Update: Geely & Koenigsegg have both officially indicated to Saab History that they are not interested in Saab Automobile AB at this time.

I have contacted Saab United as well as Swedish Radio to see why sources are indicating that Geely & Koenigsegg have been touring the Saab Automobile facilities as of late.

It’s too bad neither of these companies are interested as many of us were starting to become hopeful that Koenigsegg would buy Saab Automobile as we see in the poll results below.

There has been many enthusiastic individuals wondering, if Koenigsegg does come through for Saab Automobile as a buyer, would that mean that the possibility of building a production version of the Aero-X is more realistic?

Furthermore, since Swedish Companies, Saab Automobile and Koenigsegg, both have jets in their genes and a long racing background, wouldn’t this be a good match for such a collaboration?

I have posted a poll below, as it would be interesting for us to see the results.

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab Aero-X Concept Car that debuted back in 2006, is apparently to be shown in the movies this summer, possibly in both the Transformers 2 film in 26 June 2009 and/or the GI Joe film in 7 August 2009,

I have not received any real “official” confirmation from the production companies as of yet, but I will keep trying. It is interesting that both films were produced by Paramount however.

Image Credit: Saab-Salomon

Although the Saab-Salomon partnership is ending in North America in January of 2009, a second generation Aero-X ski has been introduced in jet black, inspired by the Aero-x but with a taste of the Turbo-X.

I had the priviledge to demo the first generation Aero-X Skis that debuted on December 7th, last season at Okemo Mountain in Vermont.

With this product again being only available in Europe, we’ll see how I can do with another demonstration.

It is my hope that I can get the opportunity again to compare these skis to the previous ones again this season.

Below is the press release:

2008-11-26

Saab inspired ‘Aero X’ ski with full wood core

On the piste with Saab and Salomon

Scandinavian car brand Saab, renowned for its progressive design, continues its creative partnership with leading sports brand Salomon to bring the newest generation of an innovative ski to the market.

The ‘Salomon Aero X’ ski is inspired by Saab’s award winning Aero X concept car and is an expression of Salomon’s latest technology. These all-rounder skis add a totally new dimension to the performance of carving as they deliver unrivalled control on demand.

Like a car axle, the Aero X skis feature ‘hybrid’ technology so the front and back of the skis have very different functions. The front half of the ski is designed to enable the skier to maximize the turn and gain power through it, allowing the skier to choose and control the radius of their arc.

New for 2009 the Aero X skis is constructed with a full wood core for added stability. The core combines with the double monocoque construction to deliver power with impressive torque. The Salomon Aero X ski range offers maximum performance thrills with full assistance, so that every turn becomes intuitive and skiers can unleash the power while remaining totally in control. Just like Saab cars.

Annika Priou, Manager of Saab Marketing Communications says, “This collaboration is testament to the fact that Saab and Salomon complement each other perfectly and understand each other’s independent-minded target audiences. Both brands are demonstrating what seven years of partnership can bring. Together we present cutting edge design to sporty, activity-related products.”

The Aero X ski is priced at around 799 Euros and will be available in January 2009. For more details visit www.saab.com or www.salomon-sports.com.

As a follow-up to the previous writeup on the past and present Saab designers and their achievements, it was necessary to include a chronological up-to-date listing of Saab projects both production and concepts.

This listing includes each Saab project, year introduced along with each designer and/or engineer that contributed to the given project.

This list is a work-in-progress, so any additions and/or modifications that you see necessary below, please add your comments to ensure correctness and accuracy.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

Design Contributions by Model

SAAB Scandia 90 (1946-1958)

Bror Bjurströmer

SAAB 91 (1947-1966)

A.J. Andersson

SAAB 92001 (Prototype) (1946/1947)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

Read more »

Photo Credit: Hisstank

The Saab Aero-X Concept car will be debuting in the G.I. Joe film that will hit theatres in 2009. This film is currently in production and the Saab Aero-X concept car was displayed and thanks to the website Hisstank.com, we have a photo of it on the movie set.

