Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Car Concept

Saab will be unveiling its latest concept car, 9-X Air BioHybird, at the Paris Motorshow next month. The 9-X Air concept provides a glimpse of what a future convertible from Saab would like like. The small, 1.4-litre Saab BioPower engine running on E85 fuel would power the concept car and deliver 200 horse power with zero to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds. It is puzzling to get this exotic concept cars from Saab but have never seeing them make to production. Check out the introductory video and more details after the jump. 

Saab celebrates 25 years of convertibles with a concept designed to explore what open-air motoring can be in the future. It also is yet another glimpse into what an eventual Saab 9-1 will look like.

The Swedish automaker will show the 9-X Air BioHybrid concept in October at the 2008 Paris auto show. The car is billed as a design study, with a unique canopy top, wraparound windows, and a driver-centric cockpit. The gauges appear frozen in ice.

The 9-X Air is a four-seater, two-door convertible styled to look like a true coupe when the top is up.

Saab says it designed the convertible in parallel with the 9-X BioHybrid concept that was shown at the Geneva auto show and is thought to be a step in the development of an all-new Saab 9-1 to expand the lineup. The two use the same powertrain, a turbocharged 1.4-liter that runs on E85 bioethanol fuel, and it is coupled with hybrid technology. It is a mild hybrid system, saving fuel with its start/stop capability, but cannot propel the vehicle on electricity alone. The mild hybrid system is expected to be on the market in GM vehicles in 2010 as the next generation of the system in such cars as the Saturn Vue and Chevrolet Malibu hybrids.

The 9-X Air makes its auto show debut 25 years after the first convertible from Saab was shown at the Frankfurt auto show.

Mark McNabb, GM North America vice president in charge of the premium channel (Saab, Cadillac, Hummer), tells Car and Driver he thinks the Saab brand is strategically significant, and as the industry embraces the downsizing of engines and green initiatives such as ethanol and hybrids, Saab can play a unique role in GM. “The market has moved towards them,” McNabb says of Saab. 

Saab officially unveiled the 9-X Air concept car today at the Paris Motor Show. Following in Saab’s long tradition of droptops, the 9-X Air previews the upcoming 9-1 small cars, though we were unable to confirm whether that line will contain a convertible production model. The concept is based on last year’s 9-X BioHybrid concept that we saw in Geneva.
Saab has had a long history with convertibles since Saab USA contracted ASC to chop the top off of a 900 coupe in 1986 to create the then-limited 900 convertible (a 1986 900 convertible is pictured in one of GM official photos). Ever since, the Saab lineup has not been without a convertible. The 9-X Air concept features a cloth roof with a glass backlight and a stark black-and-white interior with greenish digital gauges.

A 200 horsepower, 1.4-liter BioPower E85 turbocharged engine will be under the concept car’s hood, the same motor that was under the hood of the 9-X BioPower concept. In droptop form, Saab says the concept hits 62 miles per hour in 8.1 seconds and emits just 107 g/km in the European combined cycle. GM says that both the coupe concept from Geneva and the Paris open-top car were designed at the same time.

The 9-X’s cloth top is what Saab calls a “Canopy Top,” featuring a stand-alone rear section between the large, raked pillars aft of the seats. Similar to a targa top, though considerably larger, the Canopy Top gives the 9-X a unique coupe-like look.

Electronics in the 9-X were developed with Sony Ericsson and they’ll include multiple device Bluetooth and five display screens illuminated with green 3D graphics. Saab says the icy style both inside and out was inspired by Sweden’s winter climate.

 

The Saab 9-X concept car was developed by Saab in 2001 and first shown on the Frankfurt Auto Show. The 9-X was designed to combine the qualities of a coupe, roadster, station wagon and pickup truck in the same car. The design was created by a team of ten designers at the Saab Advanced Styling Center headed by Anthony Lo.

The car used a four wheel drive system along with an all-aluminum, 300 hp 3.0 L turbocharged V6, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and 19 in tires. It featured fiber optic headlights and a completely keyless ignition system.

The Saab 9-X Biohybrid concept car was developed by Saab in 2008 and first shown on the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the GM Delta platform and is thought to give an idea of the upcoming Saab 9-1X.

It has key less entry and small cameras instead of rear view mirrors. On the roof there is a solar panel, like the Saab EV-1, for charging the battery, both when driving and when parked. The headlight is automatic. A front mounted camera detects if you meet another car.

The front of the car follows the design of the Saab Aero-X while the rear has the same cut-off look as Saab 9-X. It is powered by a slant-4 engine of 1.4 liters giving 200 hp (150 kW) at 5000 rpm and 280 N·m (210 ft·lbf) at 1750-5000 rpm. The engine is connected to a manual six speed gearbox with automatic clutch. 0-100 km/h is done in 7.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 216 km/h (134 mph). It has four seats although the headroom in the rear is somewhat restricted. As the name suggests it runs both regular gasoline and E85. The fuel consumption (running on E85) is 6.41 litres per 100 kilometers (44.1 mpg imp/36.7 mpg US) and the CO2 emissions are 105 g/km.

