Comments on: Saab 9-X Air debut in Paris

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:40:23 +0000

I really like the front end (and the rest). It cleans up the somewhat divided-up look of the current 9-3. It’s easy to imagine this with windows down–and it would be very eye=catching around town. I have had verts for 14 years (an Alfa Spyder in the 70s and a BMW 328 in the 00s–having the windows up at speed and anything cooler than the 80sF/30sC is essential to passenger if not driver comfort at anything above city traffic speeds, and the Air looks like the first one I have ever seen that looks great with the windows up. I agree that some of the interior needs to be a bit classier, but it’s very nice. In particular, it is uniquely nice.

I wonder if the silence on the top mechanism is because, patent pending or not, others might get a similar thing into production before SAAB can. if this is the new 9-3 vert, bravo, and get it out ASAP as the lead model with SC and SS later. The still-very-Swedish verts are assembled in Austria by a Canadian-owned company, so staying with that arrangement would mean this model could be done apart from the others.

By: Trent

Trent — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:20:42 +0000

Grip, This is a really good concept if you can cut out the buffeting with the windows up, then if you want that true convertible feeling you can put the windows down. I have had convertibles for 5 years, and after the novelty wears off, at high speed you get sick of the buffeting but would still like the open air feel. Also as an alternative to Saabyurks comments, in really hot weather, I have been guilty of turning the air con on with the roof down, and if you can do this without the buffeting to suck the cold air it would make it more comfortable. The BMW 6 series convertible is similar as the rear window is not part of the roof and allows you to put the rear window up with the roof down.

By: MagnusE

MagnusE — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:45:41 +0000

Pictures of it with all the windows down would be nice.
From the patent application it looks good with them down.

Grip, some twenty years ago a swedish car magazine did a test drive of a Saab vert in the winter, it was something like -18-20 degrees Centigrade (that is around 0 degrees Fahrenheit for you non-metric types).
Dressed right you can do it …

By: Bernard

Bernard — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:24:54 +0000

The interior looks a bit too much like Tupperware. I think that it will get very dated very fast, and it feels very cold. They need to find some less clinical materials.
The exterior is quite nice, except for the fat nose/grill. I know it’s the new Saab corporate look, but I still think it needs to be sharpened-up quite a bit. It’s almost like they drew the rest of the car with a sharp pencil, whereas the front was done with crayons.

I do like the car overall. I just think that it’s still unfinished.

By: MarkS

MarkS — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:39:09 +0000

Oh great, another example of what “could be” in Saab’s future. We’ve been doing this gig since 2001 and I’m damn sick of it! Sorry folks, I guess I’m a bit disgruntled today…

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:52:15 +0000

Saabyurk: Thanks for the insight. I guess it never occurred to me being a lifelong Southern Californian. Living in Cleveland gives you a better understanding of how a Swedish company would design a convertible. I forgot that people in cold climates still buy convertibles and drive with the top down in winter!

My first car was a 1976 FIAT 124 Sport Spider 1800 convertible. I had the opposite problem: the car only had a heater, not an air conditioner (I guess the Italians figured if you have a convertible you don’t need an air conditioner) and I remember in the middle of summer driving through the San Fernando Valley (a very hot part of Los Angeles in summer) with the temperature up around 107 Fahrenheit (that’s 42 degrees Centigrade for you metric types) and the wind felt like a hair dryer in my face. Not nice.

By: SaabKen

SaabKen — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:44:17 +0000

I agree with Gripen. If one does not feel the wind in one’s hair, then it’s not a convertible.

This seems to be the design trend with new “convertibles”. Look at the new Veyron vert:

http://log.autogespot.com/12-2007/targa/BugattiVeyronTarga.jpg

By: Eme

Eme — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:30:47 +0000

As Apple does it with the phone, “Saab reinvented the convertible”: I think that this new design is able to change the way a convertible has to be. I admit, I’d like to see the 9-X Air with windows and top down, but I can’t imagine that it will loose its style.
Anyway, i’m waiting for the mechanism to see. And after that, let’s see what it will be like when it is not a concept anymore…

By: saabyurk

saabyurk — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:38:07 +0000

Grip,
I’ve got to disagree. I guess it’s a polarizing design, but in my mind, this design is genius and will soon be copied by many others, and I’ll bet they are already working on something similar in their back rooms. Around Cleveland, I often see hardy drivers with the top down in near-freezing temperatures. But, they are obviously suffering greatly. I think they would appreciate this design. But, if not, just put the windows down, you know, have it your way. That coupe look is a beaut.
I won’t be able to afford a new one, but I hope they make it soon enough that I can afford a used one before someone takes my keys away.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:42:20 +0000

I’ll reserve judgment until I actually ride in one, but so far I just don’t like the concept of this convertible. Rather than a convertible it’s like the world’s largest sunroof. The driver (and passengers) are intended to drive around with the top down but the windows up? What’s the point of that? Reducing wind buffeting? Isn’t feeling the wind through your hair the reason you buy a convertible in the first place? What problem is this new top solving? I’ve never heard someone say, “you know, I’d really like to buy a convertible, but they really mess-up my hair!”

I would like to see this car with the top AND all the windows down. I’ll bet it looks a lot nicer and would be a lot more fun to drive in.