Meet the SAAB Sonett, 9-1, and 9-3—three SAABs that never saw the light of day once the company went under. Here they are, courtesy of their designer, Jason Castriota.
Jason Castriota is an American automobile designer born in White Plains, New York, and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston and attended but dropped out of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. After his internship at the Pininfarina design studio, he decided to stay in Turin rather than return to the US to complete his studies.
As a designer he took part in the design of production cars such as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo, concept cars like the Maserati Birdcage 75th and the Rolls Royce Hyperion, and, as Head Designer for Special Projects, one-off exclusive cars for particular customers, such as the “Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina”, a restyled Enzo Ferrari for American car collector James Glickenhaus, and the Ferrari 612 Kappa, a restyling of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti for car collector Peter Kalikow.
In June 2010, Saab Automobile announced the appointment of Jason Castriota as its new Design Director, reporting directly to Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. He and his design company will be responsible for exterior and interior design. “I’m greatly looking forward to joining such an iconic brand,” said Castriota. “Saab has a very strong and distinctive heritage which gives it great potential to develop. This is an exciting opportunity for me to help shape its future products.”
A World first, a most powerful HANDBRAKE DEVICE consisting of only one moving part that will stop the fastest car in the world at over 400 km per hour.
Our new invented device has no computers no sending units no wires fusers motors gears etc. Does not jam, and never needs adjusting.
To apply merely pull the existing handbrake leaver the vehicle is fitted with. No modifications to cabin interior at all. The manufacturing cost plus minus $50, if mass-produced (same device will fit ALL current motor vehicles but mounting positions and brackets might change.)
So cheap and easy to install. Rear brake drums on cheaper vehicles will be a thing of the past.
I DO BELIEVE YOU WILL SAY THAT IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE USE COMMON SENSE AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THE HANDBRAKE PROBLEM.
To be quite honest this is too big for me I need someone with influence and a prominent position to take this venture to its achievable heights. I don’t want the fame or glory I am prepared to give that honour away.
The question now is this: – Which Motor Car Manufacturer will be first ? to want this new revolutionary handbrake system, it is Important to remember there can only be one first.
When having a look to the ugly Castriota concepts for Saab, I can just thinking Saab was lost even if the brand could have launch that 9-3 replacement.
In term of design it is so awkward and clumsy and I am really wondering how those designs are evoking the previous generations of Saab.
Maybe Catriosta style can fit other brands but Saab I really don’t find those designs graceful.
it is just my personal opinion.
What part is ugly or clumsy? One of the best received and most loved SAAB designs was the 9-5NG. These show elements of every SAAB automobile from 99 to 9-4X. I think you need glasses.