This film is the second Hollywood blockbuster due out in 2009, the other being Transformers 2, both showcasing products of the Hasbro, represented by products of General Motors.

The question we all want to know, especially the folks at the Transformers blog, is whether or not the Saab Aero-X concept car as previously mentioned, will actually be debuting in Transformers 2 as well.

Here is the official movie site http://www.gijoemovie.com/

Film Credit: Okemo Mountain Resort / Saab History

On Saturday, March 29th, I took the opportunity to review the Saab-Salomon partnered Aero-X Skis at Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont that I mentioned back on March 28th while visiting New England.

As you may or may not already know, Saab Automobile as well as Salomon both coincidentally began their operations in 1947. Since this time, both companies have been known for unique and innovative ideas in their respective markets.

As a Saab owner, enthusiast and a long time snowboarder, hence the question posed during an interview with Saab-Salomon sponsored skier Kaj Zackrisson, back in January about a possible snowboard holder on the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept car in Detroit, I realized it was about time and long overdue to take the initiative to reconnect with my past and explore the rare opportunity to review or “test drive” these Aero-X inspired skis by Saab-Salomon.

My ski background began approximately sixteen years ago at Mount Sunapee resort in New Hampshire. This ski resort is part of the same resort group that Okemo Mountain Resort belongs to, called Triple Peaks Resorts, which also includes Crested Butte Resort in Colorado. It is worth mentioning that Crested Butte was the resort that Saab Automobile USA used to promote the Saab 9-2x, Saab’s first attempt at an All-Wheel Drive system, back in 2004 and 2005. Having the opportunity to “restart” my ski past in the present, with probably one of the best skis in the world with two companies I have developed an interested and passion about, was an opportunity I could not pass up.

These Saab-Salomon partnered Aero-X skis were inspired by Saab Automobile’s Aero-X Concept car that debuted in March of 2006. The Saab Aero-X Concept car is Saab Automobile’s representation of what aircraft aerodynamics and scandinavian design looks like.

While I have not had the chance to test drive the Snow Silver Saab Aero-X concept yet (yet), I have had the chance to experience other Saab models as well as other skis in my past, and I must start by stating that these skis as indicated in the video above, are light years from the skis of yesterday that I learned to ski on.

I began the beautiful sunny spring ski adventure at Okemo on some modest trails, all of which were enamoured with packed powder. These conditions allowed me to get acclimated to skiing, but also to the new skis.

I understand that these all-mountain skis, ideal for the pro, were surprisingly well suited for those that fall within the beginner-intermediate ability level. It did not take long until I began to get more comfortable with the skis, and therefore headed out onto more advanced terrain including the Slalom course for the first time in my life. I was surprised however, that these skis were not painted in the same “Snow Silver” as the Aero-X, however, I could imagine that it probably made more sense that the real snow on the mountain provided a better backdrop for these skis instead.

The handling capabilities in these skis (please excuse my analagous automobile references), were particularly noticeable when cornering, and best enjoyed on the Slalom (Auto Cross) course. My confidence in these skis peaked as I rounded each flag with very little effort.

The latest generation of “system” skis, that being that the bindings were integrated into the ski itself, provided the flexibility and “forgiving” response that I needed while traversing my way through the impeccable conditions.

The various terrain at Okemo Mountain Resort’s 117 trails spanning over 600 acres, allows for a variety of skill and ability levels from beginners to professionals. Over the years, Okemo Mountain Resort has worked with Saab Automobile, and today, they have an existing relationship with Salomon.

Over the years, my family has made visits to Okemo Mountain Resort taking advantage of the New Hampshire/Vermont resident weekend program, which was extremely fulfilliing as this family oriented resort has always been in my opinion, a supportive and especially friendly environment for all age groups.

