How Henrik Bergman Rydgren is Redefining SAAB’s Legacy with Stunning AI Creations

The Birth of SAABVISIONS: A Creative Outlet

When I look at a SAAB, I don’t just see a car—I see a canvas for untold stories, adventures, and timeless design.

My name is Henrik, and I’m the mind behind the Instagram account SAABVISIONS. I take the iconic SAAB brand and reimagine it in ways that are nostalgic, cinematic, futuristic, and just a little bit surreal. My work combines art, storytelling, and music to breathe new life into SAAB’s legacy—because, let’s face it, no other car brand does weird and wonderful quite like SAAB.

SAABVISIONS began as a creative outlet to explore how SAAB could transcend its era. My mission is simple: to keep the SAAB legacy alive by blending its quirky brilliance with historical, modern, fantastical, and sometimes surreal worlds. Every idea starts with a “What if?” or, more often, “Can I put a SAAB in that?”

A Unique Process: From AI Prompts to Stunning Visuals

I come from a background in graphic design and photography, with over 18 years of experience working in the film industry. These skills come together to shape my creative approach and visual storytelling.

I draw inspiration from films, pop culture, history, and the passionate SAAB community. Using advanced AI platforms, I create hyper-detailed prompts that transform these ideas into visually stunning images. It’s not just about hitting “generate”—it’s about refining every detail to ensure the final result captures SAAB’s spirit as accurately as possible.

This is a time-consuming process that I’m trying to streamline. There’s a lot of lazy AI-generated SAAB art out there, but I’m striving to hit another level of quality with my images. My creative process involves extensive editing with tools like Topaz Photo AI, Photoshop, and Luminar Neo to ensure the essence of SAAB shines through in every piece.

From Volvo to SAAB: A Journey of Transformation

Growing up, though? I hated SAABs. Yep, you heard that right. I was a Volvo kid. I thought SAABs were ugly, weird, and just plain wrong. My dad, however, had different ideas. He was deeply involved in the SAAB rally and drag racing scene in Sweden. I went with him to these annual meetings, but, to be honest, I was more interested in the girls than the cars at that point in my life.

A Family Connection: Rallying with My Father

My dad knew the limits of the 67-hp, 2-stroke engine could be offset by the weight of the vehicle. One year (I believe it was 1999), he had a red 1962–63 SAAB 96 850. He stripped it down to a featherweight 608 kg (probably some kind of record), and we took it to Trollhättan’s annual SAAB meet. That car flew around the Kinnekulle circuit with a lap time of 1:09.02, a top speed of 149 km/h, and completed the drag racing 201 meters in 11.02 seconds, finishing at 104 km/h. This featherweight was a beast!

The Gateway to SAAB Enthusiasm: My First Drive

When it was time for me to get my license, everything changed. My family had just picked up a 2001 SAAB 9-5 wagon—a 2.3T. That car became my gateway to driving, and before I knew it, I was hooked. I started to love SAABs. Fast forward to 2007, when I started working in the Swedish film industry and shooting productions in Trollhättan. This gave me the chance to visit the SAAB museum and factory on multiple occasions. It was here that my admiration for the brand’s design and my own history with the cars really took root.

Expanding SAABVISIONS: Future Projects and Collaborations

Looking ahead, I’m working on training my AI models to cover the full spectrum of SAAB vehicles and exploring collaborations with other creators and enthusiasts to expand the SAABVISIONS universe. I’m very fascinated by the prototypes that SAAB developed, so expect more of those—and even some of my own designs. I also want to explore more of the aircraft eventually.

A Dream and a Mission: Keeping the SAAB Legacy Alive

My dream is simple: to inspire others to see SAAB as more than just a car brand. It’s a cultural phenomenon, and it deserves to be celebrated and remembered. My hope is that these concepts don’t just look cool—they start conversations within the SAAB community, which is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

I’ve been lucky enough to connect with SAAB enthusiasts from all over the world. It’s a privilege to share in the passion of a community that celebrates SAAB’s uniqueness. For me, SAAB isn’t just a car—it’s a symbol of innovation, individuality, and outright defiance of convention.

These days, I’m based in Toronto, Canada, where I drive a black 2005 SAAB 9-3 2.0t. My dream car is still a Turbo X. One day, I will get one!

Gratitude and Community: A Note to SAAB Enthusiasts

To everyone at SAABPLANET and the entire SAAB community—thank you for supporting my vision. This journey wouldn’t be possible without you. Follow SAABVISIONS on Instagram for more, and share your SAAB stories with me—I’d love to hear them!

Here is some selected artwork from my previous posts on Instagram.