On the top, very rare picture, you can see Designer Geoff Wardle working on a preliminary 1998 Saab 9-3 scale model in 1993, just one year before the launch of the Saab 900 NG. The NG 900 was principally the work of Norwegian designer Einar Hareide and Björn Envall (head designer for 9000), and evolved from their first prototype, the EV-2.
Influenced by General Motors (GM), in 1994 the “New Generation” (NG) SAAB 900 SE, based on the Opel Vectra chassis, was introduced. While this design contained styling cues reminiscent of the classic Saab 900, the Saab 900 NG was fundamentally a different car. The second or ‘new’ generation Saab 900 (also referred to as the GM900 or NG900 among enthusiasts) was built on GM’s GM2900 platform as a replacement for the “classic” first-generation Saab 900.
Full-size styling model for the hatchback and wind tunnel scale model for the convertible:
The Saab EV-2 Prototype was an internally released concept car that built to set the design direction for the new generation Saab 900 (NG900), which went on to be produced from 1994 until 1998
The engine, gearbox, suspension, electrics and electronics were all developed by Saab for the new vehicle and after 4 short years of development and testing the “new generation” Saab 900 debuted in July of 1993 in Trollhattan and arrived in 1994 and marked a clear departure of the classic Saab 900 era that lasted 15 years.
More about this project can be found on this page.
