Those into cars may have noticed the new Saab Concept Car, PhoeniX, introduced at this years Geneva show:
This car made a statement. Take it or leave it, it is New Saab.
Personally I would love if they stayed at keeping that infamous OG900 out of their design language.
So “Move your Mind”
And this thing has got wings
The funny thing is that this car will be forgotten in a while, even though it has impressive specs, design and technologies like eXWD
The real star of the Geneva show was iQon:
The new in-car infotainment system.
Android based, and what is more important, it taps into a helluva lot of sensors in the car.
The most important feature:
All of this is made available to third party via an API, making it possible for developers to make their own apps, made available though a Saab App store.
I can’t wait to see what would happen if one of the guys at XDA Developer actually bought a Saab with this system.
Hmmm…Custom ROM on a Rooted Saab..
—
But the real important thing is that this reflects an attitude that IS Saab on a much deeper level.
First off, this reaches A LOT of new customers.
The typical semi-american stereotype of the Saab driver is the Architect/Designer or intellectual of some kind.
Today these people are the Apple people.
Safe, easy, well designed, pleasing, and does stuff without too much effort.And everybody has one.
Probably why a lot of former Saab drivers are now driving Audi.
Either the customers grew older og the world just got a little more uniform.
What iQon does is doing what Saab is best at.
Development at minimum cost, and the most intelligent solution to a problem.
This is why we had the Ursaab, this is why we had 99 Turbo. This is why we have eXWD. This is why we had a lot of clever solutions from Saab over time.
Not clever technological solutions because it is technologically possible, but solutions that solve the problem in a creative and new way. Out of necessity and limited funds.
This sharpens the minds of the engineers, and give beautiful functional products
What iQon touches upon is the return to those who dare to think different, the highly educated rebels. Both those who are thinkers and just want something different, functional and easy to use, and the engineer who finds the openness of iQon fascinating.
It is not so much the actual iQon concept itself, but the signals it projects that are moving people.
This is real Saab Saab. Not an american “Born from Jets” powerrush
I love this quote from a commenter on one of the forums:
I didn’t think about it quite that deep. I agree, Saab is officially not lame anymore.
Move your Mind.
The mind is the Essence of Saab
And the PhoeniX will rise
[print_link]