If you drive faster than 70 km/h (43 mph) the rear spoiler is extended and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper. When braking in speeds above 100 km/h (62 mph) the spoiler acts like an air brake and also is used to increase the downforce of the car. 

The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan is focused on delivering a unique, ‘fun to drive’ experience with an all-turbo engine line-up backed by advanced chassis features such as Saab XWD, an active all-wheel-drive system.

It’s coupe-like silhouette and strong, sporty stance help convey a ‘moving when stationary’ look. With signature Saab design features, the 9-3 SportSedan provides a distinctive, alternative choice in the premium, compact segment of the market.

The all-turbo powertrain line-up offers a 'tri-fuel' choice of gasoline, diesel or bioethanol powered engines, providing a power bandwidth from 130 to 210 hp. It includes class-leading 1.9-liter turbo diesels, developing up to 180 hp with CO2 emissions of only 119 g/km, and advanced all-wheel- drive technology from Saab XWD.

Exterior and Interior Design
The sporty, distinctive looks of the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan are an expression of modern Scandinavian design, incorporating contemporary and classic Saab design themes. The sedan’s coupe-like profile and its bold, assertive stance combine to reflect its sporty driving appeal.

In common with all Saab cars, the cabin is designed 'from the driver outwards’. That means its ergonomics, the instrumentation, the controls and the seating position are all developed from the driver’s perspective.

Main features:

• Saab ‘signature’ styling cues: The wedge-like profile with its rising belt-line culminating in that distinctive 'hockey stick' curve into a strong C-pillar, the clamshell hood, the single side window graphic, the shaping of the headlamps units and the smoked white rear light clusters. 
• Bold frontal styling. The prominent central grille with its wing motif is inspired by the Aero X concept car, as is the U-shaped pressing in that classic Saab clamshell hood opening. The form of the grille and headlamp units is complemented by a bumper molding with a deep trapezoidal air intake.
• Cockpit feel. The main instrument panel arcs around the driver. Logical layout and tactile feel to controls.  Steering wheel adjusts for both rake and reach.
• Additional load-carrying potential. The Sport Sedan includes a 60/40 split fold rear seat and a ski hatch.

Technical Features

• Saab ReAxs passive rear wheel steer characteristic. The kinematics of the rear suspension are tuned to give a unique rear wheel steer response for optimum handling and stability.
• Four-link independent rear suspension. High lateral stiffness for stability and grip; longitudinal compliance for ride comfort. The compact design also allows a spacious trunk free from intrusion.
• Front suspension is by MacPherson struts with lower A-arms mounted on a hydroformed (hollow), sub-frame. High lateral bushing stiffness for good steering response and precision; high longitudinal compliance for ride comfort.
• Saab XWD, the advanced all-wheel-drive system, offers enhanced driver involvement and control in all road conditions. The Haldex multi-plate clutch unit infinitely varies engine torque between the front and rear axles, and an optional rear limited-slip differential can transfer torque between the rear drive shafts.
• ComSense functionality minimizes potential for driver distraction through 'dynamic workload management', briefly suppressing in-car warning messages when a moment of high driver workload is detected by the operation of the indicators or heavy braking. Includes Night Panel instrument illumination dimming to reduce visual ‘clutter’.
• Infotainment systems include DVD/GPS satellite navigation with large 6.5-inch color monitor, Bluetooth Phone Integration system (BPIS) for automatic connection to audio system with operation by voice control or steering wheel buttons.
• Saab real-life safety philosophy. Crash testing and computer simulations are based on what happens in real collisions on real roads, using the findings of a database covering more than 6,100 real-life accidents involving Saab cars
• Front and rear crumple zones help absorb, distribute and deflect impact energy away from the passenger compartment. To help provide side impact protection, the B-pillar, side sills and door beams behave as a single, integrated structure. Roof-mounted airbags are installed on each side, between the A and C-pillars, and side airbags in the outboard edges of both front seatbacks.
• Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) for front seats help to reduce the risk for serious neck injury in rear-end collisions. Effectiveness demonstrated by crash investigation findings and independent tests.
• The Sport Sedan and 9-3 Convertible have been tested by EuroNCAP and have a maximum five-star crash safety rating.

Powertrain
The all-turbo engine line-up comprises four gasoline, three BioPower and three diesel options, including a class leading 1.9 TTiD engine with CO2 emissions of only 119 g/km and a maximum power output of 180 hp.

