I received an email from Johan Wejedal this evening.
He’s the guy behind the Ny Teknik sketch that was featured here earlier today and he’s offered up a few more designs of various Saabs he’s done recently.
Johan was tasked by Ny Teknik to provide that design. They sifted through the comments, which had four predominant themes – a 96-style vehicle, a remodelled 900, a new Sonett and a flexible sports/multi-purpose vehicle. They picked the 96 style theme and Johan provided an image based on those comments.
Johan is a transportation and industrial designer with a big heart for Saab and consequently, was pretty excited to provide the illustration and satisfied with the result.
He has a website here with a lot more of his portfolio featured and has been kind enough to provide some more Saab illustrations for our collective perusal.
My thanks to Johan for getting in touch and for sharing these.
This first one is also featured in Auto Motor and Sport, I believe.
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{ 74 comments }
I like these better than the first drawing we saw.
But putting the windshield so much in front — is that viable from a safety POV? Almost all futuristic sci-fi cars do this, but does it make sense?
The 96 grille is pass
I can imagine the EV-2 concept as an eco-”9000 successor in mind” car. And the one below looks how I’d imagine a modern 900. One-of-a-kind styling, great aerodynamics, loads of space and yet dynamic. The rest is – to cite Jeremy Clarkson – “… well… it’s not yet finished.”
Even after my morning coffe has been enjoyed and general morning grumpyness has gone I still make the following statement:
I hope I am either blind or dead before I see anything like that on the roads as a Saab. What are those…. 25 inch rims? I guess my mind and my tastes are too “old school” for todays designers.
I am not saying that its not great work on the designer as I could never draw such things! However it’s simply not my style of car design. And damn those rims. the CAR should stand out and the rims should help it stand out, not the other way around.
I rather like the Aero and Cab. designs, but they are not terribly Saaby. I agree with 74stingray, huge wheels mean huge tyre prices. Tonka toy wheels with 20 series tyres give a shocking ride btw.
I think that is creative handcraft (I hope that is the correct translation) that Mr. Wejedal is giving us there, BUT…the cars remind me of the movie “Speedracer” and in my opinion he is at least two generations ahead of the Saab-design that I am looking forward to.
And I really don’t like the “cab-forward” design of the 9-3 convertible…
Sorry, no cars for me at the moment…but still great sketches to discuss, so a big thank you to Mr. Wejedal.
Firstly, I think Johan Wejedal has done an outstanding job, taking a 150 suggestions and molding them into a design, perfect.
What I think everyone should take into consideration before trashing the design, its based on what he got.
Also, the task of presenting a concept design to Saab enthusiasts is near on impossible, Saab cars are driver unique, and the iconic Saab of the past is to some extent a generational issue.
For me, it encompasses the 95/96, Sonett II.
As time passes the 99-900 3/5 door is growing on me, and the 9000 a little, but I am sure the generation behind me see the 900 as iconic, and don’t understand the 96 or 99. Thats the beauty of Saab, we own one, we want one, its me!
Would I buy a Saab like Johan proposes, if it drives like a Saab, and has the historic quirks in the design, like the rear wheel arches and grill, definitely!
Till then, I will keep my 96 running and maybe that og900 thats for me comes up on the market and I get to take it home.
All of you who think theese cars look like futuristic Sci Fi cars – you are right! They are. I am fully aware of that most of them are way over the top – but that’s the whole point!!! Have none of you never seen design concept sketches before? Most of them are even more unrealistic than mine!
I grew up in the 80:ies and fell in love with concept cars like the Buick Wildcat II, the Corvette Indy, the Peugeot Proxima and other superfuturistic concept cars that really pointed forward. The suv and retro-trends of the 90:ies killed off all theese aerodynamic and radical dreamcars, but I still loved them and I know all to well that I was pretty alone doing this. But now the political climate is right again: aerodynamics and low consumption demands will make cars look a bit like this.
And the guy who thought I don’t have a clue about Saabs history – Sorry, but you are SO wrong. I lived really close to Trollh
Count me in as still loving his first drawing. I woke up this morning, had another look and I found it grew on me even more.
I don’t see why all the negative comments really. As I see it, this is a drawing of what could be a totally new model within the Saab lineup….not a replacement for the 9-3 or the 9-x. If it doesn’t grab you, buy a different model.
