I haven’t written a whole lot of opinion about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid this week.
The main reason for that is because I’m still spinning between my joy at the design and what it could mean, and the executive statements with regard to Saab and what they could mean. Then there’s the state of the car and the rapturous way in which it’s been received.
This has been one crazy week, people, and I’ve got a few things I need to sort out in my head.
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Here’s a brief snippet from the GM archive.
It’s Mark Adams talking about the future design direction. Nothing we don’t know already, i.e. that Saab’s future design direction will be following the path of the Aero-X.
I wonder if they figured they had another Best Concept car winner on their hands when they wheeled this on to the show floor?
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I covered the Best Concept car announcement yesterday with the AutoWeek press release, but for the record, here’s the GM press release on the matter:
Detroit – The editors of AutoWeek, one of North America’s most respected and longest standing automotive enthusiast magazines, have voted the Saab 9-X BioHybrid “Best Concept” upon its world debut at the auto show in Geneva this week. With this award, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid premium compact joins the very successful Saab Aero X coupe concept which received AutoWeek’s “Best in Show” honors upon its debut in Geneva, two years ago.
“We are honored by this important recognition from the expert editors of AutoWeek,” said Steve Shannon, Saab Automobile USA general manager. “The way the 9-X BioHybrid was welcomed by the world’s press and the public in Geneva has exceeded many optimistic expectations. Following in footsteps of the highly inspirational Aero X, as well as the 9-4X BioPower crossover concept which debuted in Detroit just a few weeks ago, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates that the Saab brand has tremendous potential.”
News has just hit the tubes stating that the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept has one the Best Concept Award at the Geneva Motor Show as awarded by Autoweek Magazine.
Here’s the press release:
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GENEVA, March 5 /PRNewswire/ — The AutoWeek editorial staff today announced its Editors’ Choice Award winners for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
For more than a decade, the editors of the weekly automotive-enthusiast magazine have scoured show floors in Detroit, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo, selecting winners in four categories: Best in Show, Best Concept, Most Significant and Most Fun.
The 2008 AutoWeek Editors’ Choice Award winners for the Best of Geneva are:
BEST IN SHOW: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider- “It’s hard to argue with its sexiness. Who wouldn’t want to be seen cruising in this pure, unabashed lust mobile,” said AutoWeek Editor and Associate Publisher Dutch Mandel.
MOST SIGNIFICANT: Ford Fiesta- “This was a unanimous decision by the entire AutoWeek panel — all day, everyday. If they get the marketing even close, it could well be the silver bullet for Ford in conquering Europe. This completes a strong line up.”
BEST CONCEPT: Saab 9-X BioHybrid- “It shows that the heart rate is still there. It moves them into the most competitive European segment and is also the next Astra platform. This is proof that General Motors has its global Bob Lutz-vision working.”
MOST FUN: Fiat 500 Abarth- “It’s a car you just want to squeeze its cheeks and hold close to you. If we could fit it in our airplane’s overhead compartment, we would have brought it home.”
The magazine’s March 17, 2008 issue will take an in-depth look at the winners, and some of the finalists, of this year’s Geneva show. Photos of the winners are available for download on AutoWeek.com.
The AutoWeek editorial staff will announce its 2008 Editors’ Choice Awards for the Paris Motor Show in September. For more information on the Editors’ Choice Awards, past winners and extensive auto show coverage, visit AutoWeek.com.
AutoWeek is the only weekly automotive-enthusiast magazine in North America, providing its passionate readers with up-to-date information like no other automotive news source. With nearly 50 years of unbiased editorial, it delivers the latest on vehicle reviews, motorsports, events and trends, personalities, auto show coverage and more.
Congrtulations to the Advanced Design team at Saab. The 9-X BioHybrid Concept now joins the Saab Aero-X as a Best Concept winner.
Built it and we will come.
From Saab.com. Click here if the embedded version isn’t working.
This video gathers a few comments from some of the Saab execs you don’t necessarily hear too much from.
A nice out-take at the end, too. Note that Mark Adams is a designer and not an accountant 
Our guys on the scene, Marcel and Gian-Luca, have been wandering the show floor at Geneva today. They’ve sent in a number of photos from the Saab stand, as well as a few more detail shots of the Saab 9-X BHC vehicle (I’m sick of writing BioHybrid Concept – doh!)
Click on any of the pics to enlarge.
Here’s a few more shots of the 9-X in detail. Close up access to the car is apparently quite limited. First up is a closer look of the camera/mirror in profile.
Next is a closer look at the front headlamp. You can see the light pipe extending across the front of the vehicle.
GM Europe popped this one into my inbox overnight.
Here’s an edited clip of the reveal and a few of the speakers appearing there in Geneva.
Thanks to Tompa for the link.
Here’s the official video by Lowe Brindfors for the Saab 9-X BioHybrid. A lot of cgi animation, but looks good.
Enjoy.
Well, what a day it’s been already (and it’s only 9.45am).
Personally I’ve had a server crash and a resulting phone call with my hosting company who tried to tell me nothing was wrong. I’ve been confused about if and where images were going to appear and I’ve a darn good chat with various people about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid. I’ve been mad as hell (at Saab) and as happy as a clam (with Saab). I need sleep.
So what about the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept?
The first thing you’ve got to note about this car is that it is, in every way, a concept vehicle. I suppose it had to be, given that the car is still 3 years away at best. But I think many of us, me included, were hoping for something a bit closer to a production vehicle, especially after the 9-4x appeared to be so close to production standard in many ways.
With the possible and remote exception of the exterior shape, this doesn’t seem to me to be even close to production. I’ll go so far as to say that from the few photos we’ve seen so far, bits of it don’t even look close to show grade, even for a concept car. The cgi of the interior looks very interesting, but the one close up photo that I’ve seen made it look like a high school project. It’s quite possible that this car should have been held over to Paris later this year so as to be appropriately finished prior to going on show.
Saab’s own press materials say that this is the sixth real concept car they’ve done in the 00′s (not counting pseudo concepts like the BioPower100 and BioPower Hybrid Convertible etc). By my count there’s only been five new production cars in that time, and that’s if you count the 9-3 as three different models (sedan, combi and convertible) AND include the 9-2x and 9-7x.
Saab needs to put something on the showroom floor. The dealers need it, the buyers need it and I even think the company itself needs it in order to believe that they’re capable of doing so once again. It’s time to either s#!t or get off the pot.
Now having said all that, the signs are very encouraging. Personally, I love it.