As I recall during some of my visits in the past while either piloting my own Saab or being a co-pilot in friends or a family’s members Saab, I vividly recall seeing Saab’s logo and/or vehicles scattered throughout the resort. I can’t help but hope that Saab Automobile USA comes through to Okemo Mountain Resort today as a full-on sponsor for the next five years as Okemo is currently in the market for a new automobile sponsor. With Saab Automobile USA as well As Salomon partnering with a ramped up sponsorship engagement at New England’s premiere resort, taking in over 600,000 visitors each season, this venue is too ideal to pass up.

With Saab Automobile’s new Saab 9-3 complete with their industry leading all-wheel drive system known as “Cross-Wheel Drive” or XWD, Saab Automobile USA needs to officially partner with Okemo Mountain Resort in order to showcase and promote this appropriate product at this appropriate venue. Over 45% of the Saab Automobile USA’s demographic is located in the North Eastern region of the United States, and therefore it should now be no question who they need to partner with, for this long overdue and highly anticipated product launch for the brand.

If you are a Saab owner or enthusiast in the North East region of the United States, and are thinking about breaking into the ski culture or looking to upgrade your existing skis, the Saab-Salomon Aero-X skis are for you, and of course, the resort that continues to meet and exceed the expectations for Saab owners for decades, is Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont.

A thank you to Okemo Mountain Resort as well as Saab-Salomon in working quickly with Saab History in order to facilitate this unique cross-promotional opportunity to review the best skis in the world at the best ski resort in the North East region of the United States.

To check out the latest conditions and to plan a visit Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, please visit their website directly at : http://www.okemo.com

For more information on the Saab-Salomon partnership, please visit their website: http://www.saabsalomon.com/

Photo Credit: Saab History

According to a highly credible source as of late that ties into a mention by Eric Geers during an interview at the North American International Auto Show in January, the Saab Aero-X Concept car will be debuting in the second Transformers film which apparently will be on or near June 24th 2009. With General Motors the main sponsor for the first Transformers movie in 2007, it gives even more credibility to this news as of late as the Saab brand under GM ownership making an appropriate debut like this.

I understand that the Saab Aero-X will be a new version of the transformer character called “WheelJack”. Wheeljack has many similiar design elements, especially the notable wrap-around windscreen and white body color.

The irony if this character is chosen to embody the Aero-X concept car, is that “wheeljack”, was apparently a LANCIA vehicle, harkening back to Saab’s past history collaborating with Lancia (Fiat) on both the Saab 600 and 9000 projects.

I wonder if the Saab Aero-X will take on a new transforming routine by converting into a jet, hence the “Born From Jets” tagline or will it turn into the same character as Wheeljack, just a robot or both a robot and an airplane?

It will be interesting as time moves on where and when this Aero-X will be depicted in this film.

Here is the official movie site http://www.transformersmovie.com/

Photo Credit: Saab History

This weekend, I will be reviewing the Saab-Salomon Aero-X Skis that debuted in December of 2007 at a ski resort in Vermont that has previously collaborated in promotional events and activities with Saab Automobile USA.

These unique skis were inspired by the Saab Aero-X concept car that was launched in the spring of 2006. The Aero-X is the halo vehicle for all of Saab’s future design language as exhibited in the recently updated production model 2008 Saab 9-3 as well as the 9-4x BioPower and 9-X BioHybrid concept cars.

Here is a copy of the original press release on the Saab-Salomon Aero-X Skis:

SLALOM WITH SAAB AND SALOMON

Independent thinking car brand Saab has teamed up with leading sports brand Salomon to launch an innovative new ski. Named the ‘Salomon Aero X’, the ski is inspired by the award winning Saab Aero X concept car and is an expression of Salomon’s very latest technology. The skis add a totally new dimension to the performance of carving as they deliver unrivalled control on demand.

Benoit Saint Venant, Head of Design at Salomon, “This collaboration is testament to the fact that Saab and Salomon complement each other perfectly and understand each other’s independent-minded target audiences. Both brands are celebrating their 60-year anniversary this year and together represent cutting edge design when it comes to sporty, activity-related products.”