C’mon Saabers, “Find your own road”, “Move your mind”, remember?
@ Markac I knew you’d key in with the dislike of the rims… that was something I could have banked money on. YUK!
On second looks, I too like the look of the 9-3 Aero and Cab…Maybe the coffee needed to fully kick in
I am sure a production car would not be so dramatic in shape…. why always with the huge rims?? They just take away from the car, IMHO.
@ Johan…. good point!
I remember when the new Camaro design was being floated around….. bad bad bad…. but the actual production car was not so bad, I even kind of like it except for the rear end and the interior.
You can’t please everyone however with any design, always going to be someone who does not like the too radical look.
Maybe I am missing something… but why the “scoops” in the windscreens on the 9-3 Aero and Cab? Maybe that
…and by the way, I should mention, I grew up in the 900 era, not knowing much about the 96 or earlier models.
Respect people. These are concept drawings, repeat, CONCEPT.
I’d be interested to know how many of the (negative) commenters actually provided feedback to Ny Teknik for this project?
I apologize if any of my comments have seen very negative to you Johan, but hopefully all the negativity gives an indication of all the interest these sketches sparked. And that is quite an accomplishment too.
And you’re of course right, we should think a bit out of the box. E.g. eliminating an internal combustion engine in a future Saab means a completely different chassis design, potentially eliminating a big portion of the nose. (bringing us full circle back to something that would probably end up looking like some of these sketches)
But, to me, a Saab is FWD with an engine that puts sufficient weight over the front wheels. This is key to the way a Saab behaves and drives. Naturally then, I would prefer drawings that cater to this preference/constraint.
Further more, the big rims are not practical with today’s (+10 years) technology. Heck, today’s 19″ wheels with low profile tires quickly damages the car if driven in Norway for a year. The 2008 9-3 SC I had, with 18″ wheels, needed an extra checkup of the front linkage after less than 18 months.
But ok, ok. We should be thinking outside the box. (sorry for the diversion)
Some sci-fi concepts I’ve seen seem to partly cover the wheels. The 9-3 sketch (#3) seems to be all wheels but not much car. Putting the wheels more into the body (with a plate covering about 30% of the wheel) could perhaps be interesting.
What I would like to see is a concept drawing that could turn into a real car directly, not an extreme drawing like the ones above… make something realistic!
The Aero X is a concept car that could very well be turned into a real car and thats why it received such great attention as well!
Johan, do not take those c900 lovers too seriously. For most of them only the clasic 900 is a real SAAB.
For me, that first sketch would be a “need to have” small car, but this is because I like the clasic 96
The idea with the RX-8 style doors is great as it is feasible.
Great work !!!
Whoah..!! It seems that some people here really didn
Well, I must say that all cars start with such sketches – disproportional in some way, but while being processed into production car they morph into something more practical and realistic. I think Johan has pretty good points in every sketch – remember, it’s just a snapshot of thoughts, not the final design. Look at them this way.
EV-2?? Must mean EV-3, since the EV-2 already exists. ;o))
Cheers!
What I like about these sketches are they are not retro. Saab has always been a forward looking company, why go backwards now?
as an architect I can say: good job! I liked most the cabrio….now, I want to draw a SAAB car …
I’m not ready to accept these forms. It is like Honda Civic too much… And there is not any SAAB spirit (in my opinion)
I think it’s safe to say Saab/Spyker has a real challenge on their hands. The new 9-3 better get it right. They have some opinionated people to please! This is not a job I would want. These sketches are meant to inspire ones imagination not serve as a final design. Lets talk about what we do like not so much what we don’t.
Don’t take the negativity to hear Johan. We appreciate your work and thank you for your efforts. It’s great to see you defend your designs too!
Sorry I meant to say “Don’t take the negativity to heart Johan”.
Love the 9-3 and 9-1…… actually, I prefer all of these to the 96 concept.
…. I think its just the idea of the 96 which I don’t like.
@johan -
Your ideas and designs are not the problem for me, you’re far more creative than I could hope to be.
The selection of the 96 as a base is a what I disagree with, and reading above it appears to have been the choice of Ny Teknik.
I’d love to see a more realistic render (like that of the 96 retro concept) of your version of a 9-3 replacement.
