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

Saab Reveals its First-Ever Pure Electric Model: 9-3 ePower to Debut in Paris

This month's Paris International Motor Show will host the world premiere of Saab's first ever EV, the 9-3 ePower. Based on the SportWagon variant of the current 9-3, the prototype model will lead to a test fleet of 70 vehicles that will participate in field trials in Sweden early next year.

The car is motivated by a 184HP electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. Energy is provided by a compact 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located in a modified floor-pan, in a space occupied by the exhaust system and fuel tank on the standard 9-3 SportWagon

The Swedish automaker says the EV can accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in a respectable 9.5 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 150km/h or 93mph.

The projected driving range on a full charge is approximately 200 kilometers or about 124 miles. Saab said the battery can be fully recharged from a domestic mains supply in three to six hours, depending on depletion status. However, the company claims charging times can be reduced significantly if the voltage of the electrical feed is raised.

The only noteworthy styling changes over the regular gasoline/diesel models concerns the new gearshift lever that provides selection of 'drive', 'neutral', 'park' and 'reverse', the revised instrument cluster that gains read-outs for battery status, power consumption and driving range, as well as the addition of an electric park brake.

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile's CEO said: "By 2015, annual global sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach 500,000 units and Saab is determined to be represented in this important, growing segment."

"The 9-3 ePower programme is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect."

The 9-3 ePower is the result of a co-operation between Saab Automobile, Boston Power (batteries), Electroengine in Sweden AB (electric power trains), Innovatum (project management) and Power Circle (Sweden's electric power industry trade organization).

Saab Bóreas Sports Coupe Design Study by Jorge Martí Vidal

And yes, we have another design proposal for a future Saab model. This one is a compact sports coupe named Bóreas after the god of the north wind and bringer of winter in Greek mythology, and it's the work of Spanish designer, Jorge Martí Vidal. There's no info from the designer's behalf, but we could easily picture it as a modern day replacement to the Saab Sonnet. More pictures and a video after the break.

Source / Designer: Jlsdiseny

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Saab Fashionista Concept: Design Proposal for a Volt-Based Hybrid Coupe

More often than not, we think that the American automobile industry may have been in a much better state if only the people who are actually engaged in the creation of cars had a say in the decision making. This conceptual proposal for a Chevrolet Volt-based Saab coupe from Mayeul Walser, a 4th year Car Design student in Creapole-Esdi, is a good example. You may or may not like the design, but the idea of an aggressively styled hybrid Saab coupe is more than engaging.

According to Mayeul's description, the concept behind the Saab Fashionista's design was to create a luxurious four-seater coupe that blends the futuristic feel of sci-fi movies with the elegance of products from renowned fashion houses such as Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel.

The 24-year-old design student also claims that while based on the platform of the Volt, he designed the Fashionista to be equipped with a hybrid powertrain coupling a V6 gasoline engine to an electric motor for a (purely theoretical) output of around 300HP.

If it was our choice, we would have opted for a more powerful version of the Volt's plug-in hybrid powertrain to make the project more feasible, but then again, since this is only a pipe-dream concept, why not go for a V6.

Carscoop thanks Mayeul Walser for the high-res photos

Video: Saab 9-X BioHybrid Geneva Show Unveiling

Not even 24 hours before the Geneva Motor Show opens up its gates, Saab gave journalists an exclusive preview of its 9-X BioHybrid Concept (pics and details here) that foretells the upcoming 9-1 premium hatch. The concept is equipped with a 200hp1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine that can run on bioethanol E85 fuel. With a solar cell panel on its roof, the 3-door sporty hatch also runs on energy extracted from sun and used to charge the hybrid’s battery pack both when the vehicle is in motion and when it is stationary. –Video after the jump

Geneva Show: Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept Previews BMW 1-Series Adversary

While Saab supports that the 9-X BioHybrid is a “vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like”, we’ll just bluntly say that the Geneva Show concept previews the shape of the forthcoming 9-1 premium hatch that will enter the market in 2010. The 9-X BioHybrid’s design is clearly inspired from Saab’s earlier Aero-X and 9X concept cars and although its rear-end sort of reminds us of a bread-van, overall, we like it. The interior looks like it came straight from a sci-fi movie, so there’s no point of making any comments as it will never find its way into production.

Underneath its sleek body, Saab’s concept hides a 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine partnered by GM’s next-generation Hybrid system. The 1.4-liter engine generates 200 hp on E85 and an even more impressive 280 Nm (207 lb.ft) of torque. The new hybrid system features a lithium-ion battery and a significantly higher power capability to capture more energy and more electric boost than the current GM Hybrid system.

