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.

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

SAAB 92 (1948-1956)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

SAAB 93 (1956-1959)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 94 (1956)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 95 (1959-1978)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 96 (1960-1980)

Sixten Sason

SAAB-SCANIA 97 (SonettII/V4 1966-1969) (SonettIII 1970-1974)

Björn Karlström

Sergio Coggiola

Gunnar A. Sjögren

SAAB-SCANIA 98 (Prototype, Cancelled) (1974)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 99 (1969-1984)

Sixten Sason

Björn Envall

Saab 90 (1984-1987)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 900 (1979-1993/94)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA EV-1 (1985)

Björn Envall

Saab 900 (NG) (1994-1998)

Björn Envall

Einar Hareide

SAAB-SCANIA 9000 (1985-1998)

Björn Envall

Giorgetto Giugiaro

Saab 9-1 (Speculative Design)

Saab 9-3 (1999-2002)

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (2003- )

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Hybrid BioPower Convertible (2006 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 (1999- )

Einar Hareide (1999-2001)

Tony Catignani (1999-2001)

Magnus Jonsson (1999-2001)

Simon Padian (2002- )

Tomas Ostlund (2006 – )

Saab 9-5 BioPower E85 (2005 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 BioPower E100 (2007 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-X (2001)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Simon Padian

Saab 9-X BioHybrid (2008)

Anthony Lo

Andrew Dyson

Bryan Nesbitt

Saab 9-2X (2005-2006)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Per Jansson

Bengt Persson

Kjell-Ake Eriksson

Saab 9-3X (2002)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-3 SportHatch (2003)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept (2008)

Anthony Lo

Andrew Dyson

Bryan Nesbitt

Kaj Zackrisson (Skier)

Saab 9-6X (Cancelled)

Saab 9-7X (2005-2009)

Per Janssan

Aero-X(2006)

Anthony Lo

Alex Daniel

Erik Rokke

Simon Padian

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.

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.

Film Credit: Saab History

During the 2008 NAIAS, I had the great opportunity to meet with and interview Saab Automobile’s President & CEO of their Powertrain department, Kjell ac Bergström. Kjell ac Bergström is also the chief engineer responsible for Saab’s BioPower program as well and in this interview he describes the history of the program, where it will be going in the future, and of course some of his own history that he kindly shared with me.

A special thank you again to Saab Automobile & General Motors for being invited as a guest to this event, Saab Colorado, Inc. for sponsoring me to make this interview possible and Kjell ac Bergström for his time. Enjoy.

Since this accomplishment, he has been promoted to GM Vice President of GM North America Design located at the GM Design Center in Warren, Michigan on June 1st, 2007 where he reports directly to Ed Welburn.

Most recently, he was present to illustrate the design intent of the 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X at the Boston Auto Show premiere that took place on November 27th, 2007.

Here is a brief biography of Bryan Nesbit provided by General Motors.

Bryan Nesbitt was named Executive Director, GM Europe Design in February 2004. In his capacity he heads the newly established GM Europe design organization, responsible for all Opel, Saab and Vauxhall design activities.

He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. on January 24, 1969. Nesbitt studied Architecture and Industrial Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, U.S.A.

Before joining General Motors, Nesbitt served as design manager at DaimlerChrysler. He was the principle designer for the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which was first presented at the Detroit motor show in 1999.

He joined General Motors in April 2001, as Chief Designer for the Chevrolet brand. In January 2002, Nesbitt was appointed Executive Director, Design, Body-Frame Integral Architectures, for all of GM’s North American Brands.

Source: GM Sweden

Anthony Lo, the lead designer of the Aero-X concept car has just been named the Asian deisgner of the year by ELLE magazine that has been sponsored by the Swedish Company, H & M Clothing Manufacturer.

GM Europe Designer named Asian Designer of the Year for Saab Aero X concept

Anthony Lo wins ELLE Style Award 2007

Hong Kong. GME Designer Anthony Lo has been named Asian Designer of the Year at the ELLE Magazine Style Awards 2007 in Hong Kong. He was honored for his work on the Saab Aero X concept, which was presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006.

