Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Green, Paris Motor Show, Saab
Paris Preview: Saab 9X Air Concept
Click above for more shots of the Saab 9X Air concept
During yesterday's press briefing, General Motors let its upcoming Saab 9X Air concept out of the bag ahead of its official debut at the Paris Motor Show, and today we finally have official pics and details of the new Swedish open air coupe. Based on last year's 9X BioHybrid concept from Geneva, the 9X Air loses its hard top in favor of a cloth piece and rear glass that pops up from the rear hatch. A concept-worthy interior features four black-and-white seats along with a digital dash.
Power flows to the front wheels via a turbocharged 1.4-liter E85 flex-fuel engine and six-speed dual clutch gearbox. along with an electric motor powered by lithium ion batteries. Acceleration to 60 comes up in around eight seconds and fuel mileage is theoretically in the 40 mpg range. Sounds good so far. We are expecting the Air, along with its 9X forebear, to spawn a production model likely called the 9-1. Just how many of the high-tech features will make it into production? We'll see, though we are pretty sure both the hatchback and convertible body styles will make the transition.
Gallery: Preview: Saab 9X Air
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
toronado455 1:37PM (9/16/2008)
Looks like the Volt!
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Torrent 1:38PM (9/16/2008)
What's up with the fact that all of saab's concepts look amazing- but when you get down to their production cars...... ummmm.......
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Jay MIller 1:41PM (9/16/2008)
Saab, the king of promising concept cars that never make it to production!
Too bad, cause any one of those would have made Saab a strong player in the GM luxury portfolio.
Right now they're just hawking overpriced re-badges from other brands.
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Alex 1:43PM (9/16/2008)
Wow, Beautiful! If the replacement for the 9-3 convertible looks anything like this SAAB may be making a big come back. BUILD IT!
PS - I read somewhere else this forshadows the new 9-3 now that it will be getting smaller, not the new 9-1.
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autoholic 1:46PM (9/16/2008)
Start building and stop showing off SAAB people aka GM. Saab is a dying breed and your concepts can revive your line of cars. Time is of the essence!
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k.w.a 1:51PM (9/16/2008)
I know everybody else is saying this too, but when is saab gonna have the balls to make one of their concept cars? they don't even produce watered down versions of their concepts..they miss the mark completely and end up settling with a GM or Subaru car with a huge shnoz to put their logo on. Even I want to see Saab prosper, and i'm a Volvo fan
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Atomicbri 2:24PM (9/16/2008)
GM is to blame, not Saab. GM controls what they will or will not make! SO I say shame on GM for teasing us with these beautiful Saab concepts that never see the light of day, but should fully get to sit parked in the sunshine!
gtrace 1:55PM (9/16/2008)
Saab.....9X
They have been making this same concept since like 2000! Either make the car into production or make a new concept already.
It has slightly evolved over the years but it looks EXACTLY the same....short rear...long front....saab front end...sporty,cool.......NEVER going to happen, thus BORING and PLAYED OUT
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tanooki2003 2:14PM (9/16/2008)
I can't help but to wonder if this concept is based off of the Chevy Volt.
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Atomicbri 2:27PM (9/16/2008)
OK GM, I am tired of seeing really AWESOME concepts from Saab, only to see absolutely nothing come out of them in terms of production cars. Saab is dying and any of the recent show cars in my opinion would have really added a spark and dash of life in the dying brand. GM BUILD THESE CONCEPTS! You so far have shown you can produce some interesting cars of late (Opel Insignia, Cadillac CTS, Chevy Volt) so now it is time to invest some in Saab and stop talking about being born from Jets and get some of them born from these concepts! SAAB BORN FROM AWESOME CONCEPTS!!! LOL!
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Soccer Mom 2:43PM (9/16/2008)
What a nice concept.
Too bad Saab is going to showcase it for another 5 years and at the end it will simply change head and tail lights on the existing 9-5 and call it a day.
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Andre 2:56PM (9/16/2008)
Hmm, This Saab looks kinda Voltish as in the Volt original concept design..
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JZeke 5:09PM (9/16/2008)
Looks like a speedboat to me, like a baby Formula 45 Poker Run type deal. Maybe they should put a sunpad out on the rear deck...
I kid. I like it.
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CalGuy 1:59AM (9/17/2008)
There's a little Lotus Europa in that rear end .. and I think it's smoking hot. Woof. Yes please. Sexy is sexier at 40mpg.
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nobleman 12:56PM (9/18/2008)
Don't blame SAAB. Blame that overpaid geriatric w?#*"er Lutz the Klutz. GM have no idea how to deal wth the SAAB brand and never had. What is the point of spending money on developing Cadilac's for the European market? Non, but GM still do it when that money could have been better spent at SAAB. Anyway it won't be long before GM have to file for Chapter 11 like Lehman Brothers. I have not driven a SAAB for over 10 years but I have a fond memory for the marque and I will be sorry to hear of its demise. Shame on you GM!
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