9x BioHybrid

[bostonspider]

The bold execution of the 9-X BioHybrid evolves visual design themes from the award-winning Aero X coupe (shown Geneva 2006) and multi-dimensional 9X (shown Frankfurt 2001) concepts. Inside, it showcases an entirely new expression of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design, as well as innovative seamless in-car connectivity for all personal nomadic devices. Smart rear functionality features a cargo deck with an automatic sliding floor and a ‘friction’ loading system.

The small yet powerful 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine, optimized for bioethanol (E85) fuel, is backed by GM’s next-generation hybrid system (see separate release for details) for efficient, environmentally-responsible performance.

“This concept redefines conventional compact car design.” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab’s Managing Director. “It shows how progressive Saab design can be combined with smart features and responsible, rightsizing performance that is in tune with the expectations of younger buyers in this segment.”

Clean Scandinavian Design

With minimal bodywork overhangs, a wide stance and extended roof line, the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid brings a dynamic, new dimension to conventional ‘hatchback’ looks. The single window graphic, smooth ‘fuselage’ bodywork – without any visible handles or even door mirrors – and ‘ice block’ lighting themes draw on roots in Scandinavian design and Saab’s aircraft heritage.

At the front, the deep grille, that concave styling line in the hood pressing and the ‘wraparound’ windshield are inspired by the award-winning Aero X concept shown at Geneva two years ago. The car’s overall proportions and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001.

The 9-X BioHybrid cuts a unique silhouette in compact car design. The longer roof line and ‘sawn off’ rear styling contributes to a better aerodynamic performance and provides more interior room than a conventional compact hatchback with a sloping screen and rear trunk lid deck.

Touch-sensitive, keyless entry, eliminates the need for exterior door handles. And the use of small, retracting rear-view camera pods - instead of larger door mirrors - further contributes to the clean ‘fuselage’ effect, while also reducing aerodynamic drag at speed.

A large solar cell in the glass roof takes advantage of free energy from the sun by adding charge to the hybrid battery pack while the vehicle is parked and also when it is being driven.

At night, driving comfort is improved by automatic switching between high and dipped headlamps beams. A front -mounted camera monitors light sources on the road ahead and small shutters automatically ‘hood’ the high beam when on-coming traffic is approaching.

Active Aerodynamics

Echoing Saab’s roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag – and fuel consumption – at cruising speeds. Above 70 kph (43 mph), the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

During heavy braking from over 100 kph (62 mph), the rear spoiler is raised, adding downforce over the rear axle. This action also reveals a reflector that increases the visibility of the brake light underneath, as a further warning of heavy braking.

Mould-breaking Interior

Innovative design is even more dramatic inside the four-seater cabin, upholstered in white leather at the front and black. Here, the 9-X BioHybrid introduces an entirely new execution of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design. The central, floor-mounted console, with its angled controls and displays, is now eliminated. Instead, the driver- focused layout incorporates a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, arching across the driver. Only shared climate control and interior lighting functions remain in a small, central touch-sensitive panel.

The driver information zone is a flat, arc-shaped multi-layered acrylic surface, within which a row of five displays screens is embedded and illuminated in green 3-D graphics. This includes an ‘infotainment’ screen and control panel in the driver’s door moulding. Another ‘infotainment’ screen showing, for example, navigation with more in-depth information if selected, is located across the cabin for the front passenger. All displays and menus can be operated, adapted or minimized by the driver via controls on the fixed hub and rim of the steering wheel. The rear view camera screens are conveniently located above the main displays within the driver’s eye line.

White ambient lighting of the cabin is taken a step further by a selectable level of suffused illumination, varying in intensity from a bright, cold to warm and soft. This is a feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the changing seasons

Seamless Communication

The potential for seamless wireless connectivity (Bluetooth or WiFi) with one or multiple nomadic devices (mobile phones, PDAs etc) is demonstrated by Saab’s co-operation with Sony Ericsson in developing an interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for in-car display and use. The interface allows the simultaneous use of devices, such as a phone and MP3 player, when passengers are in the car.

The functions of the nomadic device are controlled by a screen in the car, for example, while it is kept in the user’s pocket. The smarter the device, the more functions in the car. Depending on the type of device, it can upload its own displays, as well as lock /unlock the car and even remotely change in-car pre-sets. It is all part of the concept’s vision in appealing to younger buyers who expect easy, on-the-move access to multi-media.

