Paris Preview: Saab officially unveils 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept

Saab unveiled the 9-X BioHybrid Concept hatchback last March at the Geneva Motor Show, and it will be joined next month at the Paris Motor Show by this: the 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept. Both vehicles are said to herald the coming of a production Saab 9-1 small car, but the 9-X Air goes a step further and replaces the original concept's closed roof with a flat-folding canopy top that's said to celebrate the brand's history in the convertible building business. Aside from that, the concepts appear to be almost identical right down to sharing the same turbocharged 1.4L Saab BioPower engine producing 197bhp. We'll bring you more pics and info of the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept straight from the show floor in Paris next month.

UPDATE: Many more high-res images added to gallery.

[Source: GM]

PRESS RELEASE

Saab 9-X "Air" BioHybrid Concept Redefines Convertible Design

Detroit -- The 9-X Air BioHybrid concept, to be revealed at next month's Paris Motor Show, is an innovative design study exploring what a future open-air Saab could look like.

Featuring a unique Canopy Top and a wraparound glasshouse that includes the rear screen, the 9-X Air breaks the mould of conventional convertible design by offering four-seat accommodation within the close-coupled proportions of a sports car.

Its distinctive silhouette is defined by prominent rear pillars that mount the flat-folding Canopy Top and also anchor the separate, recessed rear screen. Top down, the 9-X Air is designed to offer fresh air motoring free from buffeting. Top up, it assumes the look of a true coupe.

Designed in parallel with the 9-X BioHybrid concept, the 9-X Air shares its highly efficient powertrain. The small, 1.4-liter Saab BioPower engine offers responsible performance by combining engine rightsizing with turbocharging, the use of E85 bioethanol fuel and hybrid technology.

The 9-X Air underlines Saab's leading role in convertible design and will be revealed 25 years after the first convertible from Saab was shown at the international Frankfurt Show. Full details and more images are available at HYPERLINK "http://www.media.saab.com" www.media.saab.com