Saab 9-X Wins Best Concept

It must have been the solar panels. Or maybe it was the extending roof spoiler.

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid was awarded best concept by Autoweek editors for its showing at the Geneva Auto Show. The 9-X was designed as the harbinger of GM's updated BAS-Plus system, their mild hybrid system upgraded using lithium-ion batteries.

GM may bring the 9-X to productions as the Saab 9-1.

Press Release from GM follows:

Detroit - The editors of AutoWeek, one of North America's most respected and longest standing automotive enthusiast magazines, have voted the Saab 9-X BioHybrid "Best Concept" upon its world debut at the auto show in Geneva this week. With this award, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid premium compact joins the very successful Saab Aero X coupe concept which received AutoWeek's "Best in Show" honors upon its debut in Geneva, two years ago.

"We are honored by this important recognition from the expert editors of AutoWeek," said Steve Shannon, Saab Automobile USA general manager. "The way the 9-X BioHybrid was welcomed by the world's press and the public in Geneva has exceeded many optimistic expectations. Following in footsteps of the highly inspirational Aero X, as well as the 9-4X BioPower crossover concept which debuted in Detroit just a few weeks ago, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates that the Saab brand has tremendous potential."

The 9-X BioHybrid, which is scheduled to make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show press days on March 19, is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Exploring design themes from Saab's award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the 9-X BioHybrid also demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM's next-generation hybrid system. Projected combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km on E85 fuel are testimony to the promise of this package.

The interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab's driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a 'low friction' loading system.

"This car is all about efficiency in design and performance," says Anthony Lo, director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

With its 'turbine' wheels placed at all four corners, minimal bodywork overhangs and an extended roof line, the proportions of the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid bring a dynamic, new dimension to conventional compact 'hatchback' looks.

The smooth 'fuselage' bodywork, now without any visible handles or door mirrors, the bold 'wraparound' window graphic and deep front grille are all themes inspired by the Aero X coupe concept shown at Geneva two years ago.

The car's distinctive 'shooting brake' silhouette and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001. "You could say we designed this car from back to front," says Lo. "The shape of the 9X is right for a car of this size, and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space."

Echoing Saab's roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag - and fuel consumption - at cruising speeds. Above 70 kph (43 mph), the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

The four-seater cabin introduces an entirely new execution of Saab's driver-focused cockpit design. The central, floor-mounted console, with its angled controls and displays, is now eliminated. Instead, the driver-focused layout incorporates a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, arching across the driver. The embedded 3-D graphics appear to be 'frozen' in ice, continuing a Scandinavian design theme first seen in the Aero X.

Reflecting the needs of youthful customers, who expect easy access to multi-media both inside and outside the car, Saab has co-operated with Sony Ericsson in providing seamless in-car connectivity for a range of nomadic devices. The result is a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for display and use. The interface also allows the simultaneous use of multiple devices when passengers are in the car.

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the split tailgate drops down. The floor, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by 'high friction' rubber carpeting, which 'grips' items and holds them securely in place. For easy loading and unloading, aluminum bars automatically rise up and down as the tailgate is opened and closed.

The treatment of light is an important part of Scandinavian design and this is evident in the use of variable, white ambient lighting inside the cabin. The level of suffused illumination can be changed in intensity from bright and cold to warm and soft. It's a personalized feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the pattern of the changing seasons.

"This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format," adds Anthony Lo. "It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme, the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car."

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2008 model year, Saab offers XM Satellite Radio and OnStar standard in its entire line-up. Additionally, all new Saabs have no-charge scheduled maintenance, and the Saab 100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. Visit www.saabusa.com for more information.

Who Will Buy These Hybrid Cars - a JD Powers Survey

The most recent JD Powers and Associates survey shows that few are 'very willing' to pay more to buy a more environmentally friendly vehicle. Those that do tend to be female and highly educated.

Among the environmentally conscious consumers, only 10% actually follow through to buy a hybrid.

At the same time Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates feels very strongly hybrid cars are still a growing market.

"Despite heavy media attention on hybrid vehicles and the emergence of a greener auto industry, the hybrid market is still in its infancy, and currently comprises only about 2.2 percent of the new-vehicle market," said Osborn. "However, this segment will continue to grow as more hybrid models are offered in the marketplace, particularly since gasoline prices are likely to increase and more stringent gas mileage standards are expected to be imposed on automakers."

The study also shows that those who are environmentally conscious tend to buy more compact vehicles, and tend to already own compact vehicles, which shows a continuing pattern.

And, in case you feel their reading habits are important, they tend to read The New Yorker, Sunset and Wired.

Past surveys have shown buyers of hybrid vehicles tend to be older and well off. And a CNW Marketing study showed some who buy hybrids are doing so to make a statement. They also tend to be loyal customers. And last but not least, hybrid owners are very satisfied with their choice.

Press Release Follows:

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Although many new-vehicle buyers may want to purchase an environmentally friendly vehicle, only 11 percent are "very willing" to pay more to do so, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Power Auto Offline Media Report(SM) - Spring Edition.

The study finds that, in particular, new-vehicle buyers who express a strong willingness to pay more for environmentally friendly vehicles are more likely to be female and are highly educated. The concentration of consumers who express willingness to pay extra for an environmentally friendly vehicle is highest in the western United States and lowest in the Midwest. According to the study, among these environmentally conscious consumers, approximately one in 10 actually purchased a new hybrid vehicle.

