Saab 9X Air Concept: The Future Is Out There
The latest feel-good offering from GM’s Fastlane Blog is this “cool video from the folks over at GM Europe showcasing the Saab 9-X Air concept.” And though the 9X Air has a certain appeal (sleek four-seat convertible), its relevance to GM’s current situation is as good as nil. Of course, calling the video a throwaway distraction would imply that GM has ever posted anything insightful at Fastlane. Posting a concept video is doubtless meant to convey the impression of business-as-usual at the RenCen. But to anyone who understands the quantity and quality of excrement hitting the fan in Detroit right now, the impression is of deep denial. Why on earth is GM burning much-needed cash on concepts with retracting side mirrors, a dash on loan from the Romulans and “a canopy top?” That Fastlane would note that this final feature has a patent pending shows how deep the denial goes. Just the kind of venture I want to sink my tax dollars into.
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I'd MUCH rather put money on that than I would the (re)Volt or Pri(ck)us... at least it has some style. And I LIKED the Romulan dash!, well, kinda.
Hey, here's an idea: how about a new 9-5 sometime before 2015? GM's treatment of Saab just pisses me off. Concept after flashy concept, but the actual product has run the gamut from middling (9-3) to stupid (9-7x) to ancient (9-5). At least Mazda, who teases with the likes of the Furai, is making cars that don't suck. For that matter, now that Trollhatten has been gutted of it's design and engineering staff--it's essentially Opel North now--is there really any Saab left, outside of computer- or clay fantasies like this? I'm a Saab fan, but I just can't stand it anymore. From the ancient chassis, the mistargeted marketing and product planning, bastard-stepchild product support, dismal quality and castration of the "real" Saab, my 9-3 is my last Saab.
The proportions of this concept look very close to those of the Chevy Volt. I wonder if this is how GM plans to spread the Volt's engineering around.