All my respect for Johan, contributing with his sketches. It is brave done – not at least here on the blog!
Still; What is so important to Saab – in my opinion – is to make design WITH REASONS and integrity; tecnically, ecological, practical etc not for the sake off some styling-trend or nostalgic feeling. Still it – off-course – have to have elegance, attitude and character. But NEVER fund the design on polls or magazines!
Those cars are not Saabs. It looks more like badge-engineered Peugeots. I think that a Saab should be stylish, have straight side lines, the classic hockey stick shaped side windows, a distinct demarcation between the windshield and the roof, not look to angry in the front and have a long hood. The first generations of the Saab 900 and 9000 looks absolutely brilliant. Resurrect Sixten Sason and bring back Bj
Wow! I’m real sure now that I’ll never submit a concept design to SU.
Thanks Johan, great food for thought (and comment).
Nice sketches but they don’t have anything to do with Saab.
Stick with the hatchback concept as in the 99/900, 9000 and 9-3. Be different in a good way and not just for being different.
Let the Germans make sedans which they nowadays call 4-door coupe’s (LOL).
If Saab wants to sell around 125.000 cars a year then don’t imitate Audi but offer something they don’t for people who want a real car instead of something generic.
Yeah, what he said… its not a personal attack, we old hacks are just hesitant to change.
Thank you Steven and Johan for sharing these concepts with all of us. I do hope others keep in mind as it has been pointed out, that these are not Saab designs, but some interesting ideas to look at if nothing else and get people excited, both positively and negatively. I think it is neat to see these drawings no matter whether they have a chance of being the basis for new designs.
As to the retro concept, I love the 99 / c900 looks AND functionality, but do agree that new Saabs will need to be fresh designs. With that said, I still wonder if there is room to incorporate aspects of the older designs even if surface / superficial, as a of setting new Saabs apart from other brands.
My point is that I do believe it might be possible to have totally new Saab designs that might have some visual and practical aspects found in older Saabs such as a truly usable hatch… or the curved windscreen, etc. without going completely retro. The point being that I am using the term “retro” loosely here.
Thank you again Johan and Steven for providing these for all to comment.
@ Johan –seen positively: You’ve probably gained yourself more (free?) exposure than most aspiring designers/draughtsmen see in a Life-cycle!
I much prefer your later works (Aero and Evo particularly).
But echoing my long lost Danish Brother Troels you’ll need to bring forth your most calloused skin. Great design may be (though not necessarily) polarizing. So secure your Breastplate. Autoblogs (much like Jeffersonian Liberty) are boisterous seas — better swim strong. And this ain’t nothing compared to Jalopnik!
[You too must have belly-chuckled at Sawi's 'dust buster' reference:)].
Wouldn’t it be neat to know Padian’s take…
Nice sketches Johan!
I get a little afraid when I read some of the very negative, hard comments around them here.
Almost like the SAAB-negative comments you could see in many other forums during the Spyker/GM negotiations.
Please be inspired of the sketches and come with constructive criticism. Or produce some interesting alternative skeches.
These sketches are far less attractive than the first retro look, and I was luke warm on that one. What I find most objectionable in these is the ubiquitous, exagerated front wheel arch that has devoured Mazda designs lately and migrated to other brands. It is ugly, awkward, and wholly un-Saab. I’m not sure why eveyone wants to reinvent the Saab look that, frankly, GM did a pretty good job in the last 3 years of refining. The 9-1x is not perfect, but at least from the B pillar forward, it captures what I think the company should be looking for. I wish it were in show-rooms now.
Yeah.. not looking like saab.. or maybe looking like a a development of some elements of a 9-3 sport combi. But you’ve lost the classic 900 shape (upper rear quadrant) which is normally a design element that people recognize as Saaby.
Johan, I also think the cars are futuristic, but in an old fashioned way, if you understand what I mean. I am not convinced the future will bring us cars that are flat as pancakes, like Bertone and others suggested already 40 years ago…
I think cars in the future will still offer practicality and daily useability, and in my eyes good concepts should also include these qualities.
No offence Johan, nothing against your designs, not my type of Saabs but as a designer I learned not to judge and not get upset about getting judged,that`s what happens when you put your work out there.Keep making what you belive is right.
Griffin UP!