Anthony Lo was named Director of Advanced Design, GM Europe, in August 2004. He heads the GM Europe Advanced Design organization, which is responsible for all Opel, Saab and Vauxhall advanced design activities. He was born in Hong Kong, China on December 26, 1964. Lo studied Industrial Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and holds a Master’s degree in Transportation Design from the Royal College of Art in London, England. He became Chief Designer for Advanced Design at Saab Automobile AB in October 2000 after holding a similar position at Mercedes Benz Advanced Design. Lo oversaw the design of the Saab 9X, 9-3X, 9-3 Sport Hatch and Aero X concept cars, as well as the 2007 Opel GTC Concept and Opel Flextreme from concept to production.

Saab Aero X concept first presented at Geneva Motor Show in 2006

The unusual two-seat sports coupé – clearly inspired by the brand’s aircraft heritage – features a glass cockpit canopy that opens to allow passengers to enter. It was named “Best of Show” at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show by editors of U.S. motoring magazine AutoWeek, and “Concept Car of the Year” by Autocar, Britain’s oldest car magazine.

ELLE Style Awards

ELLE, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, hosted the ELLE Style Awards 2007 in Hong Kong. The event has been held annually since 1997, when ELLE U.K. hosted the first ELLE Style Awards in London. The awards ceremony has grown into a star-studded event, with celebrity guests such as Madonna, Charlize Theron, Kylie Minogue, Jeremy Scott, Kate Moss and Stella McCartney.

In 2007, the ELLE Style Awards were turned into a truly Asian event, fully supported by six other Asian editions of ELLE, including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. ELLE HK presented 30 awards to outstanding personalities from the worlds of fashion and entertainment, and for the first time also to representatives from the arts and culture.

In 2000, the Saab Advanced Design Team relocated from within the Saab factory complex in Trollhättan to a facility just outside the city of Göteborg. in Mölnlycke, Sweden.

Today the Saab Design Center facility not only includes the Saab Advanced Design Team, but also the Global Sales & Marketing teams and employs approximately 120 people.

The members of Saab Advanced Design Team that have worked in this facility include Michael Mauer, Anthony Lo, Ola Granlund, Simon Padian and Alex Daniel and others on projects such as the Saab 9-X, Saab 9-3X, Saab 9-3 SportHatch and the Aero-X.

In 2005, the Saab Automobile “Brand Center” was also established as a way to preserve the heritage and scandinavian design cues in all future Saab Automobile models. It has been carefully explained to Saab History that this center is not a physical building or facility but an integrated and iterative design process between the Saab Design Center in Mölnlycke and Technical Development Center & Factory in Trollhättan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

2007-06-01

CONTACTS

Saab 60th Anniversary

Carlsson’s Choice: Erik Selects Six Favorites from Saab’s Hall of Fame

The career of Eric (Mr Saab) Carlsson, international rallying’s first superstar, spans six decades. It has taken him from test driving in Trollhättan, to the top of the podium in Monte Carlo and on to a globe-trotting role as Saab’s international ambassador. Here Erik chooses his six favorite Saabs, one from each decade. His recollections, and the cars themselves, tell the story of how the automotive aspirations of an aircraft manufacturer took wing.

As a young boy, Erik Carlsson used to stand on the perimeter of his local airfield in Trollhättan and admire the aerobatics of Saab aircraft flying overhead. Little did he know that Saab would one day start making cars and that he would play a key role in its growth as an auto maker.

Erik’s legendary exploits at wheel of the ‘little red cars from Sweden’ include two back-to-back victories in the Monte Carlo Rally and a hat-trick of wins in the British RAC Rally. His success in the early Sixties launched Saab as a global car brand and today, at 78 years young, Erik still plays an active part in Saab activities.

Preparing to lead the celebrations for Saab’s 60th Anniversary next week, he is happy to take up the theme by identifying his six favorite Saab cars, one from each decade.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1950s
“I think we all have a special place in our heart for our first car, “ he says. “In my case it was a Saab 92, in green like they all were then, which I bought second-hand from a farmer in Trollhättan. It was 1952, I was 23 and I had started a job at a local garage.

“Saab was the big local company and they had just started making cars. It was an exciting time and the 92 really was something different from other cars, with its streamlined shape and aircraft engineering. Most cars then had a separate body and chassis bolted together, but the 92 had one single body structure, as most cars do these days. It was light but extremely strong, as I found in my rallying.

“It also handled really well with the front wheel drive. It had a small engine but I could go quicker than larger cars that had quite a bit more power.”

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1960s
Erik’s success in local rallying events at the wheel of his 92 quickly led to full-time employment with Saab as a test and development and works rally driver. His ‘Saab of the 60s’ is the famous Saab 96 that brought international rally success for him and for the company. More than 500,000 examples were to be sold in a production run spanning almost 20 years.

