The Saab 9-X Air concept car came home this weekend, showing at Saab’s beautiful museum in Trollhattan.
The following photos were taken by Toni H – known as Tripolar over on Flickr – who got up early, made the long drive to Trollhattan and was right there when the doors to the museum opened at 10.00am.
A nice car to make the drive in, too. This is Toni’s 9-5, waiting outside the museum for it to open:
Of course, once inside, the main attraction was the 9-X Air, which looks like it was parked proudly in the long foyer area just prior to the main museum display.
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Toni’s thoughts in brief after seeing the Air in person:
It was a windy but beautiful fall morning spent eagerly waiting to see the 9X Air in real life. The atmosphere is great at the Museum and its surroundings, that Saab-feeling really permeates the whole place.
Regarding the car itself its a real gem. I love all the pictures I’ve seen on the web so far, but I have to say the car is even more fantastic up close.
This one can’t hit the market soon enough… It is pure design genius in my humble opinion. If I start writing I’ll ramble on and on, so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves – I hope I captured some of the magic I felt being there
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My goodness, this is tasty!
Seriously, has there ever been a car with a tastier rear view than this? If they can get the usual convertible scuttle shake sorted with this, it’d be hands-down the best looking ragtop (or hartop) convertible in history. It’s that good looking.
Another perspective on that rear:
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Here’s some stuff that I’m not sure we’ve seen in such detail before now:
And more photos of the dash in action. This is a recorded electronic loop, but it’s supposed to demostrate how the real thing might work (at least in the designer’s mind – the reality would be far more mainstream, methinks)
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Note the ambient lighting in the rear, too:
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Exhaust pipe detail:
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Toni also snapped a couple of non-9-X Air photos, including this overview of the main museum……
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……and a few shots of the Saab 9-4x concept vehicle, which was also in attendance.
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My thanks to Toni for getting in touch with me prior to this event and providing a great set of photos for me to share here at Trollhattan Saab.
You can see these – and more – at Toni’s page over at Flickr.
But wait, there’s more!!
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Here’s a quick slideshow of the Saab 9-X Air at the museum. These shots were taken by Nikul Savasadia, whose brother Dippen is a reguar commenter here.
The originals can be found here, at Flickr.
What a car.
Thanks to all for bringing this car to us from such a magnificent setting.
I wish I could have been there myself.
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Very nice indeed! The shape of the back end reminds me of Sixten Sason’s “Catharina” prototype, which was an early Sonett design study. Will any of these beautiful concepts make it to production?? It’s been a long wait for sure!!
What a beauty!
These photos make me mark the museum as a must see place! Perhaps next time I’m heading back to norway. THe photos are stunning, saab need vehicles like this for sale ASAP
MarkS; I said the same thing about the Catharina resemblance some time ago but nobody else commented! It’s a pity that it’ll be neither a 9-3 or a 9-1 but it may point the way to a new convertible? Perhaps the Saab Museum should open a special wing for all the concepts that didn’t make it to production? Unfortunately there are almost enough cars to make that idea a viable one now.
It was great seeing and photographing the car. I’m glad you like the pictures.
Markac; The museum has the concepts from EV-1 and forwards on display. I’m sure there are others as well, but yesterday was almost solely about the Air for me. =)
All the best!
Well done Toni, great pictures. Would have loved to have been there as well but flight tickets were a little bit pricey for this weekend. I love the look of this car.
I am glad you like the pictures, Nikul lives in Trollhättan so there will be more Saab-pictures in the future:)
Toni :Thanks for the pics,awesome:)
Toni, nice pics
Can you upload the highest resolution possible of the close up of the saab wheel on your flickr page?
“http://www.flickr.com/photos/19380732@N06/2973019932/in/set-72157603037966964″
it would make a good wallpaper
Hi Markac, I must have missed your comment about the Catharina resemblance….I’m glad someone else noticed that! It’s great to see these new concepts but recently I’ve had mixed feelings about them. They’ve come to represent missed opportunities it seems. Maybe the museum could open a “lost souls” wing for all these concepts some day. I’m still (somewhat) hopeful that one will make it to the streets!
Oh yes how could I forget….thanks for the great shots Toni!
Exterior: excellent
Dashboard: 80′s Star Trek
Thanks for the pictures Toni.
MarkS: My favourite concept car was the 9-3X Crossover Coupe closely followed by the 9X. I think that is why I was so dissapointed when the 9-3 SS arrived. The 9X and the 9-3X were both such exciting concepts and all we got was a boringly conservative sedan. It was a huge let down. Had Saab never shown those two designs, I’m sure my negativity towards the 9-3 SS would have been much less. I just hope the same thing doesn’t happen again?
Andy Rupert: Yes you’re right the dash does look like 80′s (pre LCARS) Star Trek. Come to think of it, an LCARS dash would look nice! Sorry I’m a bit of a Trekkie!
Andy Rupert; And exactly WHAT is wrong with 80′s Star Trek?
Not to worry though, I’m sure it’ll be Next Generation when it comes into production.
As Picard would have said: “Engage!”
Andy, I’m afraid I have to agree with you about the interior (not that there’s anything wrong with ’80′s Star Trek!). And that center console is a bit obtrusive isn’t it? If I were out cruising with my honey, I’d like to be able to reach over and actually touch her! The exterior is great though, and the ambient lighting inside is a nice touch. I’d love to see a dash shaped like a 9000 dash but with modern features and materials. Make it so!
Markac – I hear you there…I was really impressed by the 9X and 9-3X concepts back in 2001, and at the time of the 9X launch Peter Augustsson said “I regard this car as a statement of intent…it is physical proof that Saab is embarked on an exciting journey.” Next thing you know, Augustsson is gone and Suuby’s are being re-badged!! Oh, the humanity!!
That interior is awesome! I love the way the white and black contrast! I still prefer the aero X dash but that thing is awesome too!
simply superb
(big centre tunnel ready for implentation of XWD ?)
Saab needed this car as of yesterday!
Beauty!
Those pics! They are gorgeous!!!
Let’s hope they actually make it and soon. I think SAAB has come up with plenty of good prototypes but they need to start producing them.