• Sophisticated Saab Trionic engine management for all gasoline and BioPower engines. This in-house system It simultaneously measures and adjusts ignition timing, fuel injection, turbo boost pressure, air mass and the electronic throttle for optimum combustion.
• The 1.9TTiD engine, with two-stage turbocharging, enables segment-leading efficiency, delivering CO2 emissions as low as 119 g/km in combination with 180 hp (132 kW) and exceptional torque of 400 Nm. Two other versions, giving 130 and 160 hp, are also available. In the Sport Sedan with manual transmission, all three engines give combined cycle fuel economy of only 4.5 l/100km as well as CO2 of just 119 g/km.  A maintenance-free particulate filter is fitted as standard..
• All-aluminum 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engines. Saab developed and tuned for 150 (110 kW), 163 (120 kW), 175 (129 kW) and 210 hp (147 kW) with high torque for swift overtaking. All internal components unique to Saab. Balancer shafts for greater running refinement.
• Choice of four BioPower engines, two giving more power and torque when running on E85 fuel. Saab BioPower is unique in offering flex-fuel engines that give enhanced performance, as well as reduced fossil fuel-based CO2 emissions.
• Wide transmission choice. Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard across the range, while   the adaptive automatic transmissions are five or six-speed, both featuring Saab Sentronic manual gear selection and optional steering wheel controls. 

The Saab 9-3X is a rugged all-rounder designed to take outdoor enthusiasts to the start of their adventure.  With distinctive looks, a versatile SportCombi body, a higher stance and advanced all-wheel drive technology, it combines efficient performance with an all-road capability. It is the ideal alternative to large crossover vehicles or SUVs.

The compact, all-turbo powertrain choice comprises a 2.0-liter gasoline engine developing 210 hp/154 kW and an E85-capable BioPower variant with the same power rating.  A 180 hp/132 kW 1.9 turbo diesel, with front-wheel drive, completes the line-up. All transmissions are six-speed, including an automatic option for the gasoline and diesel motors. 

Distinctive Appeal
The Saab 9-3X’s chassis is raised by 35 mm so it can handle rugged driving terrain. It is specifically designed to cope with gravel or unpaved roads, without compromising the driving experience on asphalt.

As a protective covering when the terrain becomes loose or muddy, a dark gray, grained finish is applied to the bumpers, the side sills and the edges of the wheel arches. This treatment is complemented by skid panels with a matt aluminum finish, curving up towards the door opening at the rear and adopting a wing form in the lip of the lower front bumper. These are matched by matt, aluminum-colored lower door decor strips.

Black roof rails are standard, with a chromed finish available as an option. Visible, twin round exhaust tailpipes are also standard. Front fog lights, ringed with a chrome finish, add another rugged accent.

With multi-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels fitted as standard, the 9-3X’s exterior character reflects its ability to handle mixed road conditions, whether rough or smooth, loose or paved.

Inside, the 9-3X interior is based on top-of-the-line Aero specification, adding a dark metallic finish to the door trims, glove box and gearshift surround. The unique sports seating features gray fabric inserts in the black leather upholstery.

Total Traction
At the heart of the 9-3X is Saab’s cutting-edge XWD system. It is an intelligent, active system that continuously distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles as required for optimum stability and grip in all conditions. Saab XWD comes as standard with the gasoline and BioPower turbo engines.

The 1.9 TTiD variant, using two-stage turbocharging and driving the front wheels only, offers impressive combined cycle fuel economy of only 5.1 l/100 km, together with CO2 emissions of just 135 g/km. Unlike the XWD models, this variant has a chassis raised 20 mm higher than the regular 9-3 SportCombi to maintain that rugged styling.

Versatile load carrying
In all formats, the 9-3X also is designed to make carrying sports and leisure equipment easy. Like regular 9-3 SportCombi, the rear cargo area, with a low floor, is surprisingly spacious and well-proportioned. The compact design of the rear suspension allows a deep box-like space, free from intrusions, offering a useful rear seat up/down volume of  477/1331liters (VDA).

The 60/40 split rear seat-back incorporates a ski-hatch and folds down without any need to move the fixed seat cushion. The fold-down front passenger seat-back also makes it possible to carry 2.5 meter-long items.

The fully carpeted cargo deck is accessed by a lightly-weighted tailgate that opens down to bumper level, its damper rods completely hidden in the roof to allow a clear, uncluttered opening. The flush-fitted, black molded floor plate will not become marked or scratched in heavy use.

The TwinFloor stowage facility also helps keep luggage and equipment safe and tidy. The middle section of the floor hinges upwards transversely when the handle is pulled so that the front edge fits into two retaining slots. There is also a 12-volt power socket (for a hot or cool box) and a separate storage compartment at either side of the floor, one fitted with a molded holder for large bottles.