Smart Load-carrying

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the tailgate drops down over the rear bumper. The top section, hinged from the roof, can be opened separately so that smaller items may be dropped inside easily.

The entire floor area, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by ‘high friction’ rubber carpeting. When the tailgate opens, aluminum bars in the floor are automatically raised just above the level of the high friction surface, making it easy to slide items inside. When the tailgate is closed, the bars are lowered to allow the high friction surface to ‘grip’ items and hold them securely in place.

The ‘default’ setting for the rear seats is the folded down position, reflecting the fact that the youthful target buyers for such a car will use its load-carrying capability more often than they need to accommodate rear passengers.

Vision

The 9-X BioHybrid has been created by a team under Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, working in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden. .

“This car is about efficiency in design and performance,” he says. “We have taken exterior themes from our previous concept work, such as the clean surfaces and lighting treatments, and tuned them for a compact format.

“Inside the car, the new driver-focused design theme and the easy, seamless connectivity are both features we will be developing in future.”

[bostonspider]

[SuperSport623]

so is this a disguised 9-1?

[bostonspider]

so is this a disguised 9-1?

More like a concept version of the 9-1 I think. I am sure we will see some changes between this and the 9-1 production car, a lot more than with the 9-4. I would guess that is why this was not called the 9-1 concept...

[RJB]

It would be an even better concept if they had a biodiesel hybrid like the recent release of the VW.

[SuperSport623]

any pics of the cargo floor? i wanna see that aluminum bar system.. sounds cool!

[pow]

That's very, very, very nice. I love it. Looks like nothing else on the road.

[ZL-1]

The front end looks almost production-ready. The rear and interior not so much. But I like what they out out with both the 9-4X and this. I am not disappointed.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

The bold execution of the 9-X BioHybrid evolves visual design themes from the award-winning Aero X coupe (shown Geneva 2006) and multi-dimensional 9X (shown Frankfurt 2001) concepts.

A.K.A. The same rehashed design theme we've seen on Saab concepts for 6 years at least. It'll be "old" before it even hits the streets.

The small yet powerful 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine, optimized for bioethanol (E85) fuel, is backed by GM’s next-generation hybrid system (see separate release for details) for efficient, environmentally-responsible performance.

“This concept redefines conventional compact car design.” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab’s Managing Director. “It shows how progressive Saab design can be combined with smart features and responsible,

Umm, okay.

rightsizing performance that is in tune with the expectations of younger buyers in this segment.”

Get used to this term... As we are all "rightsized" into a communist like existence with no fun cars and no luxuries.

Touch-sensitive, keyless entry, eliminates the need for exterior door handles.

Till the battery dies.

And the use of small, retracting rear-view camera pods - instead of larger door mirrors - further contributes to the clean ‘fuselage’ effect, while also reducing aerodynamic drag at speed.

Yet ups energy use.

** Seems pretty cool; if not a bit bland. Go figure, it came from GME. I just felt like having some fun. I LOVE those wheels!

Edited March 4, 2008 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[Blake Noble]

... Rightsizing performance that is in tune with the expectations of younger buyers ...

:rotflmao:

Guess they haven't talked to me then!

But wait, they threw in this little bit:

... In this segment.

In that case, it does meet my expectations: it's front-drive, it's too small, and any engine packing over one-hundred seventy horses will make it do that little jig we know as torque steer.

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car with a pleasing, if not quicky aging, design, and I do actually rather like it, but its, overall, a NO SALE for me, sorry. Magic 8 Ball says: Try again, Mr. Carl-Pecker Subaru Forester! (That goes for you too Borger.) :AH-HA_wink:

Edited March 4, 2008 by YellowJacket894

[Intrepidation]

I don't like everything aft of the A-Pillar.

[loki]

** Seems pretty cool; if not a bit bland. Go figure, it came from GME. I LOVE those wheels!

the wheels go perfect with the SAAB "history"... about as turbine like as you can get while standing out.

will the wheels add side force....trying to push them into the engine bay? hahah prolly great ventilation adder for the brakes.

The slope of the roof is ugly, i think.

[turbo200]

I also love the distinctness. what can I say about Saab man, if this car were on the road today, it'd be, to me, just about the best looking car, under 200k. The wheels are spectacular, as they were on the bigger coupe concept. The question is can they sustain this into production. How much of it is undoable? Where are all the complaints about the dual-tier dash? Oh, probably because it's a GM car you won't hear a peep here. As long as the performance and ride handling dynamics were right, I'd take this in a heartbeat, make mine with about 230 hp, weighing what my old RSX weighs, or at least the GTI. Match the GTI's performance and I'd say you have one killer app.