The Aero X skis are the first to feature ‘hybrid’ technology – rather like car axles the front and back of the skis have very different functions. The front half of the ski is designed to enable the skier to maximise the turn and to continue to gain power through it, allowing the skier to choose and control the radius of their turn.

The two highly innovative companies, both known for their dynamic design and performance, first embarked on joint initiatives in early 2001. The Aero X ski is the latest collaboration and there are further projects in the pipeline for the outdoor sports sector.

The Salomon Aero X ski range offers maximum performance thrills with full assistance, so that every turn becomes intuitive and skiers can unleash the power while remaining totally in control. The Aero X ski is priced at around £500. For details visit www.saab.co.uk or www.salomon-sports.com

Notes to Editors
About Salomon Aero X skis

Construction: Fiberglass Monocoque Double Wall
Layout: Alutex Layout
Base: UHMW Graphite and designed base
Spaceframe
System: Protrak MG
Core: Full woodcore
Guarantee: 2 years

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

This just in from Saab Automobile AB Sweden

Saab Creates Living Brand Experience at the Ice Hotel

Jukkasjärvi, SWEDEN — The Swedish premium car brand, Saab, has created a truly all-encompassing brand experience that opens its doors to the public today.

Housed within the one and only hotel made of ice, the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, the ‘Saab Move Your Mind Room’ allows the public to experience Saab – the brand, its spirit, tonality and core values through innovative design installations made wholly from ice.

Designed and created by Saab chief designer Simon Padian and leading ICEHOTEL designer TjÃ¥sa Gusfors, the installation was inspired by Saab’s core brand pillars – progressive design, responsible performance and sporty driver focus. Drawing inspiration from these core brand values and from the award-winning Saab Aero X concept car, the installation showcases Saab’s heritage in design innovation and independent thinking.

“The Saab Move Your Mind Room is designed to be a journey, a flow, a pulse which aims to disrupt and challenge visitor perceptions of what is normal or expected,” Padian explains. “The installation is designed to create an audiovisual experience that defies the visitor’s senses. We hope that the public will find it thought-provoking and feel more engaged with the Saab brand.”

Visitors are encouraged to walk through an ice suite featuring Saab brand values and showcasing Saab’s design heritage. Highlights include an ice sculpted Saab Aero X and impressive light and sound sequences.

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2008 model year, XM Satellite Radio and OnStar standard on the entire Saab line-up. Additionally, all new Saabs have no-charge scheduled maintenance, and the Saab 100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. Visit www.saabusa.com for more information.

Photo Credits: Washington, D.C. Auto Show(above) & Saab History (below)

Yesterday, I made it to the (local for me) Washington, D.C. Auto Show which really represents the center of legislative power for the automotive industry in the United States.

This was my third visit to this show, but the first as a member of the media where I opted to inquire about applying for a media pass, which I was granted. Having this pass led to a much more directed and interesting experience opposed to the previous year where I paid for a pass as a member of the general public which was a less optimal experience.

I began my day with a luncheon where approximately 500 others sat down, where I listened and actively participated in a very interesting keynote speech by Mark LeNeve, Vice President of North American Sales, Service & Marketing for General Motors. Immediately following this speech, I took the initiative to ask about “GM’s level of involvement for the Saab Brand”, where I received an interesting response that I think you should hear.

The response was definitely interesting from many perspectives, but one thing it certainly did was firm up for me was that the Saab brand, even within General Motors 18 years of partial and now complete ownership, it is still somewhat invisible today. A great luncheon and some good dialog and I appreciate Mark LaNeve’s response to my question publicly after his speech which is available directly here.

Click here for that response to the question at the keynote luncheon by clicking the black arrow.

Immediately, following this luncheon I made my way to the GM section which was on the top floor of the convention center where I met with some of the social media team from General Motors as well as the event team who travels to each and every venue where the Saab stand is showcased across the United States each year.