Johan — thanks for your hard work and having the creativity and guts to put your Saab designs “out there”. If Saab is to survive, it MUST think outside the box. One thing you have now found out (the hard way), is that Saab fans are extremely opinionated and quite hardcore.
I hope you will continue to contribute to SU…we and Saab can surely use your conceptual and artistic vision.
to be honest i don’t like any of the sketches i’ve seen here so far. i dunno… maybe i just don’t get modern aesthetics, or something. i would really love something more… classical? huh.
Why is it I dislike the 96 concept done by Johan, and yet I love this 92 concept of his?
http://johanwejedal.webs.com/photos/saab%209-2%20retro.jpg
Why are all the cars looking like Honda Civic mixed with the new Fiesta? Not very tasteful at all, i cant se any SAAB in one of those cars. But sell them to Honda for a nice buck!
Well Mike I can
I sell Saab’s and in my area, here’s what Saab buyers consistently seem to want: a good snow car, efficiency, function/utility, comfort, and a design that has some style wothout being showy. In this matket, most are liberal and progressive in beliefs but quirky and conservative in style.
Kudos VtSaab, i have the same imagination of Saab. Great drawings Johan, although too egg-shaped for my taste. (I like my car curvy, perhaps a little rugged.) Sketches should be “out-of-the-box” drawings and lately all sketches seem to have huge rims, for whatever reason that is. Cheers!
Johan, I appreciate your efforts and your courage. Your designs did not appeal to me, however, that is no reflection on you personally. Like you, I too would challenge others to post an alternative. I seriously doubt half the people here would take that challenge.
I would encourage you to keep drawing. You have a great talent, I feel few could argue that. However, remember with such a platform to “showcase” drawings — any person would be subjecting their drawings to feedback. Just from the initial heading, I knew opinions would be “flying”. Simply take it as “feedback” and try to ignore the negative attacks.
I don’t get it – people are really putting an effort into making sarcastic comments and posting insults to what I consider to be great concepts.
See that word??? -CONCEPTS-
Maybe you all need to read up on what that means before you are ready to cut things down.
Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept
Yes, you’re entitled to your personal opinions, and no, I don’t like -everything- in the sketches, but they are great for discussion points.
One can’t move forward by stopping creativity. This is art – there is no absolute truth in art…
So keep them coming, Johan.
USAaber,
Id say concepts are something that show in which direction the idea is moving and what possibly can be the outcome. These indeed are concepts, but I guess the guys who take the time to write here just dont like the way things are moving. (I myself am interested in the 9-1 model, and am very happy with the images that are floating around in www. and if it would be built like that, id buy it )
Nope, this is not art, this is industrial design.
Art doesn’t need to be functional, it can be even ugly or very disturbing. Industrial design focuses on application and how well something will sell.
Johan is in the exceptional situation that he can float his idea within a large group of people who are prospective buyers. Doing a quick tally it looks to me that about 80% of the responses are (very) negative. At that point Johan can just ignore those responses and never see his designs be implemented or he can heed the suggestions and try to implement them in some new designs.
Personally I don’t like the designs since they are supposed to appeal to Saab people (whatever that may mean). The short hood, giant wheels and bulbous shape, imho, do not represent the Saab characteristics.
This one I like
http://johanwejedal.webs.com/photos/saab%209-2%20retro.jpg
I see some of the Saab 96 bullnose front in that sketch
Perfect it ain’t…. but I’ll definitely take the Ovlov C30 as opposed to the current Saab 3-door turbo hatchback offering.
Wait a second…..
bbth !!!
I actually like that one.
I think hes has really got talent but I think what people want to see here is something more……. production ready.
I personally find some of the details very interesting: the C-pillar on the first sketch, the front of the 9-3, or the covered rear-wheel design of that EV-2. I even find those bit can be quite “Saaby”.
And we would need to see the steps in between, to find their logic.
They look good and for sure they generated some strong reactions!! That means that there’s some substance in those designs, that people care about what they bring to the table, and want to discuss it.
And your designs are far from that place.
But overall, in their whole, the designs seem somewhat disconnected from what are Saab’s design values.
Perhaps they are too generic -or too indifferent Saab’s philosophy- on their global architecture, even if some of the detailing is just right.
Maybe they are just too many steps away in the future.
One way or another, I must say you did a great job, Johan!
