Saab shows us the future, again

On the Saab stand at the Geneva Show it's once again a case of 'look at what we could build.'

Two concepts feature on the Swedish firm's stand, both promising style and excellent environmental performance.

The 9-X BioHybrid is described by Saab as a car for younger customers looking for responsible performance in a fun-to-drive package.

It's certainly a dramatic looker, the 9-X BioHybrid evolving from Saab's previous Aero X and 9X concepts.

It's a case of style with environmental responsibility though, as the 9-X BioHybrid utilises a 1.4-litre BioPower E85 engine combined with GM's next generation hybrid system.

The hybrid allows the relatively small engine to produce its high output with low emissions and fuel consumption.

Saab claims that when running on regular unleaded fuel the 9-X BioHybrid is able to return 57.6mpg on the combined cycle and 117g/km of CO₂.

However, on E85 biofuel the 9-X could reduce its CO₂ emission dramatically to around 105g/km, with an estimated consumption of 44.1mpg.

The hybrid system even utilises power from the sun, a large solar cell in the glass roof harnessing this free energy.

Saab hints that the 9-X BioHybrid is a possible pointer to a future compact model, we just wish they'd hurry up and actually build it...

Kyle Fortune