This design of the Saab stand, unlike the previous event at the NAIAS in Detroit, was surprisingly exhibited in different in terms of aesthetics and presentation. In my opinion, this stand was clearly inconsistent with the message conveyed at the NAIAS event and that needs to change immediately. For starters, as one that has spent a significant amount of years in the design industry, I see the heavily trafficked carpeting being replaced with either natural wood or glass evoking that Scandinavian design, and more informational kiosks showcasing active videos and promotional films on an ongoing basis in order to drive up the level of enthusiasm once you enter the Saab area. After almost an entire year visiting auto shows in the United States I have realized that there is just too much competition for our attention at the auto show venues today in multiple levels, be it audio, video, visual aids and other areas and Saab already has the right tools available to drive visitors to their stand, so it’s about time that all of these tools are showcased in order to best represent the brand to the uninitiated. The previously suggested ideas would be a good start.

The products displayed at the Saab stand, were immediately apparent beginning with none other than the Saab Aero-X prototype, the mobile event-ready less-detailed version version of the original Aero-X concept car that is safely situated at the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden. This vehicle was clearly an important asset to the Saab stand as I witnessed, given that an enormous influx of visitors that gravitated towards the Saab stand as a result specifically to see this vehicle. The opportunities for this venue were enormous and the Aero-X prototype presence was a good start, but I believe there was far more than could have been present in terms of product displays. The second vehicle that needed to be showcased was none other than the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X which I covered at the recent Boston Auto Show in November. This vehicle is the halo vehicle for Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD) in the United States and this event needed this representation, and I am surprised that a standard Aero sport sedan was put in its place. Secondly, there were no BioPower Saab products in either the 9-3 or 9-5 variants available which is another extremely important segment for Saab Automobile’s visibility in the United States. The vehicles that were displayed however front to back began with the Aero-X Prototype, Saab 9-3 Aero Concertible, 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan, 2.0T 9-3 SportCombi with a backlit Saab divider (which should be rotated 180 degrees). On the rear side of the display behind the divider there was another 9-3 Sport Sedan, 2 Saab 9-7xs(one 4.2 liter, and one 9-7x Aero), rounding out with a single 9-5 Sedan.

During my time at the Saab stand, I did take a number of questions from individuals asking about when the Aero-X would be in production and why the canopy did not open up like they had seen before. I had to tell them that this prototype was different than the concept and that both the prototype and concept were just that and have no plans for production as I understand. I also had some great time answering questions from some community as well as local televisions such as ABC about Saab’s focus with E-85. A BioPower Saab model on the floor would have been very helpful in order for this dialog to have some real-life context. As I mentioned earlier, I am still extremely suprised why the BioPower Saabs were on the stand a few years earlier in 2005, but were now not part of the auto show schedule for Saab. This needs to change since Saab is planning on introducing the 9-4x BioPower in the next year as the halo vehicle for E-85.

As the auto show wrapped up for the day, I met up with Rich at the Saab Stand who owns and manages Swedish Motor Cars, the premiere independent Saab shop in the Washington, D.C. area. This shop was where my newly acquired 1992 Saab 900 5-speed Turbo 3-door was serviced since 2000. A pleasure meeting with him and discussing all things Saab throughout the night and even more thanks for his support in providing all of the service records of the car. Those will be coming in handy as I begin the process soon of getting my car in perfect working order before the 2008 Saab Owners Convention in Massachusetts.

The take-away from the Washington, D.C. auto show was that visibility for the Saab Brand, as Saab designer Bryan Nesbitt indicates, is a great opportunity for Saab Automobile to grow and improve as the brand is currently still transparent to many. It is clear, and this experience really reinforced my opinion that Saab needs to be more consistent across all aspects of their business in representing the brand so they become more visually identifiable and recognizable. It seems logical that one can deduce that the process of coordinating the consistency across all areas of Saab’s business in the United States, will inevitably change public perception thus make the Saab brand more identifiable and ultimately ubiquitous.