Saab Shows More of the 9-5 SportCombi, Officially Confirms Concept Study for Geneva Salon

The rapidly approaching Geneva Motor Show is turning out to be a birthing room for Saab as the Swedish company is planning to launch two world premieres including the 9-5 SportCombi along with the unveiling of the modestly updated 9-3 Griffin range and the limited production 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition.

First teased on the Swedish firm's website last week, Saab today confirmed that one of the world premieres will be a never-before seen concept model conceived by a team under new design director, Jason Castriota, who is best known for his work at Pininfarina and for a short stint at Bertone where he penned the Corvette-based Mantide.

The Swedish automaker said the concept car will showcase design features and technologies to be seen in the next generation of products from Saab, adding that it introduces styling themes drawn from the company's Scandinavian and aircraft-inspired design heritage. Saab also noted that the design study will feature an all wheel drive system with an electrically powered rear axle, which most likely points to a hybrid model.

Along with the announcement on the concept car, Saab released a new gallery of photos of the all-important 9-5 SportCombi, which the company expect to sell in greater volumes than its four-door counterpart in many European markets. The more practical variant of the 9-5 series will be offered with a similar mix of turbocharged diesel and gasoline motors with sales scheduled to start in the Fall of 2011.

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SAAB to Celebrate its own...Independence Day on February 23rd

A little over a year ago, Saab's future was very much in doubt. GM was looking for a buyer for the Swedish brand and even contemplated closing down the Trollhattan plant. On the other hand, investors weren't exactly anxious to put their money on what they thought was a sinking ship. But, on the 23rd of February 2010, Saab's fate took a surprising turn for the better as GM sold the company to Spyker Cars, saving thousands of jobs and decades of tradition.

To celebrate the first anniversary from the sale, Saab will throw a massive party on February 23, 2011, turning its factory in Trollhattan into an entertainment arena. All 3,800 employees will have the day off and will be joined by dealers, suppliers, VIPs and media in celebrating Saab's rebirth as an independent carmaker.

The highlight of the event will be the unveiling of a special edition model, most likely the “Independence Edition” of the 9-3 Cabriolet. It might also be a good occasion to show the employees the concept car that Saab will premiere at the Geneva Auto Show. This car will be the starting point for the future compact Saab hatchback, which will be positioned beneath the 9-3 model range.

But Saab has other reasons to celebrate as well. “We’ve triggered the biggest new product offensive in Saab’s history with the launch of the 9-5 Sedan and the 9-4X crossover, the introduction of the 9-5 SportCombi later this year, and the arrival of a new generation 9-3 range next year,” said Saab's CEO Jan Ake Jonsson. Who would have dared thinking about that a year ago?

By Dan Mihalascu

Saab to Show a New Hatchback Concept as well as Updates on 9-3 Range at the Geneva Salon

For Saab, 2011 will be a crucial year, one that could make or break the company’s success. In a statement made in January, Chairman Victor Mullen said he's confident that the automaker will be able to pick up momentum and achieve the projected sales volume of 80,000 units. But for that the Swedes need new models and it seems that they’ll deliver.

According to a press invitation sent out today, aside from the already confirmed and teased 2011 9-5 Sportcombi, Saab's Geneva Motor Show stand will host the premiere of a brand new concept model and either facelifted or special edition versions of the 9-3 range.

As previously reported, Saab wants to revive the 1950s 92 model, so it’s possible that the concept car will announce just that. Furthermore, a report on the Saabs United website claims that the design study will also showcase the brand’s new design language under Saab Design Chief Jason Castriota.

The enthusiast site also asserts that the updates to the 9-3 could be a special edition version of the cabriolet called “9-3 Independence Edition” to commemorate one year from the day Spyker bought Saab from General Motors (February 23, 2010), and a Griffin-badged variant of the sedan model.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Saabsunited & Saab via Autoblog

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Korean Designer Mixes Science and Nature in a Saab Sports Sedan Concept for 2025

Earlier this year, Swedish automaker Saab was saved from the scrapheap by Spyker and a loan from the European Investment Bank. In spite of this, nothing much has changed. The stylish new 9-5 has gone on sale overseas, with the 9-4X crossover following in Q2 2011. And the aging 9-3 trundles on, blissfully unaware that anything has happened.

Korean design student Youngho Jong is looking towards Saab’s future with his 2025 Advanced Warning System Vehicle concept: a rakish, four-door saloon with coupe-like styling. And no headroom, by the looks of it, but that’s a forgivable oversight. More interesting to us, however, is how he used his knowledge of nature and human psychology to come up with a vehicle that isn’t just smart, it’s downright sinister.

Jong’s goal was to design a vehicle that would warn other drivers of impending danger. With his research showing that 50% of vehicles accidents are caused by carelessness, excessive speed and tailgating, Jong wanted to create a car that would warn other drivers to back off and drive with care.

If you are following the 2025 concept too closely, for instance, slits open up in its rear panels revealing amber hazard lights. Patches of the car’s skin also darken, warning you that you are too close. The same amber slips are found on the front and sides of the vehicle. Jong took his inspiration from nature’s Fire Salamander, which uses its bright, menacing colours to ward off potential predators.

Jong also incorporate sharp edges and the colours red and yellow to further emphasises the possible danger. He also mentions that the vehicle’s skin is constructed of a soft, impact absorbing material that reduces pedestrian injuries and vehicle damage in collisions.

All in all, it’s a very clever, if far-fetched solution to a very real problem we face in the world today. The technology isn’t quite there yet, but it’s not too hard to believe that cars twenty years hence will use a system like this. As for the design, I leave the final verdict up to you, the readers.

By Tristan Hankins

Sources: Umea Institute & Cardesign

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Saab 9-5 Convertible Design Study: What do you Think?

Courtesy of SaabsUnited, the people who provided pics of the nice but ill-proportioned 9-5 Coupe rendering (see here) we recently showed you, here is a look at a second possible 9-5 variant. It's a computer generated image for a large, 4-seater convertible that could compete with the Audi A5 Cabrio in the future world of what-ifs.

Using a traditional soft top and nicely-equipped with a turbo-six and all-wheel drive, this car could be a wonderful option for families looking to buy into the Swedish design scene and who also want a unique mid-size convertible that comfortably seats four.

Even better is the potential for Spyker to move itself down-range a bit and receive its own coachbuilt version of the car (and maybe even the 9-4X crossover).

What say you, dear readers? Is this 9-5 'vert an interesting niche vehicle for the Swedish niche brand, or is it simply a waste of time to hope for this?

By Phil Alex

Source: SaabsUnited , Via: Autoblog.nl