It’s hard to have a 100% approval rate on a design work, as you know: it’s quite impossible, in fact.
But it’s very very easy to generate indifference.
I was bummed about the comments on the prior post so I did not comment. Some of these comments are not consistent with SU. That kind of bums me out.
I have always taken car sketches to be more extreme than even concepts. They exagerate features that will not trickle down to the production models.
Markac,74Stingray etc. have mentioned the rim size.
And they’re right!
It’s making the study too cartoon-ish.
Johan: Without telling you your business (:)) might you humor some of the friendly skeptics (present company especially!) and bring the Saucers down a notch (say to 19″;’well proportions in tandem please — smaller wheels not = LARGE gap).
I’m thinking Aero and EV-2 would be a good start…
There’s too much Honda in those designs.
“They exagerate features that will not trickle down to the production models. ”
I think we all understand how these concept drawings work. There have been quite a few shown here in the past that had exaggerated aspects about them but people loved them. This latest group just exaggerates all the wrong things.
Once again. I am very disappointed with the tone in this thread. Is is this the way we are supposed to express ourself here?
“looking very gay”
“Those cars are not Saabs”
“Johan has NO IDEA about the history of Saab”
“Be different in a good way and not just for being different.”
“don’t have anything to do with Saab”,
“I don’t think you understand what Saab design is about.”
“Not very tasteful at all”
Who dares to write or draw anything different here?
What is the “good”, “non-gay”, “tasteful” way we have to follow?
Thnx for the sketches Johan. They’ve certainly given us something to think about.
I concur on the red retro one off his web site…it looks like a really modern rendition of the early Saab… almost in direction competition to the Audi TT which it would probably be compared to.
http://johanwejedal.webs.com/photos/saab%209-2%20retro.jpg
Whether people love or hate the pics, please keep them coming ..they are very inspiring. I look at each one of them and try to imagine myself driving it each day. All bring a smile to my face.
When I see sketches like these I’m more or less always excited – because – they spark my imagination. They are sketches, not an attempt to show SAAB’s next production vehicles. It’s important to have that in mind before grabbing the keyboard to write a comment, and I must say that I’m surprised to see the annoying tone from many commenters in this thread. C’mon, people, this is a SAAB forum – try to really b e different and drop the mainstream thinking. Move your mind and try to see beyond the horizon!
I enjoy doing my own sketches in many aspects and I wish I could have Johan’s great talent. That said – Johan’s drawings are very inspirational and futuristisc, and they have really sparked both my interest and opened my eyes about how a future SAAB may look like. Thanks to people like Johan I’m still doing sketches as a hobby and a tool for opening my eyes for futuristic and different designs. Thank to Johan I now have done a couple of my own sketches about a future SAAB – based on Johan’s sketches and for my eyes only ;/)
SAAB are now at the end of a journey and ready to start a new one. Then it’s very important to reconsider what to do and in what direction. Designers will always play a key role here, and I bet that there is a lot of very exciting brainstorming going on in the worlds different car design centres before a new model starts to materialize. Wow, I would have loved having a dive in that material.
Thanks, Johan!
Cheers from Norway
-Olav-
Always on the longest road home when out there with my SAAB. Always.
Ok, that`s just mean, what`s wrong with you?Give the guy a break, post your opinion and leave it at that.:(
Well, we all should think about it. It’s a very hard task to generate truthful thoughts and sketches about future Saabs.
We have to thank Johan Wejedal for his suggestions. There is a great value in every well meant thought about the future chances and directions of Saab.
So lets calm down and have a second look:
Avoiding all those Toyota-Prius-Honda-Civic mainstream design standards could be a good beginning.
1. Saabs are no balloons.
2. Saabers don’t like their windshields with such an extremely flat angle.
3. A Saab should have a proper hood.
4. A Saab follows his own roots and rules.
5. Saab means timeless elegance. Not a shortlived fashionable attitude.
6. (To be continued
I like the look of the 9-3 aero and convertible renderings, although not too sure about the 9-1 – looks a like a Johnny Cab from Total Recall to me. The white car at the top looks very futuristic, but I think we are probably a way off accepting such a bold design.
I sometimes wonder what the reaction would be if a new 9-5 was to be transported back in time and shown to Saab enthusiasts in 1980′s or 1990′s?
