Saab History

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

Michael Mauer was born on July 28th, 1962 in the German town of Rotenburg/Fulda, but grew up in Höchenschwand, in the Black Forest. He studied automobile design from 1982 to 1986 at the Polytechnic in Pforzheim, and from there secured his first job in the Design area of Mercedes-Benz AG in Sindelfingen. In 1989 he was appointed Design Project Leader, and two years later oversaw design work for the first SLK model generation. In July 1995, the company appointed him Head of Department and entrusted him with design responsibility for the A-Class, SLK and SL models.

In 1998 Michael Mauer moved to the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Tokyo, Japan, as General Manager, and was intensively involved in advanced development work on various model lines. A year later, he was put in charge of Design at MCC Smart GmbH. This was where he met up with Anthony Lo, who together for a number of years in the Saab design center.

In June 2000 Michael Mauer took a position with Saab Automobile as Executive Director Design and worked at the Saab Design Center in Pixbo / Mölnlycke, Sweden. Since March of 2003,
Saab Automobile’s Board of Management appointed Michael Mauer as Chief Designer of Saab and Advanced Concept Center General Motors Europe.

In July of 2004, Michael Mauer left Saab Automobile and took a position with Porsche.

Since working with Saab, he was responsible for the design of the Saab 9-X, 9-3X, 9-3 Sport Hatch, concept cars and the wheels for the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, the production version of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi and MY2004-2007 Saab 9-3 Convertible design, and the 9-2X.

Photo Credit: Saab History

Royal Ford, a writer with the Boston Globe and a strong supporter of Saab Automobile, has recently written an incredible review that really captures the distinct design that the 2008 Saab 9-3 models embody.

Here is a snippet of what he has to say. To read the rest click on the link to read it directly on the Boston Globe’s website:

A Classic Comeback for Saab 9-3 – The Boston Globe

Improved safety, power, interior in 2008 model

By Royal Ford — January 20, 2008

Remember the early Saabs, the ones with grilles that looked like gaping goldfish mouths?

They were easily recognizable, especially during New England winters when their front-wheel-drive-powered tires let them scrabble on by as you struggled for traction in a rear-wheel-drive auto.

You’ll recognize today’s test car when it pulls up behind you as well. But the 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan, and others in the redesigned fleet, will look more like a shark approaching.

Beady and predatory headlamps, a three-piece, slatted grille, fog lamps like slits below the front bumper, and a crosshatched intake vent that hovers low and eats up the rest of the fascia. And the limited edition, black Turbo X, is downright sinister in its hunt.

Click on this link for the rest of the review.

Film Credit: Saab History

The first interview I had at the 2008 NAIAS, was with Saab Designer, Anthony Lo. Anthony Lo, whom I recently chatted with online thanks to GM Next, has worked with with Saab Automobile since 2000. He has been responsible for many Saab concept cars including the Saab 9-X, Saab 9-3X, Saab 9-3 Sport Hatch, Aero-X and today the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept.

It was nice to hear how the distinctive design elements were designed such as the raked grille 3-port fully opened grille, signature lighting in the glass-block inspired headlights & tail lights, the aircraft inspired sleek design, especially with the wrap-around windshield, c-pillars and more.

A thank you to Saab Automobile, General Motors, Saab Colorado, Inc. and of course Anthony Lo for his time and explanations on this new design language for Saab.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

2003-08-18

Saab To Hatch New Concept At Frankfurt

At a special event on Monday, 8-September - in conjunction with next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show - Saab will unveil a new ‘Sport-Hatch’ concept car that challenges the distinction between traditional hatchback and wagon bodystyles.

Saab continues its recent product offensive with the Saab 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept - a sporty, five-door, four-seat car that offers driver-focused performance and innovative versatility features, all packaged in a ‘fastback’ shape that draws its inspiration from the Saab 9-3X ‘cross-over coupé’ concept that premiered last year.

Powered by a high performance 250 bhp, 2.0-liter turbo engine, the 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept signifies Saab’s intention to enter the mid-size wagon segment with a sporty product that reflects Saab’s tradition for designing surprisingly versatile 5-door models. The concept team, under Saab Executive Director of Design Michael Mauer, has expanded a number of exterior and interior design themes from the 9-3X concept car - signaling Saab’s future in this segment.

“Just as the 9-3X occupies a position where coupé meets off-roader, this car represents a cross-over point between hatchback and wagon,” says Mauer. “It is the sort of product that should come from Saab and our customers will be able to buy a car very much like this.”

“We have promised the largest product offensive in our history,” said Saab CEO Peter Augustsson, “and with all the products that we’ve shown in the last two years, it’s obvious that we’re keeping that promise. This concept car isn’t just a show car. It demonstrates our intent to continue to evolve and expand the 9-3 model line.”

The Saab 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept is the latest development in the most comprehensive product development program in Saab’s history. Following the unveiling of the multi-dimensional Saab 9X concept at Frankfurt two years ago, the 9-3X was shown at Detroit last year and the all-new 9-3 Sport Sedan went on sale last September. This fall, the Saab 9-3 Convertible was launched and next summer the all-wheel-drive Saab 9-2 model is scheduled to arrive in North America markets.