Build this: Saab Phoenix Concept

[Philly]

Autoblog

It's been about one year since Saab and General Motors parted ways, and the automaker is hellbent on showing the world what it's capable of creating on its own means. In addition to an Independence Edition of the 9-3 Convertible, Saab is showing off a major concept for the brand at this year's Geneva show – a design that will preview the future face of the automaker, penned by famed designer Jason Castriota. In case you haven't been paying attention, Castriota has created such pretty creations as the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina and Bertone Mantide.

Castriota's latest creation, the Saab PhoeniX, is a sleek hatchback concept that uses the automaker's new 'aeromotional' design language. Saab describes this 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." Long story short – absolute gorgeousness. The concept uses butterfly doors that reveal a two-plus-two seating arrangement, and the modern interpretation of the Saab teardrop shape is seriously attractive.

Under the shapely metal is Saab's 200-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four mated to the automaker's XWD all-wheel-drive system. Inside, the PhoeniX uses the new Saab IQon infotainment platform that uses the Google Android operating system. The car itself may be totally conceptual, but we'll see IQon make its way into Saab products in the coming years (stay tuned for more details).

Follow the jump for Saab's full press release, and see the sleek new PhoeniX concept in high-res glory in the image galleries below.

Okay, so the rear needs a fair amount of work. But I think the rest of the car is absolutely stunning. If Saab can make the rest of their upcoming cars look this good, I think a Saab may be in my future. Everything in front of the rear wheels (aside from maybe those wings) is perfection as far as I'm concerned.

 

[LP670-4 SV]

AHHHHHHH i need it in my life!!!!!! we own a saab 9-3 Viggen, 9-5 aero, unfortunaly sold our 9000 aero (dumbest decision my dad EVER made)

 

[Keef]

Uhhh...

Did they call it the "Phoenix" and then give it Pontiac Firebird tail lights as a joke, orrrr...

This is probably the worst concept car Saab has ever made. Two Pontiac Firebird references on one car is two too many. Plus it's ugly as sin and doesn't look even remotely like any Saab I've ever seen. The Aero-X was SUCH a better looking car in every respect.

Do those wings flap at speed or something? Is this the next big flying car? And why is the beltline 7 feet off the ground with a gun slit for windows? Why is it so bulbous like a Jelly Belly?

That's it: This car is a design study in what happens when you combine a jelly bean, a pigeon, and a Pontiac Firebird. What a horrible, horrible thing.

 

[YSSMAN]

Paint it black and give it the powertrain from the old 9-3 TurboX, and that would be one hell of a sports coupe. Saab has it's swagger back.

 

[Keef]

Paint it black and give it the powertrain from the old 9-3 TurboX, and that would be one hell of a sports coupe. Saab has it's swagger back.

I didn't think about it quite that deep. I agree, Saab is officially not lame anymore.

 

[Northstar]

You can tell it's a Spyker design.

I'm guessing like most Spyker designed cars it will have to grow on me.

 

[LP670-4 SV]

I didn't think about it quite that deep. I agree, Saab is officially not lame anymore.

I can agree..... i missed the days when saab was saab not some GM based fake, now there saab again!!!! Now put 400+ hp into that thing and wipe the smirk of the M3 drivers

 

[Philly]

Saab has it's swagger back.

I agree. I can't wait to see what they can do with this styling and the 9-2 and next 9-3.

 

[Eric.]

Will they ever make one of their "cool" concepts though? They've had some pretty awesome looking stuff over the past 5 years or so but nothing ever came of it. Hopefully it changes with new ownership.

 

[Keef]

Now that I hear Mr. Castriota explaining the design of the car it begins to make more sense. But what is this thing he's talking about, "evolved from the Saab ..."? Hour? Oor? Heuer? Ooo? A Saab what?

 

[Jim Prower]

Aura, I think he said.

As in, "Born from Jets." Like the Gripen, the Viggen, the Tunnan, the Lansen, the Draken...

 

[Spacegoat]

You can definitely see the Spyker influence in the design.

Other then the rear end, I love it.

 

[YSSMAN]

So, I was thinking of the production feasibility of the vehicle...

The only reasonable way I could see it happening would be if they basically strapped the coupe body to the 9-5's architecture. That makes it an expensive, and likely rather heavy, proposition. Its only reasonable competition would be the 6-series or the E-Class Coupe, and that narrows the target market even further.

I'd love to see one built, but knowing that the top-line 9-5 doesn't roll out of the factory without a $50,000 sticker attached to it, this would be quite a bit more. Yikes.

 

[Dan_]

Hell, it definetely looks pretty good... for a concept.

 

[Philly]

I think the car is probably designed mostly as a design study to preview their new styling direction. And I think they're going in the right direction, despite looking like the offspring of Boba Fett and a Kia Optima.

However, I think it would be sweet if it was built as a lightweight car on a 9-3 or 9-2 Chassis with ~200 hp, which is doable for Saab probably.