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2008 Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept

If you are a Saab fan, this is the car that you've been waiting to see in the

Smart and stylish, the 9-X BioHybrid Concept is exactly the compact car Saab needs to build. (Photo: Saab)

metal for five years now. It feels like an eternity since the rumors of an entry-level Saab started, if we so graciously exclude the North American-only 9-2x - the Subaru Impreza-based compact that was affectionately dubbed Saabaru. A possible replacement to this car, something that could be sold to global markets, has yet to materialize despite being discussed on message boards and in industry analysts' columns for years as a hatchback based off of the Opel Astra, with Saab styling, Saab interior appointments and Saab powertrains. The Swedish brand needs this sort of model now more than ever, and not just here in North America where fuel prices are rising and the need to appeal to new, more youthful buyers and empty-nesters alike, those most affected by inflation, is paramount, but generally to spread the Saab spirit in higher numbers throughout the world. Saab is a luxury brand, and right now, luxury is downsizing. The market's thirst for compact, premium-branded small-sized cars is quite literally unquenchable, and Saab can do nothing but gain from following this trend.

So, it's a good thing that GM's premium Euro-brand is finally in the doing

Anthony Lo, steward of Saab design, has done amazing things in metal. (Photo: Saab)

stage of the new model process, and as such is presenting its work-in-progress, the 9-X BioHybrid Concept, at this year's Geneva auto salon, the car that the media has been dubbing the 9-1.

Anthony Lo, the man to take over as head of Saab design from Michael Mauer, has done a good job of pushing Saab forward into the future. Its concept cars are distinctively Saab, yet they're also cutting edge, fresh takes on Swedish, minimalist design. The 9-X BioHybrid Concept is a natural continuation on the Aero X theme, but downsized to a more practical form. Staring at it, right down the nose, shows its strong Saab cues, including the wraparound windshield and headlamps, plus the clamshell hood and the brand's trademark three-piece grille. But it's when the 9-X BioHybrid is viewed from other angles that its strongest familial indicators are highlighted, such as the roof, which tapers and thickens towards the rear of the vehicle, not to mention the hockey-stick shape of the window's ledge. These aren't new features, of course, but they're distinguished and visible on new Saabs, like the recently updated 9-3.

Tiny 1.4L engine boosted by direct injection, turbo, E85 and last, but not least, a hybrid drivetrain. (Photo: Saab)

What's different about the 9-X is its backside. It's practically vertical, a cliff-face from the roof. It divides opinions, but more importantly it makes the 9-X BioHybrid unique in a segment filled to brim with conventional hatchbacks. And you know, expected with that whole “Born from Jets” slogan, that there's actually more to this rear hatch than its upright design. The white surround that wraps around the tailgate is actually a retractable spoiler that extends 3.9 inches outwards (not upwards). The aerofoil smoothes the flow of air and provides downforce, reducing drag which benefits fuel economy and lowers wind noise while improving high-speed handling. It works too. At speeds of over 43 mph, when it is electronically deployed, drag is cut by 10-percent.

Inside, the 9-X BioHybrid is pure concept, a place where Saab can display its futuristic designs as much as it wants. The double-stacked dash is completely digitized, with jet-like readouts. It looks cool, but in reality it's all unlikely to make it to production. The concept car also comes with a Sony

Keep tabs on your car with this Sony phone. (Photo: Saab)

Ericsson smartphone that links the 9-X BioHybrid up with some clever multimedia devices. It too, however handy, will most likely not make the reality grade.

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