Sketch mad by Björn Envall given to the SU-Crew after the Oktoberfest in 2010.
Well he has done it again, the legendary design boss at Saab. Björn Envall started his long time with Saab in the 1960’ies working side-by-side with the even more legendary Sixten Sason. Sixten was on the design team for the UR-Saab that was saved with the rest of the Museum yesterday.
Now the Saab world has gained some momentum I felt like the sketch by Björn could accelerate everything even more. With Björn we have living connectivity with the very roots of Saab, I an happy having him as a friend.
So what do You think of the sketch?
A bit of a doodle – I am sure forum members could also come up with something!
Just wondering, (assuming a re-birth) will Castriota continue to be involved and does anyone know what has happened to Padian? (who’s work I admire a lot)
I see traces of the EV-1 concept car in the illustration. How old is it?
+1
Japp! +1
I think it says 25.12.98
Klar. Same shape and lines as the EV-1. And this kind of wing looks like the Phoenix one, same idea.
+1
I like the engine specs: 6-700 Nm, 4L/100 km.
Did he know something we don’t 😉
2 seater cars weigh less than 4 seaters. A short car weighs less than a long one. A low car weighs less than a tall one. Glass fibre/plastic weighs less than steel.
Having AC and all kinds of unnecessary luxuries weighs less than a clean sports car.
It’s as easy as that!
Very radical concept. It appears as if, provided that RME means rear mount engine, there is really no space for any trunk whatsoever; so in fact a pure driving machine. (the four door down on the right side seems different?!)
And here we see some kind of butresses again, though somewhat hidden within the spoiler. All else is really a design sketch, so a bit difficult to judge. I like the idea of rendering the rear in the shape of the tyres. I also like that razor sharp, highly aerodynamic front. Wonder if a grill, even if just as small as on the sketch, would still be required in a rear driven car?
Noteworthy to me is that somebody within Saab, presumably Envall himself, fancied a V8 with a mere 2.5 litre displacement. Most V8s are much bigger, but a smaller turbocharged engine is of course in line with the Saab philosophy.
I think RME stands for biodiesel (Rapsmetylester)
As that would also work in English (rapeseed) and Swedish (raps), not only in German ;-), you may be right. Also considering that was the peak of the biodiesel hype (I actually tried it in my car, but only until the auxilliary heater broke down).
Cool! Envall is indeed a legend. We have him and Sason to thank for all of our Saaby design goodness. Why don’t we get Envall do draw a new Sonett? 🙂
I agree…would be awesome to see a serious Envall-design. For a future Sonett or maybe a small car (9-1?).
That’s not a sketch, he’s just sharpening his drawing skills. And if this work of art is any indication, then his skills need quite some sharpening 😉
As a work of doodleing after a few glasses it’s good fun, but as a serious sketch for a future automobile I fail to see the rave. There are however several details in there that holds promise for future development. Personally though I believe more in methanol for a future fuel over Rapsmetylester (RME). But I am a firm believer in compressed air as a range extender in future hybrid vehicles.
No disrespect, but you must be kidding!
Seems less feasible than my own concept:
http://saabsunited.saabklubben.se/su-forum?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=43.2
Reminds me of Koenigsegg models – wouldn’t mind if this was a base for a new Sonett: small, strong stance but aerodynamic. Instead of V8 it could use a smaller turbo 4. I’m not sure however how you could fit an engine up front into this – looks to me like the engine here should be mounted in the middle or rear. Don’t know how this would go with Saab car build philosophy.
I’m more interested in the 9-3 hatch concept in the bottom right rather than a lotus Exige style machine. People just won’t buy that stuff from Saab straight off the bat, concentrate on your bread and butter first.
the 9-3 has already been done properly 10 years ago-and that’s what I’m seeing here-frankly its the most appealing part of this sketch given the current circumstances. I’m sure he is a genius I can se that in the 99 and 900. But yet more is required to Save Saab this time-it has to be a world icon single model moonshot of a car that wins almost everyone over-its mission impossible and this sketch does not answer that challenge in my uneducated view.
That is design sketch that is about 10 years old. If you go along to your local Saab dealer that the latest style showroom introduced 10 years ago as ‘Unlimited’, you will see that image on their showroom window!
EV-1 meets Renault Avantime, no thanks. 😛
What an opportune post to highlight more of Bjorn’s work. Note the backgroud print behind me in my avatar to the left. That was one of 300 prints of a color sketch made by Bjorn as a souvenier for attendees at the 1995 US Saab Owners Convention held in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Saab Cars USA was headquartered in nearby Norcross.
While it is probably hard to see, the print contained renderings of a Saab convertible and a sportier 9000. Not to mention Saab seats!
I like the EV1style picture in the lower right corner.
RME = Rapsmethylester (Bio Diesel)?
220 bar is peak pressure of the burn cycle inside the engine? Normal value if really a diesel but likely an engine burning high octane fuel like Ethanol or LPG/ CNG. 7000/8000 should be engine revs, so likely an Otto Engine.
V8 with 2500 ccm? Will benefit in small pistons, better control of ignition, less advance ignition, because of spark to burn duration. But not more than 3 or 4 cylinders (friction loss) should be used today.
600-700 Nm is a high goal with 220 bar and only 2500 ccm (and for sure some charging).
What is 0,4 l/mil? Liter per mile => 25l/ 100 km?
What is VARV?
Could we have some more explanations of the values?
VARV = RPM I guess.
My own personal bias leads me to prefer the BioPower V6 they talked about in conjunction with the AeroX.
It’s mentioned above: RME may stand for rear mounted engine.
So it looks like a charged V8 engine with alternative fuel or BioPower as we know it today.
1 swedish “mil” is 10km so 0,4l/mil = 4l/100km. And yes, varv, or mor precisely “varv per minut”, is RPM.
Nothing for me.
I like the hatchback in the bottom right.
I was thinking about what kind of interiors SAAB should have in the future (if there is one). I saw this pic.. of a 3008 and I think that something like this would be great in a SAAB.
http://throughmyeyestoday.blogg.se/images/2010/peugeot-3008-2_123980373.jpg
It must be very funny to play around with all this knobs and buttons.
No sir.
hahahah, I think its better then the new 9-5 it’s an outbreak of buttons in that car. I hate to say it but the 3008 has a nicer interior design…
I want to pre-order the little one on the bottom right.
Has Björn Envall been working for SAAB? I have not heard about him since the SAAB Convention in Columbus, Ohio in the ’80s. I spoke to him and received an autographed poster and both he and Erik autograph a plaque that I received.
Remember it’s only a sketch, this is how great design are conceived at the beginning.