The 9-3 vert looks cool at least shapewise. The nose needs to be longer and the dashboard shorter but the general shape I like.
For a little more than a year I’ve enjoyed being a part of a passionate forum that cared about the odd cars that I care about as much as I do.
And the good vibe that has been produced by the hard work of so many has be something that I’ve been proud to share with those who are not visitors to this site.
So it’s with great disappointment that I’ve been reading this thread and seeing the tone that has been running through it.
So I don’t think it serves anyone’s best interest to just take shots at each other let alone someones work.
If you don’t like the sketches that’s fine. Being an ass is not.
Just to be on the safe side I’m going to state my case here as well.
With the exception of the headlamp design on the original Saab 9X concept, I like the way all the new Saab designs are going. That is a very good direction. The ones presented by Johan Wejedal (Ny Teknik Saab sketch) just don’t have anything in comparison.
Johan,
Many thanks to your efforts. I assure you that they are much appreciated! Keep up the excellent work!
Edward
Johan,
Keep designing. These are some great renderings. Don’t worry about those who bash your artistic designs. Do what you do!
Matt
I like them a lot. The wheels are a bit big but the glass roof is fantastic. Good concept ideas and I would definatly buy a production version.
Come on folks, we can all have a personal opinion of the drawing, like ot hate them but lets keep it in a non-personal way.
Johan did fine work in the renderings.. I dont like a car so radically designed, but I get the fact it’s all a starting point to something.
We’re allowed to view our feelings here, but we do have to keep it respectful for one another. You can say why you dislike the car, but we should never attack the artist who worked hard to draw it.
I am sure Johan didnt enjoy the fact I ( and others) didnt like the designs… but I sure didnt make it personal against him. Johan is just doing what every other designer out there is trying to do and see in to the future, to push the limits of design.
We have at accept that the old days are gone, never to come back… new and fresh designs will be the future. Sure, retro can be cool, if delivered at the right time with the right car.
Back in 1975 when the new Chevy Monza was the FIRST U.S. made car to have rectangular headlamps… I remember a 1974 car and driver side article it said. “Rectangular headlamps- another dim-bulb idea”…. later on almost all cars of the late 70′s 80′s and some into the 90′s had them..
We further need to police our own comments… “looking very gay” might be ok for you to think but might be very offensive to other board members. We are from all over, all walks of life and need to remember that. I too have been corrected by Swade in the past and never take it personal, just the way this forum should be, polite and respectful.
just my .02…
This is a great place to be, lets keep it friendly and respectful.
good grief.
Well I give the man credit for trying, but if this was actually what the future of SAAB looked like, Ive bought my last one.
He deserves credit for nice renderings but none look like Saabs to me at all nor do I want a future Saab to look like any of these. Saab has been on the right track with the Aero-x, Bio-Hybrid and Air concepts.
Swade better close this thread before the trolls take over.
Oh my!!!,what`s going on people…he has not been signed head designer at Saab, it`s not that big of a deal, this is getting personal, and it`s maybe because he answered back in an hostile way “If you don’t like it, do a better one yourself.” but if you continue like this I bet you Swade will no longer post sketches, I for one will think twice from now on before sending anything to Swade.
First chance I’ve had to look in here since waking up and it’s fair to say that quite a few people have embarrassed themselves today.
I think Johan’s explanation about the conceptual nature of sketches like these should have been self-evident to anyone who’s seen design sketches before (and there have been plenty on this site over the years).
Your keyboard and computer may take away some of the personal nature in interaction like this, but it doesn’t lessen the hurt you can inflict upon someone if you comment about the person.
Personally speaking, I’m embarrassed as a publisher hosting someone’s hard work and having it treated as some of you have treated it here today.
It’s OK with me if you don’t like the sketches and it’s probably OK with Johan as well, but to attack the person and comment on his ‘heart’ for the brand is well and truly out of line.
This is supposed to be a respectful place and some of you have just thrown that out the window.
I’d recommend a few of you have a look at the comments policy today in order to understand why your comments may have been removed from this post.
http://www.saabsunited.com/about/comments-policy.html
——
Needless to say, comments are closed.
Thanks to those of you who maintained a moderate approach and tried to reason with those who didn’t.
Comments on this entry are closed.