According to Saab, the 9-X BioHybrid can go from nought to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9 sec on E85 and 8.3 sec when using regular gasoline. As for fuel consumption, the concepts need a mere 4.9 lt of gasoline or 6.4 lt of E85 for every 100 km (48 and 36.8 MPG respectively). –More details and pictures after the jump

Press Release

Saab 9-X BioHybrid:

Boosting Efficiency in Compact Design and Performance

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Exploring design themes from Saab’s award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the 9-X BioHybrid also demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation Hybrid system. Projected combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km on E85 fuel are testimony to the promise of this package (see separate release for details).

The interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a ‘low friction’ loading system.

“This car is all about efficiency in design and performance,” says Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

With its ‘turbine’ wheels placed at all four corners, minimal bodywork overhangs and an extended roof line, the proportions of the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid bring a dynamic, new dimension to conventional compact ‘hatchback’ looks.

The smooth ‘fuselage’ bodywork, now without any visible handles or door mirrors, the bold ‘wraparound’ window graphic and deep front grille are all themes inspired by the Aero X coupé concept shown at Geneva two years ago.

The car’s distinctive ‘shooting brake’ silhouette and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001. “You could say we designed this car from back to front, “says Lo. “The shape of the 9X is right for a car of this size, and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space.”

Echoing Saab’s roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also 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.

The four-seater cabin 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. The embedded 3-D graphics appear to be ‘frozen’ in ice, continuing a Scandinavian design theme first seen in the Aero X.

Reflecting the needs of youthful customers, who expect easy access to multi-media both inside and outside the car, Saab has co-operated with Sony Ericsson in providing seamless in-car connectivity for a range of nomadic devices. The result is a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for display and use. The interface also allows the simultaneous use of multiple devices when passengers are in the car.

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the split tailgate drops down The floor, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by ‘high friction’ rubber carpeting, which ‘grips’ items and holds them securely in place. For easy loading and unloading, aluminum bars automatically rise up and down as the tailgate is opened and closed.

The treatment of light is an important part of Scandinavian design and this is evident in the use of variable, white ambient lighting inside the cabin. The level of suffused illumination can be changed in intensity from bright, cold to warm and soft. It’s a personalized feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the pattern of the changing seasons

“This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format,” adds Anthony Lo. “It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme, the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car.”

Technical Specifications

BioPower Engine:

Transversely-mounted, front wheel drive

1398 cc. Four cylinders Bore/stroke: 73.4/ 82.6 mm. Aluminum cylinder head, cast iron block

DOHC, chain-driven. Four valves per cylinder.

Forged steel crankshaft, steel connecting rods. Aluminum pistons, oil spray cooled.

Direct Injection with centrally-mounted injectors. VVT, inlet and exhaust

Sodium-filled exhaust valves

Compression Ratio: 10.2: 1

Intercooled turbocharger. Max. Boost Pressure: 1.6 bar

Dual-mass flywheel. Saab engine management

Max power (E85):......... 200 hp (147 kW) @ 5000 rpm.

Max.torque (E85):........ 280 Nm (207 lb.ft) @ 1750-5000 rpm

Max power (gasoline):... 170 hp (125 kW) @ 5200 rpm.

Max.torque (gasoline):.. 230 Nm (170 lb.ft) @ 1500-5200 rpm

Hybrid System

Electric motor/generator with lithium ion battery pack.

Electric power boost, regenerative braking, fuel cut-off, automatic engine re-start

Transmission:

6-spd manual gearbox, automated clutch, sequential gear selection, steering wheel controls

Suspension:

Front: Damper/coil struts, aluminum lower A-arm. Anti-roll bar.

Rear: Torsion beam, two trailing links, coil springs and dampers. Anti-roll bar

Steering:

Rack and pinion, Electrical power assistance.

Wheels, Tires:

21inch, 245/35R21

Brakes:

Hydraulic, dual circuit, vacuum booster. Discs: 345 mm / 345 mm (all ventilated)

Performance Data

(projected figures)

0 - 100 km/h (0-62 mph): 7.9 secs (E85)

8.3 secs (gasoline)

80 -120 km/h (50-75 mph), 5^th gear: 8.8 secs (E85)

11.2 secs (gasoline)

Top Speed, 6^th gear: 216 km/h /134 mph (E85)

192 km/h / 119 mph (gasoline)

Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 6.4 l/100km (E85)

4.9 l/100km (gasoline)

CO₂ emissions 105 g/km (E85)

117 g/km (gasoline)