Saab 9X – A Vision That Has Shaped The Latest Generations of Saab Cars

After a little more than 20 years since the premiere, it is the right time to return to the future with the Saab 9X Concept from 2001. This concept premiered in September 2001, at the Frankfurt Auto Show, exactly one year after General Motors took full control of Saab Automobile. And precisely because of that, this concept was supposed to be the vision that future models of Saab cars will strive for on the road to recovery and stabilization of the company.

And this concept was also the cause of a gathering of dozens of young promising designers, gathered around the project leader Anthony Lo and Michael Mauer design chief of both Saab and of General Motors. Today’s head of design at Porsche, Mauer had been at Saab since 2000 and was credited with revitalising its design operation, And it is on the outlines of this 9-x concept that the true 9-3 Sportcombi concept emerged, which grew into a true market production car.

Saab 9X as a Forerunner Crossover or SUV class

The task that GM set before the “Advanced Design Studio” was to create a car that will be desired by increasingly demanding customers in the future – and so the Saab 9X Concept emerged as the forerunner of today’s SUV/SAV cars. It is in this context that the Saab 9X Concept appears, a “4-dimensional sports car that defies automotive conventions” according to the Swedish manufacturer.

Indeed, this compact concept takes on the features of a 2+2 coupé which also acts as a “shooting brake” once the rear seats have been retracted and which can be transformed into a roadster, or even a pick-up.

A Faithful Companion For Outdoor Sports and Hobbies

With its smooth bodywork of spectacular proportions, the Saab 9X offered the face of the Saabs of tomorrow, which will be found on the latest Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 with this 3-part grille which integrates the headlights into its design.

The “X” in the name did not suggest that it was a vehicle with all-wheel drive, but that it was a different type of vehicle. At that time, the fashion for adventurous and raised vehicles was not yet in full swing and this X referred to “multifuncional” nature which mixed sporting aspirations and leisure.

Of course, neither strength nor sports ambitions were neglected. Under the hood, there was a generous 3.0 turbo V6 delivering 300 hp and 410 Nm associated with a 6-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. Compared to the 1330 kg announced for the concept, this cavalry suggested first-class performance with a 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 s and a top speed of 250 km/h.

Saab 9X & Modularity

But the 9X was distinguished above all by the modularity of its rear part. Initially it was a 2+2 “shooting brake”. But the roof made up of 2 removable glass panels that can be stored in a dedicated space then transformed this concept into a roadster to enjoy the joys of driving in the open air. So far, nothing out of the ordinary. But by folding the rear seats, the volume of the trunk increased to 600 l, enough to consider distant getaways with confidence or “rob” the nearest Ikea furniture store without fear.

Especially since, if necessary, it was possible to lower the tailgate and extend the floor – like a Saab 9-5 Sportwagon – to take advantage of a loading space that is certainly open but very also practical for carrying a bicycle or a surfboard.

In short, this was a great lifestyle model that would have deserved a commercial career. Unfortunately, this was not the case, the “mother-in-law” GM having refused this pleasure to the Saab designers and engineers. However, some of the following concepts and the production cars themselves have incorporated at least some of the functionality of this exceptional concept, and we owners of the latest generations of Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 models enjoy parts of this concept.