Design

The main goal of the exterior design is "to communicate the brand's unique aviation heritage, [...] in a typically 'Saabish' manner."

From this point of view, The most notable styling element is the aircraft-like fuselage: there are no A-pillars, and the car's canopy swings open, operated from the outside.

A practical benefit of the canopy solution is the visibility: the driver has a field of vision of more than 180 degrees.

The canopy structure and the two connected side panels are made from carbon fiber for high strength and lightness.

The front end has two wide air ducts intended to symbolize the prominent air intakes for the engines of a jet; the grille treatment is a further evolution of the traditional three-port "face" of Saab cars, and has a bold horizontal central element symbolizing the wings and fuselage of an aircraft.

The Saab Aero X Concept has a roof height of just 1276 mm (50 inches), that combined with the short overhangs gives a dynamic and sporty appearance, enhanced by the over-sized wheels (22 inch front/ 23 inch rear), shaped like 'Turbofan' for brake cooling.

The headlamp units feature compact LED technology, that enabled the designers to keep the front bodywork tight to the wheel-arches, reducing the length of the car's front overhang.

The interior has the same aircraft look of the exterior, and adopts innovative solutions like the illuminated dials and icons appearing to "float in space" thanks to the layered, 3D holograms.

From the official Press Release:

Exterior

In concept, the entire form of the Saab Aero X's curvaceous, low-slung bodywork is a dramatic evocation of the Svenska Aeroplan AB's roots in aircraft design. Its innovative cockpit canopy and aviation motifs at the front and rear are designed to come together as a metaphor for the fuselage of a jet. It is, in essence, an "aircraft for the road" ... and jets don't have doors!

Principle exterior designer Alex Daniel explains: "This is what a high-end sports car from Saab could look like and, as a pure driver's car, it is intended to create a strong emotional response."

"It was also important to keep a clear Saab identity, so the shape of the wrap-around screen and elements of the front and rear styling are designed to echo aspects of previous and current Saab models."

Moving rearwards down the long hood, the complete absence of any shut lines is immediately apparent. This is because the entire front section of the car, including the hood and front fenders, pivots up from the nose giving excellent access to the engine compartment and front suspension.

This feature, together with the elimination of doors and exterior handles, contributes to the clean flow of the bodywork, giving it a cohesive quality, further resembling the look of an aircraft fuselage.

"Looking at the exterior as a whole, we wanted to create a flowing, curvaceous shape that is interesting to look at from different angles," adds Daniel.

"It was important to avoid any hard edges or corners so we could maintain the impression of a smooth aircraft fuselage. We chose to ignore obvious gimmicks, such as wings or spoilers, because that would not be faithful to Saab design principles."

Interior

For the Saab Aero X, principle interior designer Erik Rokke focused on producing a new expression of form and functionality. "As a concept, we are creating an interior for the fuselage of a jet aircraft, rather than the body of car," explains Rokke. "You could almost say this is an interior without styling. We wanted to convey the beauty of functionality, balancing an element of rawness with decent comfort. "

There are no panels with conventional buttons and knobs; no defined outlets for fresh air or audio speakers and, when the ignition is switched off, there are no visible dials.

"It was very important to keep the interior consistent with the exterior character of the car," adds Rokke. "We have eliminated any frills or traditional luxury features because it is not part of our Scandinavian design tradition."

Using a passive, keyless entry and exit system, the car is brought to life as soon as the driver thumbs this button. The previously hidden displays in front of the driver and in the central console are activated, the illuminated dials and icons appearing to "float in space." They are pin-sharp in definition and have a layered, 3-D quality, resembling holograms.

Their design is one of the highlights of the interior, inspired by aviation practice and techniques used in Scandinavian glass-making.

"We chose green instrument illumination because this is used in aircraft and on Saab cars. It gives the best, easiest to read image," says Rokke. "Everything is focused on providing the driver with clear information, avoiding any distraction or potential confusion. We looked at the techniques used by Scandinavian companies to give glass different properties in reflecting and refracting light. With this car, we were really able to exploit the potential of these techniques for the first time."

Saab Aero Concept Technical Specifications

Chassis:

• Sports Coupé two-seater format, monocoque steel construction
• Rear opening cockpit canopy, carbon fiber bodywork

Engine:

• Front, longitudinally-mounted behind front axleSaab BioPower 2.8-litre V6 turbo. 24-valve, four OHC.All aluminium construction. E100 fuel. 12:1 compression ratio.VVT, exhaust and inlet. SIDI (Spark Ignited Direct Injection).
• Twin VGT (Variable Geometry Turbine) turbochargers. 14.5 psi (1.0 bar) max. boost
• Dry sump lubrication.Max. power: 400 hp @ 5,000 rpm (EEC)
• Max. torque: 369 lb.ft. (500 Nm) @ 2,000 - 5,000 rpm (EEC)

Engine management:

• 32-bit, ignition timing, fuel injection, turbo boost pressure, air mass measurement, throttle setting. Secondary air injection for quick catalysts warm up

Transmission:

• Seven-speed, automated manual transmission with double clutch system.Sequential gear changes via the steering wheel paddles.
• All-wheel-drive through multi-plate clutch, variable front/rear torque split.

Suspension:

• Front: Double wishbones, coil springs, elec.adj. dampers, anti-roll bar.
• Rear: Multi-link, coil springs, elec. adj. dampers, anti-roll bar.

Saab Active Chassis: continuously adjustable damping control.

Steering:

• Rack and pinion, hydraulic power-assisted.

Brakes:

• 14.9-inch (380 mm) ventilated discs front/rear
• ABS, MBA, EBD, electronic stability control.

Wheels/Tires:

• Front: 22 x 9.0 inch, multi-spoke alloy / 265/30 mm
• Rear: 23 x 11.5 inch, multi-spoke alloy / 325/25 mm

Kerb weight:

• 3,307 lbs. (1,500 kilos) (projected). F/R distribution: 50/50 percent

External dimensions:

• Length: 184.1 in. / 4675 mmWidth: 75.5 in. / 1918 mmHeight: 50.2 in. / 1276 mmTrack: 62.9 in. / 1599 mm (f); 62.2 in. / 1579 mm (r)Wheelbase: 110 in. / 2795 mm

Performance (projected):

• 0 - 100 kph: 4.9 secs
• Top Speed: 155 mph / 250 kph (limited)

(Source: Saab)