Swedish Concept Cars

Saab 9-X Air Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:12:24 +0000

Saab took another look at potential designs for a compact car the size of a VW Golf with the Saab 9-X Air – designed in conjunction with the 9-X biohybrid, the Air was a convertible with a retractable black fabric hood, but otherwise the 2 cars were identical.

The car was first shown at the 2008 Paris motor show, the concept used a 1.4 litre turbocharged engine that could run on bioethanol, and could have reached production in hardtop form based on the Vauxhall / Opel Astra platform and using similar engines, but the recession put a stop to that and Saab’s new owners are reviewing all models slated for production.

Saab 9-X Air Concept

Saab 9-X Air Concept Side

Saab 9-X Air Concept Rear

Saab 9-X Air Concept Interior

Saab 9-4X Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:01:47 +0000

The Saab 9-4X was showed at the 2007 North American Motorshow and signalled Saab’s intent to enter into the compact crossover 4×4 marketplace. “This concept is a clear statement of what our brand is about,” said Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile Managing Director. “It is also an important next step in our plans to enter new market segments with distinctive product offerings.”

As Saab had the Vauxhall/Opel Antera chassis to work with this could easily have happened, unfortunately the recession happened first and plans were shelved, which is a shame as this car was pretty much production ready.

Saab 9-4X Concept Side

Saab 9-4X Concept Interior

Saab Aero X Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:32:32 +0000

The Saab Aero X Concept car was first shown in 2006 as a flagship model that could potentially lead the brand. It featured a 400 horsepower V6 twin turbo engine that runs on 100% ethanol fuel as a BioPower engine reducing emissions.

The concept was far to outlandish to ever make production as Saab doesn’t develop its own platforms and had no big rear drive chassis it could use, and the pivoting canopy would be incredibly difficult and expensive to manufacture on a large scale. Rather the Aero X helped identify future styling directions, and got the brand a huge amount of attention as any good looking sports car does.

Saab Aero X Concept Front

Saab Aero X Concept Side

Saab Aero X Concept Rear

Saab 9-3X Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:24:18 +0000

The Saab 9-3X Concept car was first shown in 2002 and was the first Crossover design shown by Saab, a mix of coupe, hatchback and 4×4, it was the first template set out for the possible design of a small car to compete against the likes of the VW Golf.

With Saab models being built on European GM platforms, Saab had a ready made chassis in the form of the European Vauxhall / Opel Astra model.

Saab director of design Michael Mauer said: “The 9-3X is the next step in the establishment of Saab’s new design language, which started last year with the 9X concept. I am confident this car will be an important inspiration behind future Saab products.”

Saab 9-3X Concept Front

Saab 9-3X Concept Side

Saab 9-3X Concept Rear

Saab 9-3X Concept Interior

Koenigsegg Agera

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:39:06 +0000

The Agera is the latest and greatest Koenigsegg to be launched, now coming with seemingly huge levels of power, as the manufacturer has added twin turbos to the previous CCXR, giving a stunning 910 horsepower!

The name comes from 2 different places: it’s the Swedish for ‘to act’ but also Agera is short for the Greek word Ageratos, which in ancient Greek means “ageless”. The Agera is on display at the 80th Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva 2010.

Koenigsegg Agera Front

Koenigsegg Agera Head On

Koenigsegg Agera Rear

Koenigsegg Agera Interior

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:29:50 +0000

The Trevita name on this stunning (and stunningly expensive) car comes from the Swedish for ‘three whites’ and refers to the silvery white diamonds that are infused into the visible carbon fibre weave in the bodywork, giving a silver white finish to the fibre rather than the traditional carbon grey-black. Yes, that’s right – real diamonds, as if the standard Koenigsegg wasn’t expensive enough!

Koenigsegg will only produce 3 CCXR Trevitas in total, hence the name, making the car incredibly exclusive.

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita Front

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita Side

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita Spoiler

Koenigsegg Quant Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:20:39 +0000

The Quant concept car was shown by Koenigsegg at the 2009 Geneva Salon, being developed in conjunction with NLV Solar AG – a pioneer in photovoltaic cells (solar power)
and accumulator technology to produce a 4 seater electric car.

The concept is said to be being developed into prototypes for production, with a power output of 512 horsepower, giving 0-60 in 5.2 seconds and a distance between recharges of 500km, due to a thin film photovoltaic coating that helps recharge on the move from sunlight.

Koenigsegg Quant Concept

Koenigsegg Quant Concept Rear

Volvo S60 Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:40:46 +0000

The S60 concept was first shown in 2009 at the Detroit motor show, and is a prelude to the forthcoming S60 production car, recently announced and due at dealers imminently as we write.

The car takes the new styling themes shown on the previous XC60 concept and applies them to the S60 saloon to give a purposeful angular yet fluid design, or according to Steve Mattin: “This car is packed with inspiration from Scandinavian design and from the Swedish coastline’s cliffs and seas. A thrilling blend of drama and sensuality”

Volvo S60 Concept Front

Volvo S60 Concept Side

Volvo S60 Concept Rear

Volvo S60 Concept Interior

Volvo XC60 Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:34:45 +0000

The Volvo XC60 concept car was first shown in 2007 as a preview to the forthcoming XC60 production car. The XC60 concept was designed by Steve Mattin, director if design for Volvo. The idea was to take current styling themes seen in cars such as the XC90 and give them more of a dynamic quality, hence a lot more angular fluid lines and trapezoidal shapes and a strongly rising belt line to imbue the concept with a sense of speed.

When the production car arrived, it was very similar to the concept, with reworked front and rear bumpers, smaller wheel arches, and changes to the rear hatch, but overall remarkable similar, which can definitely be seen as a good thing and the XC60 has gone on to be a sale success for the brand.

Volvo XC60 Concept Front

Volvo XC60 Concept Side

Volvo XC60 Concept Rear

Volvo XC60 Concept Interior

Volvo T6 Roadster Concept

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:44:45 +0000

The T6 roadster is a hotrod that was hand built using Volvo components, and based around the Twin turbo inline 6 cylinder engine newly available in the Volvo production car line up, and in this case taken directly from the S80, as are parts of the suspension and the majority of the interior.

The engine is rear mounted into the tubular steel space frame chassis, with the rear sub frame and brakes also from the S80 saloon.

Volvo T6 Roadster Concept

Volvo T6 Roadster Concept Side

Volvo T6 Roadster Concept Rear