[thegriffon]

A longer stroke 1.4 L Family 0 engine (GM Europe's smallest 4-cylinder block), dual-VVT, direct injection, turbo. 170 PS on gasoline. What's not to like?

[RJB]

A longer stroke 1.4 L Family 0 engine (GM Europe's smallest 4-cylinder block), dual-VVT, direct injection, turbo. 170 PS on gasoline. What's not to like?

You brought up an interesting thing there. Family 0 and the family 1. Expect to see this stuff in everything, and I mean everything!

[thegriffon]

GM's gasoline engine families:

B-series (GM Daewoo, SGMW)

1.0–1.2 L 4-cyl 63–84 hp (1.0 L to be upgraded in near future, 1.2 Turbo [beat concept] probable)

Family 0 (GM Powertrain Austria)

1.0 L 3-cyl 59 hp (probable 72 hp turbocharged version in Volt concept)

1.2–1.4 L 4-cylinder 69–168 hp

Family 1 (GM do Brasil, GM Powertrain Hungary, GM Daewoo)

1.0–1.8 L 4-cylinder 69–189 hp (DI and dual-VVT will boost peak levels to over 200 hp for the 1.6 Turbo)

Family II

1.8–2.4 L 92–260 hp (soon 1.9–2.4 L 119–260 hp, more power [300-odd hp?] possible)

Family 3 (Saab B-series turbos)

2.0–2.3 L 158–256 hp (future in doubt as Family II turbos are upgraded to flexfuel standard)

Atlas (Dynacam)

2.9 L 4-cyl 185 hp

3.7 L I5 242 hp

4.2 L I6 285 hp (a 4.4 is possible but unlikely—expect this line [a different plant to the I4 and I5] to be shut down)

XK (GM Daewoo)

2.0–2.5 L I6 135–155 hp

High-Value V6

2.5–3.9 L V6 150–240 hp

Global V6 (Electron)

2.8–3.6 L V6 201–311 hp (expect at least 370-odd hp from future turbocharged engines)

Small-block V8

4.8–7.0 L V8 258–620 hp (expect a base 4.9 L in Gen V and a minimum of over 300 hp)

Northstar V8

4.4–4.6 L 275–469 hp (expect the old fwd models to go away, leaving the VVT rwd engines with a minimum of at least 330 in future)

[ZL-1]

Global V6 (Electron)

2.8–3.6 L V6 201–311 hp (expect at least 370-odd hp from future turbocharged engines)

(...)Northstar V8

4.4–4.6 L 275–469 hp (expect the old fwd models to go away, leaving the VVT rwd engines with a minimum of at least 330 in future)

Why keep the non-SC Northstar around if the turbo V6s reach hp figures as high as 370? Cost? V8 Image/Prestige?

[ltdaniels]

the back end looks ugly as hell. shorten the 2-door a bit, then we're talking.

[LS7]

I really think this car looks great. It would be really nice if GM will allow to have this vehicle made regardless if it is hybrid or not. I think a small sporty coupe fits the SAAB image more so than the 9X crossover they had at Detroit, and the currant 9-7.

Styling wise I think it is great and unlike some of the post's, I think the rear end if really nice and looks original and has a lot of the attributes we saw in the 9-5 concept that is elsewhere on this site. Some readers really appear as if they want styling that is safe and normal, and I like SAAB's route by being a trend setter and not a follower as well as just being weird.

Years ago most European automobiles were just so weird in styling for North American taste and I think they should go back to this way. You still see this in cars like the Renault Megnane and it's followers and most readers probably would of vomited at the sight of a old SAAB 96 or 99 in their driveway, especially 25 years ago.

[turbo200]

Saab is the only brand in GM's cap whose styling is progressive and yet considerably tasteful and refined. It wears incredibly well down the line. The current 9-3, pre-refresh is still to me one of the best looking sedans out there, and the refreshed version is already starting to sell around here. It's amazing to me all the talent that is evident in thier design concepts, yet none has resulted in anything production-worthy. I think Saab will be a surprise hit down the line, when good product is actually released. Thanks to its great longevity and progressive nature, I think Saab is GM's best chance of going after some of the bigger Euro makes.