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| Aero X Concept |
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The stunning Saab Aero X Concept had been crowned 'Concept Car of the Year' by Britain's longest established car magazine, Autocar.
Presenting the award, Autocar editor Chas Hallett said: 'The Aero X takes familiar Saab design cues and shows how they can be incorporated into modern architecture and plausibly extended even to a 298kW super-coupe. The fact that the car also propses futuristic fascia and interior elements, which are as plausible as they are original, and demonstrates how much better a car can be without windscreen pillars, just makes it better.' The award adds to the trophies won by the Aero X. When it was first hown at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2006, the concept was awarded the coveted 'Best of Show' honour by US magazine Autoweek, which is also widely regarded as one of the world's most influential titles. 'We are delighted to receive this accolade,' said Jan Ake Jonsson, Saab Automobile's Managing Director. 'The Aero X is a bold affirmation of the core qualities of our brand and it is gratifying to see that the Autocar judges have recognised its significance as an inspiration for exciting future products to come from Saab."
Overview: Exterior: Engine: Saab Automobile has a history of innovations. We pioneered the use of turbo engines in production cars, for instance, as well as introducing heated seats. So it's hardly surprising that we've created an eco-friendly sports car. And because it runs on 100 percent bioethanol, there are zero CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. So you get the joy of driving with a clean conscience. The Saab Aero X wheels are made of high grade alloy with asymmetrical spokes that echo the blades of a jet turbine. And with good reason: they're shaped to draw air from around the brakes to keep them cool. And with 22-inch wheels on the front and 23-inch wheels on the back, they look pretty cool too. Headlamps: The headlamps on the Aero X take inspiration from Swedish camera design. They use a series of glass lenses as well as twin light-emitting diodes (LEDs) housed in chamfered projector lenses for maximum illumination. Like the lights in the car's interior, the headlights have a quality that suggests the colour of light shining through ice - a nod to our Scandinavian heritage. LEDs are also used to give daytime running lights a soft green shade. Cargo space: At Saab Automobile, we're always looking for ways to add a practical dimension to sporty driving. We couldn't resist equipping the Aero X with an unexpected remote controlled sliding drawer that emerges from the rear of the car, providing a number of handy storage compartments.
No doors, no keys, no hassles - just like in a jet. The result, from an engineering perspective, is poetry in motion.
Windscreen: "What if we remove the A-pillars to get a more extreme wraparound feeling? And why do we need doors? Jet cockpits don't have doors." Anthony Lo, Design Director. We wondered if it would be possible to take the technology and functionality of a Saab AB aircraft canopy and adapt it for use on the Aero X. After all, if a canopy works so efficiently in the air, providing maximum visibilty with optimum aerodynamics, could it enhance real life safety in our revolutionary two seater sports car? Instrument panel: "We choose green instrument illumination because this is used in aircraft and Saab cars. It gives the best, easiest-to-read image." Eric Rokke, Saab Designer. Before the Aero X comes to life the instrument panel is opaque, mysterious and as black as obsidian. But start the vehicle and information is displayed as a series of green 3D images. These are created using aircraft style light emitting diodes (LEDs) that shine through stratified layers of laser-etched acrylic. The result is logical, readable and beautiful. Gearshift: "Our challenge was to simplify both the digital and mechanical interfaces into a single unit - creating a kind of multi functional control." David Leary, Designer. The Aero X has a multi-functional unit on the centre console that lets you start and stop the car, open the canopy, and change gear. So, like a pilot with a joystick, the driver has maximum control with minimum effort.
Specifications: Chassis: Engine: Transmission: Performance (projected): Suspension: Steering: Brakes: Wheels/Tyres: Kerb Weight: External dimensions: |
The Saab Aero X was praised for its dynamic stance and the designers' constant references to the company's aircraft heritage, including its innovative wraparound windscreen, turbine wheels and canopy style cockpit.
Canopy: "We spent hours standing in front of the nose of a Gripen aircraft. The long nose, the small cockpit, the dynamic proportions - these are what we were after." - Alex Daniel, Saab Designer
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