“The 96 had more power, good suspension, disc brakes and great handling. We didn’t have a roll-over cage, but with the 96 you didn’t need one, as I appreciated a few times. Although I got the nickname ‘Carlsson on the Roof’, I don’t think I rolled all that many times. But I remember one occasion when I rolled over in a ditch and water was coming in. It was like sitting in an aquarium but the roof pillars were extremely strong so we weren’t drowned or hurt much at all.”

The aircraft engineering tradition of combining strength with light weight helped establish the popularity of the Saab 96 and in snowy and icy conditions Erik was able to fully exploit its sure-footed handling. But he also has a soft spot for the sister car of the 96, the Saab 95 wagon.

“Quite a few eyebrows were raised when I did the ’61 Monte Carlo with one. It was unheard of to use a wagon or estate car but the 95 handled and drove every bit as well as the 96. I was fourth that year. We used the wagon, together with its aerofoil on the roof, because it had just come out with a four-speed gearbox, which really helped on the steep alpine passes.”

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1970s
Carlsson’s choice as ‘Saab of the 70s’ is the now iconic, black Saab 99 Turbo. “A lot of people at the time said we wouldn’t get turbocharging to work for passenger cars,” says Erik. “ I would say history has proved them wrong.”

These days, the words ‘turbocharging and Saab’ are as closely associated as ‘peaches and cream’ or ‘bacon and eggs’ , but back in 1977, exactly 30 years ago, when the 99 Turbo was unveiled, Saab surprised the automotive world by declaring that it had succeeded in ‘taming the turbo’ .

“The 99 was a great chassis and with the turbo we had real power to exploit its potential,” says Erik, who remembers secret forest test driving and his first experiences of the explosive performance on full boost. “We had to do a lot of work to control the boost, to stop the engine blowing up and to get the power on the ground. But, of course, we showed it could be done and just about everyone now uses turbocharging.”

The logic behind getting ‘big engine power from a small engine’, or ‘right-sizing’ as Saab calls it, is even more attractive these days, with the need to save weight, reduce bulk and improve fuel consumption. “Our top engineer, Pelle Gillbrand, who led the project, used to put it very simply,” says Erik. “He would explain that all engines have a fuel pump, a water pump and an oil pump – so why not an air pump? That’s all a turbo really is and he thought it was strange that all engines didn’t have one.”

With its wraparound, cockpit-inspired windshield, ‘clampshell’ hood and ‘self-repairing’ bumpers, the bold and distinctive looks of the larger Saab 99 took Saab upmarket, a process continued by its evolution into the ‘classic’ Saab 900, of which more than 900,000 were sold.

“The first production cars in jet black and cardinal red had Inca ally wheels, which were intended to symbolize the turbine of turbo, not a cheese-grater, as some people suggested,” laughs Erik. “It was, and still is, a very distinctive car. We had the ignition key between the seats on the floor and people were always surprised by that. But why not? There were valid reasons for it, to do with ergonomics and good crash impact safety. It’s like the throttle controls of an aircraft, between the seats in the cockpit. We still have it today and that’s another feature where I think we have proved the sceptics wrong!”

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1980s
Carlsson’s choice for the ‘Saab of the 80s’ – the Saab 900 Convertible – surprised the automotive world when it was revealed as a design study at the Frankfurt Show in the autumn of 1983. “I don’t think anyone was expecting Saab to come up with a convertible,“ says Erik. “After all, it is not the kind of car that that a Scandinavian manufacturer was expected to produce, but it turned out to be an outstanding success.”

Back in the 80s, convertibles were not as popular as they are now and Saab was to play a pioneering role in establishing the attraction of an open-top car as a practical, all-year-round means of transport. “We always had a strong soft-top which was fully automatic, quick and easy to use,” says Erik. “That was an essential requirement and we were able show people this was a car that was good to own and drive in winter as well as summer.”

Initially produced for the US market, the first 900 Convertible soon went into production for global sale. “It was a great looking car, roof up or down, and looked like a completely new car, rather than a version of the 900 three-door model,” says Erik. “I still run a Saab Convertible at different times of the year. Even in winter, when it’s cold, you can have the soft-top down with the heater going and still be very comfortable.”

