Core77

Early look at Jason Castriota's bad-ass Saab revamp

By Rain Noe - March 3, 2011

in Object Culture

If any designer could be counted on to sex up Saab's staid product line, it's Jason Castriota. Seems like every time we write about the thirtysomething he's doing something different -- Pininfarina, Stile Bertone, setting up his own design shop -- and now he's focused his lasers on the Saab Phoenix, an all-wheel-drive concept car the public will see at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show.

Described by Britain's Car magazine as "one of the few genuine surprises of the Geneva show," the Phoenix is the first creation of Saab's new design boss, Jason Castriota, who observed: "The Phoenix establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design.... This design aesthetic will shape and differentiate future models in the Saab portfolio."

The teardrop-shaped Phoenix sports such design curiosities as butterfly-type doors, a scooped-out Kamm-back tail (claimed by Saab to evoke the original Sonett) and roof-mounted "winglets" said to channel airflow and reduce lift. The 2+2 cabin is described by Saab as "minimalist." In addition to a head-up display and ambient lighting, its most interesting feature is the use of Saab's new Android-powered IQon infotainment and communications system, which will debut next year on the redesigned 9-3.

The redesigned 9-3, by the way, is slated for next year and is also expected to contain exterior design elements from the Phoenix.

via inside line

o

Favorite This
Q
11

Comment

Comments

Colby Scott

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

No --- No, no no --- SAAB lovers such as myself, who have owned and driven them forever, could design a better SAAB than this concept fiasco.

Unfortunately, this "concept" looks like a GM ---

Please, please, please, put the ego aside and immerse yourself (Jason Castriota) into all cars created by SAAB to better understand the vehicles.

In this concept design, the rear, tail lights, etc. = Pontiac --- the front nose, etc = Chevrolet ---

Unfortunately, you probably whipped this up in 7 days. Now go study SAAB and come back with something great!
!Report as spam
Mattias Sjoberg

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I like it! I think it goes well with the SAAB brand and the history of doing things a bit different. Not thrilled about the wing-things but it suer looks shaped by aerodynamics.. .
!Report as spam
Lars Lindwall

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This is not a SAAB. SAAB is not over the top. SAAB is the opposite. Too bad...
!Report as spam
rogerthedodger

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

well, by seeing this images, this concept car could be any brand...
besides some nice details, the big image is lacking a lot of the saab dna (proportions, shapes).

I love how Chris Bangle is questioning it as well, in a polite way...

And yes, the Aero X was a milestone, a shame they didn't do anything with it. :(
!Report as spam
dude

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

same here, - this could be a concept car of any brand. There are some mice details, but the big image is lacking of the saab dna (proportions, shapes).

Too bad they didn't do anything with the aero x. i would even buy it as a 4 door station version. :)
!Report as spam
slippyfish

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Very interesting dialogue between Bangle and Castriota! "Oh - so you're gonna own 'aero' then?" The Ursaab reference is going to be beyond a lot of people.

(And then Jony Ive came in and head-butted both of them into submission!)
!Report as spam
Alex

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I think that Chris Bangle gets to the heart of it when he asks " why is this a Saab?". Castriota has failed to articulate a brand design language that can carry through in any meaningful way. Take away the winged pillars, and racecar features and you are not left with much of a design language, especially not one that you can call "Saab". There is no cohesive design language. The front and back are totally different. This is just a "cool car" at the level of a student project.
Invoking Saab's aerospace past (the car company and aircraft company are no longer related by the way) is something that GM was doing for years, with the Aero X, 9x, etc and they were doing it much better.
I think that this project really show Castriota's limitations as a head of design. He makes every car "his" car and not the brand's car. Hes been doing the same black teardrop cabin on every project that he's done!

!Report as spam
shane

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

i think it's great. It's a concept car. no reason for it not to be a little bit over the top. I think theres some great ideas here that could translate to a production car.
!Report as spam
Slingblade

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Take those wet noodles off the sides. Less is More- Cleaner.
The Aero X concept under the GM Design tutelage was better!
!Report as spam
flo

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Why is it a SAAB again?

http://cdnlive.cardesignnews.com/index.php/2011/03/video-chris-bangle-asks-jason-castriota-why-is-the-phoenix-a-saab/

I'm with Mr. Bangle and I don't agree with hipstomp.
That's all.

!Report as spam
slippyfish

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Wow. I've liked his work, especially the 599, but I'm having a hard time seeing any Saab/Nordic/Aero connection in these three images. The winglets might have that association, but coming from him they look like attempts to recreate the effect of the 'buttresses' on the 599, and not in a good way.
!Report as spam