Saab is upholding its tradition of showing concept cars with clean, high fuel mileage engines under their hoods with its Geneva introduction called the Saab 9-X BioHybrid. The 9-X has a 1.4-liter biopower turbo and GM's next-generation hybrid system. The 1.4-turbo, sans hybrid, will soon make its way under the hood of the Chevrolet Cobalt in order to help meet tightening CAFE standards. The 9-X show car is devoid of door handles and mirrors, and features active aerodynamics, reshaping the bodywork and extending the roof spoiler above 43 mph.
"The shape of the 9-X is right for a car of this size," designer Anthony Lo says, "and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space." The show car has no floor-mounted controls or displays. The instrument panel "sweeps" out from atop the door molding and arches across the driver, with embedded 3-D graphics, like the Aero X concept's.
The cargo deck has a requisite electrically powered floor (which we've seen only in concepts for years), which slides out when the bottom half of the split tailgate is dropped down. High-friction rubber carpeting covers the backs of the rear seats and the cargo floor, to grip items in place. Aluminum bars raise and lower as the tailgate is opened and closed. One feature that might actually make it into production is a Sony Ericsson in-car connectivity system. The system serves as a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions. The interface also allows for the use of multiple devices at the same time when passengers are in the car.
As for production, the 9-1 (front-drive) and 9-1X (AWD), based on the Opel/Saturn Astra's compact platform will launch in Europe early in the teens. Although there's not a lot of room for a "premium" hatchback under the sticker of a 9-3, Saab officials have suggested that they'd like to bring the 9-1 to the U.S., despite the Audi A3 and Volvo C30 not being successful here.