Saab PhoeniX rises from the ashes
A year after splitting with GM, Saab appears to back to its best, revealing a fresh new concept car that lays the groundwork for the Swedish company's new design directionGeneva International Motor Show
The world debut of the new Saab PhoeniX concept car at the 2011 Geneva motor show represents not only a glimpse of the changing design direction for the Scandinavian brand, but is also a big morale boost for the once-struggling car company.
A little over a year ago Saab's future was in limbo, but with an ex-Ferrari designer joining the team and a selectrion of premium models on their way, the Swedish company appears to be on an even keel.
The Saab PhoeniX concept is based on the company's new car platform that will form the crux of the next generation volume-selling Saab 9-3, but shows off a much sportier and radical style, one that will influence the design of future models while paying homage to iconic Saabs of yore.
The Swedish car maker is calling its new design ethos 'aeromotional' which it describes as "a visual evocation of the aerodynamic design principles and passion for innovation that inspired the creators of Saab's first car, the iconic Ursaab."
Presenting as a sports coupe, the PhoeniX concept car has a low slung body shell and sleek profile with a few unorthodox design cues - namely the high mounted wing mirrors, butterfly opening doors and rear-side-mounted 'winglets', which help the car achieve an impressive 0.25 drag co-efficient.
The PhoeniX also features a 'sawn off' kamm tail that the company believes "echoes a form from Saab's first coupé, the Sonett."
Jason Castriota is the design director at Saab Automobile responsible for the PhoeniX, and has previously worked for Pinifarina -- his handiwork can be seen in vehicles such as the Ferrari Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo -- and he confirmed that the new Saab PhoeniX concept shows the design direction future models will take: "The PhoeniX establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design. It symbolises a renaissance of the innovative spirit and passion that drove Saab to build its first car.
"We're now taking the visual DNA forward with what we call 'aeromotional' design, adding emotion, power and fluidity. This design aesthetic will shape and differentiate future models in the Saab portfolio," stated Castriota.
Beyond the vehicle's 'liquid metal' form, Saab has bestowed the four-seater coupe concept with an environmentally conscious powerplant - well, two of them. A 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that ekes out 147kW drives the front wheels while a 25kW electric motor drives the rear wheels, ostensibly giving the vehicle an all-wheel drive hybrid configuration.
The eXWD system has three different operating modes: Eco, Sport, and Snow, and when paired with a six-speed manual, the concept car's fuel consumption is claimed at around 5.0L/100km, with CO2 output of 119g/km.
The interior of the Saab concept coupe will also influence upcoming production models, displaying an unfussy and minimalist cabin that furthers the company's driver-focussed ethos. The car also shows off Saab's new IQon infotainment and communications system, which will rival the likes of BMW's iDrive and Audi's MMI in-car systems.
The IQon system makes use of an 8-inch colour touch-screen and according to Saab "is as close to the driver's finger tips as the steering wheel." It uses Google's Android operating system and connects to the Internet whenever the car is running, enabling instant satellite navigation, audio streaming and 'app' functionality, and will be a key element of Saab's next generation vehicles.
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