a car. It was not something as simple as going to a hard-top (that’d be different for Saab) but it would completely change the whole convertible ‘thing’ and they way we think about it. I’ve written about that several times and it’s that writing which has fuelled speculation in a few of these comments.
With Saab doing a convertible concept at this show, there’s a natural tendency to assume that this car would show that new convertible mechanism, however, as my wife likes to say “To assume can make an ass of u and me.”
So will the 9-X Air show this new mechanism? Maybe. Maybe not. It seems like a good opportunity, but let’s not assume that it’ll be the case.
who was asking for spy pics of the 9-5? Looks like someone else has got them
http://www.saabhistory.com/2008/09/10/next-generation-saab-9-5-spy-photos/
I’m doubtful that these are genuine though, either that or i’m reluctant to accept what you can see of it.
As for the Photoshop above I have to agree with Tompa, it doesn’t look balanced properly and we’re better off waiting to see what it will look like rather than messing around with it. It could be a completely different model like the 9x and 9-X BH seeing as its not the BH we’re seeing here. Well we’ll see soon enough won’t we?
Fugly Photoshop job: mind the blur above the head rest. It’s just a bad Aero X carbon copy.
Who wants another TT, Nissan Z, … 911-clone from … Saab?
And how would a normal human being fit in this car, with such a low roof line?
Nice try, but where’s the hockey stick shape?
Alright folks, here’s about as official as things get for the 9-X Air Concept at this moment in time:
http://jalopnik.com/5050217/saab-9x-air-to-debut-in-paris-previewed-in-detroit
I need a few hours or days to digest this one …….
Now on Jalopnik!!!!!
Link Here
It’s the real deal and looks hotter than the chop above.
Those supposed spy pics of the 9-5 don’t reveal much. It just looks BIG and blocky to me, but I guess that’s the effect of the camouflage.
Their artist’s rendering leaves much to be desired. The front-end looks like the current 9-5 and it’s a pretty unremarkable looking car.
The 9-5 has to be a HUGE hit (and I mean SALES hit, not just critical acclaim) or say “bye-bye” to Saab, because the 9-4X sales aren’t exactly going to set the world on fire. Not a lot of people are going to be willing or able to wait another four years for the next-gen 9-3. You think dealers are hurting NOW?
Gripen, I predict the 9-4X may sell better overall globally than anticipated, perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 of new 9-5′s annual volume. While both models will be global vehicles, the 9-4X will be a key player in the compact/mid luxury CUV segment especially in the North American market where there are still a LOT of existing and new customers who need (justified or not) vehicles “larger and higher” than the average sedan and wagon, and who are need something to replace their larger, thirsty SUVs.
Given the N. American market is still by far Saab’s single largest market in the world, I believe there’ll be a good synergy between the 9-4X and the 9-5SC (or whatever hatchback format like the new Opel Insignia it will manifest as). AND also with the 9-3X (“OutBacked” 9-3SC) complementing these two models, it’s quite likely in 2-3 years SAAB could be back in the black financially speaking.
Gripen I agree, the camouflaged car looks nothing like the artists rendering in the roofline and rear window line. It looks more Opel, which may or may not be a good thing? I think the 9-4x will only add some peripheral sales for Saab. In many markets it will be largely irellevant. Saab really needs a new 9-3 poste haste. I can’t really see the point in displaying another 9-X concept car. Saab needs production cars, not just concepts. Perhaps it’s just Saab’s way of saying “Look what we could make if our hands were untied.”