——

Who knew that yesterday – 11/11/11 – was going to be dubbed “Nigel Tufnel Day”? Outstanding. Thanks Jim.

We celebrated the alignment of the ones on the calendar by taking a look at the car that could have become the Saab 9-1 if was built, which it wasn’t. That car was the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, a concept car from the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

That story aroused the interest of an old friend of mine, someone simply known as Djup Strupe, which is Swedish for “Deep Throat”. Dust was blown off the Djup Strupe filing cabinet and the image below was sent via carrier pigeon with a simple note saying how Saab saw their new cars in 2001.

Click to enlarge.

–

Back in 2001, of course, the 9-3 Sport Sedan range was still in the final stages of its development. The 9-5 was only a few years old and isn’t referenced in this image, which seems to reflect only cars that were in development at that time.

It features four 9-3 models that we did get to see (eventually) and one that we didn’t.

–

One of those Saab concepts was the Saab 9-X BioHybrid from 2008.

The 9-X BioHybrid was first shown at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, where it actually followed in the footsteps of the Saab Aero-X two years earlier by winning the award for the best vehicle at the show.

Lead Designer, Anthony Lo, said at the time…..

The 9-X BioHybrid is a vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

I distinctly remember Bob Lutz saying that if Saab were to build this car, it would be called the 9-1. We were all very excited to see the car, but it was the “IF” in Lutz’s statement that had the enthusiast community feeling a little deflated. Saab needed a small car and we all thought this could be it. Of course, as things turned out, Saab was up for sale less than 12 months after this concept was released. I guess Lutz knew that was possible when the car was shown, hence there was no commitment made.

So…. this is the car that could have been a Saab 9-1 if things had worked out differently. The only other Saab with a 1 in the model number was an airplane, so it seems appropriate to mark the 11/11/11 with a tip of our collective hat to this beautiful concept car.

This concept was joined later in the year by a concept called the Saab 9-X Air, a convertible version of the vehicle that looked absolutely amazing with the top down (though not so good with the top up). The Saab 9-X Air name was later dropped in favour of the name Saab 9-X Convertible.

——

Saab 9-X BioHybrid:
Boosting Efficiency in Compact Design and Performance

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Exploring design themes from Saab’s award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the 9-X BioHybrid also demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation Hybrid system. Projected combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km on E85 fuel are testimony to the promise of this package.

The interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a ‘low friction’ loading system.

“This car is all about efficiency in design and performance,” says Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

With its ‘turbine’ wheels placed at all four corners, minimal bodywork overhangs and an extended roof line, the proportions of the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid bring a dynamic, new dimension to conventional compact ‘hatchback’ looks.

The smooth ‘fuselage’ bodywork, now without any visible handles or door mirrors, the bold ‘wraparound’ window graphic and deep front grille are all themes inspired by the Aero X coupé concept shown at Geneva two years ago.

The car’s distinctive ‘shooting brake’ silhouette and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001. “You could say we designed this car from back to front, “says Lo. “The shape of the 9X is right for a car of this size, and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space.”

Echoing Saab’s roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag – and fuel consumption – at cruising speeds. Above 70 kph (43 mph), the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

The four-seater cabin introduces an entirely new execution of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design. The central, floor-mounted console, with its angled controls and displays, is now eliminated. Instead, the driver- focused layout incorporates a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, arching across the driver. The embedded 3-D graphics appear to be ‘frozen’ in ice, continuing a Scandinavian design theme first seen in the Aero X.

Reflecting the needs of youthful customers, who expect easy access to multi-media both inside and outside the car, Saab has co-operated with Sony Ericsson in providing seamless in-car connectivity for a range of nomadic devices. The result is a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for display and use. The interface also allows the simultaneous use of multiple devices when passengers are in the car.

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the split tailgate drops down The floor, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by ‘high friction’ rubber carpeting, which ‘grips’ items and holds them securely in place. For easy loading and unloading, aluminum bars automatically rise up and down as the tailgate is opened and closed.

The treatment of light is an important part of Scandinavian design and this is evident in the use of variable, white ambient lighting inside the cabin. The level of suffused illumination can be changed in intensity from bright, cold to warm and soft. It’s a personalized feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the pattern of the changing seasons

“This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format,” adds Anthony Lo. “It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme, the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car.”

The story of Catharina is pretty well known, but for those who don’t know…..

In the early 1960s, Saab’s legendary designer, Sixten Sason, penned his ideas for a personal project vehicle – a two seat sports coupe. Swedish company, ASJ, took an interest in the project and manufactured this fibreglass bodied vehicle based on Sason’s design and using the engine, gearbox and floorpan of the Saab 96. It was made in Katrineholm and accordingly, it was christened Catharina.

Saab also wanted a sports coupe after their fledgling plans for the Saab 94 faltered in the 1950s. They considered Sason’s design, along with another design from a company called Malmö Flygindustri (MFI). MFI’s design won the day and the Saab Sonett II was born.

Catharina now resides at the Saab Museum in Trollhattan, which is where I photographed it earlier this week.

——

Click any of the photos to enlarge…..

Sason’s design included a removable Targa top, which was pretty uncommon at the time. The top clips out easily and it is stored in the trunk of the car, which has special little carpeted brackets in place just for this purpose.

There is a support for the trunk lid on one side only, which is why it hangs a little lop-sided in this image.

A closer look at the rear pillar…..

There is a small rear window that is held in place with a pin, rearwards of the door. You have to lower this window in order to remove the roof. Photo with the small window lowered…..

And with the small window raised once again…..

This catch is on the underside of the rear pillar and holds the roof in place…..

A few more angles…..

Notice the similarities here between the rear lines of the Catharina and the rear of the original Saab 99 2-door that Sason also designed.

There are some records, though I’ve not seen any drawings, suggesting that Sason’s original plans included headlights mounted on the roof of the car for greater visibility. The concept that was build had more conventional lamps, covered with plastic.

The wheels are painted black, with a metal trim between the wheel nuts for effect.

The hood of the car tilts forward, allowing access to the engine bay….

We’re a little unsure as to which engine is in this car (and our Museum director is on vacation at the moment!). We think it’s the same 841cc 2-stroke that appeared in the GT850 but there is some confusion about the year. The Catharina was made in the early 1960s and first shown in 1965, but we think this engine might be from 1966. We’ll sort that out and update this story accordingly.

To the interior……

I can confirm that the seats are wonderfully comfortable. Much of the interior comes from the Saab 96, of course, and looks fantastic.

Some more views from the outside, focusing on the rear view of the car. You can see just how concave the trunk is from this view, an impression that would carry through in more subtle ways to the rear of the Saab 99 some years later.

——

I hope you enjoyed this tour around Catharina. It’s a wonderful little piece of Saab’s history and was a joy to photograph.