Over the years, Saab has organized keynote events for the Convertible, such as driving in the Land of the Midnight Sun, a 1,500 kilometer excursion through Sweden into the Arctic Circle to North Cape, the ‘roof of Europe’. Another favorite, led by Erik, has been ‘Rally Monte Carlsson’, which follows a route from the Mediterranean beach in Monaco up through the maritime Alps to a ski resort 2,000 meter above sea level. “You can be driving in warm sunshine with the top down and a few hours later be up in the snow and ice. It’s a great demonstration of what the Convertible has to offer,” adds Erik.

Over three generations, Saab has sold more than 250,000 Convertibles. In many European markets it has often featured as the top-selling car in its class.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1990s
Fixed roof motoring was recommended in 1986 when Erik had led a team of Saab test drivers at the wheel of three 9000 Turbos on the famous ‘Long Run’ at the Talladega Speedway in the United States. Over almost 20 days, stopping only for fuel, tires and routine servicing, they established a series of.speed and distance records for standard production cars. The lead 9000 covered 100,000 km at average speed of 213.299 km.

In recognition of this achievement, a top sports flagship model, the 9000 Talladega was introduced. In the UK this was known as the Carlsson edition, Erik also lending his name to a 900 series version as well. These performance models were later given their ultimate expression in the Saab 9000CS Aero of 1993, Erik’s choice as the ‘Saab of the 90s’. It set a first template for top-of-the-range Aero models that continue at the pinnacle of Saab’s product range today.

“The 9000 was a great car, very roomy and comfortable. It was a large hatchback that offered all the versatility of a wagon,“ says Erik. “With the rear seats down, you could carry a hell of lot and with the seats up it was just like being in a sedan.”

Saab was also introducing its own engine management system, Saab Trionic. With a processing capacity greater than the computers that put men on the moon, Saab Trionic was an ideal platform for the launch of the more powerful Aero. “The new 2.3 turbo engine gave fantastic torque and the Aero model was the quickest car we had ever produced at that time,” says Erik.

“The engine was extremely smooth with its balancer shafts and gave good power from very low revs. It really showed what we could do with turbocharging. You could be in almost any gear, just put your foot down and go. With the 9000 Aero, we asked everyone to ‘talk torque’ when describing what it was like to drive.

“It was a large car, but it handled very well and everyone appreciated how good the seats were. That is something Saabs has always been known for. Even the seats in my first 92 were very comfortable.”

The Saab 9000 five-door hatchback and sedan range took the Saab brand further into the premium car segment, and more than 500,000 were sold before production ceased in 1998..

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

2000s
When he’s not at the wheel of a Saab Convertible, Erik usually drives a Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi, but this is not a contender for his choice of a Saab for the first decade of the new millennium. That honor goes to the Saab Aero X Concept, shown at the Geneva Show last year.
With its aircraft-like canopy and a V6 BioPower turbo engine capable of running on pure bioethanol fuel, offering the prospect of zero fossil CO2 emissions, the Aero X is a concept in tune with the demands of the new century.

“Sweden has a great tradition of concern of the environment,” says Erik “And Saab was first to introduce improvements like asbestos-free brake pads and CFC-free air conditioning systems. This car follows in that tradition, without sacrificing the sort of turbo performance we all enjoy.

“Looking at the Aero X, I see how far our cars have travelled in 60 years,” says Eric, who drove Saab’s first two-seater car, the lightweight Saab Sonett in 1956.

“But I think this is a good time to be looking towards the future, as well as enjoying the cars of the past,” he adds. “The Aero X is a very modern design and it shows that Saab will be making exciting cars in the future. We did not produce a concept car until 1985, now there have been several recently, which shows the Saab spirit is strong.

“That wraparound windscreen gives it a good Saab character. It is, of course, a design concept, but I’m not sure about the opening canopy without any doors, but then my first Saab did not have a boot lid and the doors opened from the front!”

In a more serious vein, Erik agrees that when his career with Saab began, the company’s cars were almost unknown beyond Scandinavia. And he is too modest to point out that his rallying success played a major part in establishing Saab outside its home country. The brand is now a global player, selling premium cars in more than 60 markets around world. Carlsson and Carlsson’s Choice can both take credit for helping to make it happen.

Erik will be reunited with his Carlsson’s Choice – and many other favorites – at Saab’s 60th Anniversary Festival in Trollhättan, from 7-10 June, celebrating the unveiling of the first Saab car exactly six decades ago.

