Saab's new concept bears a name referring to the company's near-death experience, before Spyker bought it from GM. More practically, the Phoenix concept serves as the basis for a new 9-3 that Saab has in the works, and shows off new hybrid and cabin technologies.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
The appropriately named Phoenix is Saab's first concept after its fire sale by GM to Spyker. This concept serves as a design brief for the next 9-3 model, and shows off not only new design language, but innovative cabin and hybrid technologies.
Saab describes it as "tear drop-shaped" with an outer skin of "liquid metal." The glass canopy evokes Saab's aircraft company roots. The shape actually has a very low coefficient of drag, at only .25, the same as the Toyota Prius.
The wheels reaffirm the aircraft theme, with somewhat of a mixed message. The center image, a twin prop plane, is classic Saab, yet the wheels themselves suggest a jet engine turbine.
A 34 horsepower electric motor, the other half of the concept's power train, sits at the rear wheels. It works in conjunction with the gas engine to give the car a hybrid drive system and all-wheel-drive.
The Android-based Saab IQon infotainment system fulfills audio, communication, and navigation needs. Saab currently has a fleet of cars testing a beta of the IQon system, suggesting it will probably be ready for the new 9-3 model.
