Saab design chief confident of 9X coupe

SAAB executive director of design Michael Mauer says a 9-3 coupe is likely to see production, whether or not it looks like the wild 9X concept car he designed for the 2001 Frankfurt motor show.

"So far no decision has been made as to whether the 9X will be produced or not," Mr Mauer told Australian journalists at the recent 9-3 launch.

"We don't want to do a traditional coupe with two doors and very sleek lines. The 9X is Saab's interpretation of the modern coupe. The 9X is a symbol of where we want to go. The 9X says 'I am a Saab and you'd better get out of my way'." Mr Mauer said he expected a decision to be made some time this year and was quietly confident a successful business case would see the 9X - Saab's first concept car in more than nine years - hit showrooms by 2005.

"Certainly a regular coupe is possible with the 9-3 since I believe the proportions would make it quite easy to do a nice mainstream coupe. But for me I would love to do and much prefer to see the 9X produced," he said.

"If we don't make the 9X, I don't know if the answer then should be a more traditional or conventional 9-3 coupe - so far at least I can tell you this is not in the plan, but the nature of the family is that we could always do that.

"In any case some of its design elements will be seen elsewhere," said the former Mercedes-Benz chief designer of the 9X, which would be built on a new, Saab-developed platform that requires significant development and production costs.