In what could be the biggest-ever gathering of Saab fans and enthusiasts, more than 30,000 visitors are expected to come from all over the globe to enjoy a packed program of events. (Visit www.saabfestival.se for all the details)

Carlsson’s Choice:
Saab 92 (1950)
Monocoque construction, 2-door sedan, front-wheel-drive
Two cylinder, 2-stroke, 764 cc. 3-speed gearbox
Max. power: 25 hp @ 3,800 rpm. Max. torque: 59 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Max speed: 105 kph.

Saab 96 (1960)
Monocoque construction, 2-door sedan, front-wheel-drive
Three cylinder, 2-stroke, 841 cc. 4-speed gearbox
Max power: 38 hp @ 4,250 rpm. Max torque: 80 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 125 kph. 0-100 kph: 25.6 secs

Saab 99 Turbo (1977)
Monocoque construction, 3-door hatchback, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 1985 cc. 4-speed gearbox
Max. power: 145 hp @ 5,000 rpm. Max torque: 235 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 198 kph. 0-100 kph: 8.9 secs

Saab 900 Turbo Convertible (1986)
Two-door convertible, powered soft-top, four-seater, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 1985 cc. 5-speed gearbox
Max power: 175 hp @ 5,300 rpm. Max torque: 273 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 205 kph. 0-100 kph: 8.7 secs

Saab 9000CS Aero (1993)
Monocoque construction, 5-door hatchback, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 2290 cc. 5-speed gearbox
Max power: 225 hp @ 5,500 rpm. Max torque: 350 Nm @ 1,950 rpm
Max speed: 240 kph. 0-100 kph: 6.9 secs

Saab Aero X Concept (2006)
Monocoque construction, 2-seater coupé, canopy opening, all-wheel-drive
V6 BioPower, twin turbochargers, 2792 cc. 7-speed gearbox
Max. power: 400 hp @ 5,000 rpm. Max. torque: 500 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Max speed: 250 kph (limited). 0-100 kph: 4.9 secs (projected)

Photo Credit: MTV Networks

On May 3rd, 2007 at approximately 9pm Eastern time, the Saab Aero-X concept car was featured on MTV Network’s “Pimp My Ride” weekly television program.

Here is the press release from Saab Automobile USA.

4-19-2007

Since premiering at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show, Saab’s Aero X concept has been turning heads and making hearts race. Inspired by the General Motors division’s aviation heritage and Scandinavian roots, the vehicle was developed to showcase Saab’s future design direction. And now, it’s fueling flights of imagination on MTV.

The Aero X concept is lined up to be featured as an “inspiration vehicle” in the May 3 episode of the popular MTV program “Pimp My Ride.” Filmed at Galpin Auto Sports in North Hills, Calif., and hosted by recording artist and actor Xzibit, the show features complete makeovers of old vehicles. The refurbished vehicles feature over-the-top design schemes and a wide range of accessories.

“We wanted to feature the Saab Aero X on ‘Pimp My Ride’ because of its truly unique and inspirational design,” said Larry Hochberg, executive producer, MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” “What Saab did with the Aero X is in the spirit of what we do – totally rethinking what a car can look like.”

“The Aero X concept signifies the future design direction of Saab,” said Steve Haener, national advertising and promotions manager, Saab Automobile USA. “The concept clearly communicates our aviation roots which provided the inspiration for our ‘Born from Jets’ campaign.”

This just in from Saab Automobile USA.

Who Makes the Best-looking Concept Car?

Saab Aero X competes in Villa d’Este Concorso

Lake Como, Italy – When good looks and elegance are the most important criteria for judging a car, then there can hardly be a more prestigious and stylish event than the Concorso d’Eleganza on the grounds of the Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Italy. Since 1929, collectors from around the world present their exclusive cars here to a specialist jury and the public.

In 2002, the event returned to its roots. Since, the latest drivable concept cars are again participating alongside the classic vehicles – just as planned in the event’s original mandate. Over the past years, the “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Design Award,” which is assigned by the public, has been won by such landmark designs as the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, Peugeot 907 Coupé and Pininfarina Rosso Spider.

The organizers invited Saab to this year’s event (April 20 – 22) with the Aero X sports car prototype, which was voted “Best of Show” by AutoWeek Magazine at its 2006 Geneva Motor Show debut. In addition, AutoCar magazine in the U.K. voted the Aero X “Concept Car of the Year.”

At the Lake Como event, the Saab Aero X will be driven by Anthony Lo, GM Europe director of Advanced Design. “Although the Aero X has already received a lot of positive recognition, taking part in the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este is a very special feeling. It truly is an honor to represent our design team here,” Lo said.

I just received a photograph from Saab Automobile that was done a few months ago that features the Saab Aero-X and the Draken Fighter Jet. I think the winter backdrop is quite nice. Enjoy.

A new Saab Aero-X promotional video was issued today titled “Blackbird”. I am unsure what market this will be shown in, however it is very well done. Enjoy.

There are many categories that brands that have owned such as “Safety” which has been long used by Volvo, or “driving” for BMW, but the “Design” category has not been taken by an automobile brand.

With the design category available and the momentous design & development work by Saab’s designers since the turn of the millenium resulting in design concepts such as the 9-X, 9-3X, 9-3 SportHatch, Aero-X, 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Convertible and now the 9-5 E100 BioPower concept, it seems clear that Saab Automobile’s heritage of having a progressive attention to design, positively embodies this category.

This just in from Saab Automobile AB today. I am interested in just how this new Aero-X ski line will look like in the near future. After recently skiing at Sunday River Resort in Maine, I think it would be beneficial to run some product demonstrations at various ski resorts in the United States to cross promote the brands.

Please also take a look at my previous posts on the Saab Salomon partnership and the current events in the United States known as the XWing Rally

2007-01-15

Saab Aero X concept car inspires new Salomon ski line

Saab’s award-winning Aero X concept car has inspired the development of an innovative ‘Aero’ ski range from Salomon, leaders in freedom action sports equipment. The new ski line consists of four different models, with the ‘top-of-the-line’ Aero X design bringing a completely new dimension to the performance of carving skis. The Saab Aero X concept car will be displayed at the launch of the new ski line at the ISPO fair in Munich in February 2007.

The Saab Aero X concept, which won instant acclaim when it first was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006, makes a unique statement in performance car design. Featuring an aircraft-style cockpit canopy, instead of doors, and innovative instrumentation, it draws on Saab’s rich aviation and Scandinavian brand heritage, previewing an exciting design language for future Saab products. The Saab Aero X was awarded the “Best in Show” honor by US magazine Autoweek, and in November 2006 the British car magazine Autocar named it “Concept Car of the Year”.

This unique sports coupé concept from Saab has now inspired the high performance design of the Salomon Aero ski range, which combines full control for demanding skiers in extreme turns with a consistent high speed capability.

Saab and Salomon are two innovative companies associated with quality products that are bought by active individualists making their own independent-minded decisions. The Saab Salomon partnership started in early 2001, and recently a contract was signed for a continuation of the partnership to the year 2009. Saab and Salomon have together made exciting new additions to the fast-growing field of action and outdoor sports, sponsoring international championships and teams in the Raid Series, Crossmax skiing, In-line skating and Freeriding. This has made Saab visible to a younger and very active target group. A Saab Salomon website has been launched to provide information about all the ongoing events around the world every year (www.saabsalomon.com). In 2007 both Saab and Salomon will celebrate their 60 year anniversaries as the companies were established in 1947.

“The fact that Salomon has developed a new ski line based on the qualities of our Aero X concept is a great compliment to the power of its design”, says Irene Haslebrekk, Saab Salomon Event Project Manager at Saab Automobile. “Since our partnership began we have inspired and learnt from each other, developing new and innovative products for our customers. We are now preparing for more exciting projects for the near future.”

The Salomon Aero ski line represents the ultimate expression of Salomon’s current technology. It features a unique combination of aerodynamic technology, harnessing Salomon’s expertise to offer a new approach for the skiers in the Performance and Carving segment. The hybrid technology of the Salomon Aero X ski allows separate behavior for the front and rear parts of the ski through the adoption of different reinforcing layers in its construction. A multi-radius design also allows the skier to fully carve on the edge of the skis – irrespective of the length of the turn. It means the skier always has 100 percent control.

Salomon’s Aero ski line will be presented at “ISPO Winter 07”, the international trade fair for sports and fashion. The appearance of Saab’s concept car at the Salomon stand will be visible confirmation that both the Aero X ski and the Saab Aero X concept share the same philosophy.

This is terrific news! This well-received concept car continues to get the attention it deserves.

This story is also simul-cast on Trollhattansaab.net as well.

Artist Frank Bolock from Tampa Bay, Florida has recently designed this piece of art featuring the Aero-X. I am interested in what inspired this artist to use the Aero-X.

For more information on Frank Bolock and this piece, please visit his site at Artists Gallery Royale