"The marketing buzz in the automotive industry is all about green cars and trucks," said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. "While most consumers immediately think of hybrids when considering an environmentally friendly vehicle, the price premium of hybrids may be prohibitive. However, consumers don't have to buy a hybrid vehicle to be environmentally friendly. One can still be environmentally conscious by buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle that gets good gas mileage."

The study also finds that new-vehicle buyers who say they are very willing to pay more for a vehicle that is environmentally friendly are more likely to purchase compact vehicles than the average new-vehicle buyer. In addition, these environmentally conscious new-vehicle buyers also tend to have owned smaller vehicles previously, demonstrating a propensity to consistently choose more fuel-efficient vehicle models.

"Despite heavy media attention on hybrid vehicles and the emergence of a greener auto industry, the hybrid market is still in its infancy, and currently comprises only about 2.2 percent of the new-vehicle market," said Osborn. "However, this segment will continue to grow as more hybrid models are offered in the marketplace, particularly since gasoline prices are likely to increase and more stringent gas mileage standards are expected to be imposed on automakers."

The study finds that owners who purchase hybrid vehicles tend to have attained much higher levels of education, report much higher household income and are about four years older than the average new-vehicle buyer (54 vs. 50 years of age). Hybrid owners tend to be proud advocates of their vehicles, and typically provide many more positive recommendations about their ownership experience than do other new-vehicle buyers.

In addition, hybrid buyers and potential hybrid buyers tend to read magazines as such as The New Yorker, Sunset, and Wired, and are likely to watch cable television channels such as CNN and CNN Headline News.

The 2008 Power Auto Offline Media Report - Spring Edition is based on responses from 44,931 principal drivers of new cars and trucks. The study measures media viewing and readership habits of new-vehicle buyers, focusing primarily on magazine readership and also including television viewing, radio listening, Internet usage and newspaper readership. The study also examines consumer opinions and attitudes regarding vehicle ownership.

Toyota Forced to Lower Price of Prius in China

The Prius may have hit the top 10 list in the US, but hybrid car sales in China are lagging so badly Toyota is cutting prices. Toyota has cut the price from $39,700 to $36,500 as other companies begin marketing their own hybrid cars in China.

Toyota is still expecting slow sales, however, with a goal of only 1,500 for 2008.

Source: Toyota Slashes Prius Stickers in China

Some More Details About the Karma From Fisker

Fisker Automotive president, Henrik Fisker, believes lithium-ion batteries will become the norm for vehicles in the next decade.

Source:Fisker Says Hybrids the Norm in 10 Years | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

"For me it's important to create a vehicle that's so sexy you've just got to have it, and later you find out that you can go 80 kilometers (50 miles) without using any gas," Henrik Fisker says. "That's how far 75 percent of people in Europe drive every day. If all of those people drove plug-in hybrids we would get rid of all our emission problems, and our dependence on foreign oil."

Fisker is already getting between 50-100 orders for its plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) Karma, even though it won't be ready until the end of 2009. The Karma is being priced at $80,000 in the US, and will cost $106,000 in Europe (taxes and import fees).

The Karma will travel 50 miles on electric power alone from an overnight charge, then the battery will be recharged by a small gas engine. By recharging using the gas engine, you can go for 450 miles.

Oh, and did we mention the solar panels on the roof? They can help cool off the car and recharge the batteries. The batteries can be recharged in 3 1/2 hours when plugged in.

Fisker is trying to get one of the Big 3 or a German car company to produce the Karma.

Fisker expects the battery pack to last 10 years.

Hybrid Car Sales - February 2008

Hybrid car sales have dropped 3% in February compared to last February, despite the one extra day of sales. Sales from Toyota and Honda were down, while Ford and Nissan hybrid vehicle sales increased. GM still doesn't share their sales (why????). Total sales through 2008 are up 10%, even without the GM sales added in.

On a side note, I saw in a story yesterday that GM had sold under 200 of their new Yukon and Tahoe Hybrids in January.

Honda hybrid sales have continued to suffer in comparison as the Accord Hybrid (retired) continues to wind down. Civic Hybrid sales declined 6%.

Toyota sales declined 3%, mostly on the depression of Prius sales. Part of that decline can be attributed to the record sales Toyota had last February, as their production roadblock had been removed. While Toyota should expect Prius sales to be increased as the year continues, it seems production of the Prius has hit a high point, so the increase will not be as high as you could expect.

Still, the Prius makes up 50% of the hybrid marketplace all by itself. Add in all the other Toyota and Lexus models and Toyota dominates the hybrid marketplace with over 80% of all hybrid sales coming from them.

Toyota did have a remarkable increase in sales of the Camry Hybrid. Highlander Hybrid sales held steady with a 2% increase, while Lexus hybrid car sales were down. Both the GS 450h and RX 400h showed declines.

Ford increased sales of their Escape and Mariner Hybrids by 3%, while Nissan had an increase of 157% from last February. This marks the one year anniversary of the Nissan Altima Hybrid, so that percentage should be taken in context.

One important note about hybrid car sales this year is the limitation on production. Last year, hybrid sales increase by almost 38%. This year, an increase of sales will come from new models, as car makers limit sales on their hybrid cars until they can show a profit.

Ford expects to show a profit this year as their two new models come online. Nissan limits sales of the Altima Hybrid to only eight states. GM hybrid sales have been limited so far because of their mild nature (about 100 per month). It's unclear how well they'll do with their new 2-mode hybrids, but until they start separating out those sales, it's hard for an outsider to even guess.

Toyota was able to increase sales on the Prius by separating the production of the Camry Hybrid and the Prius. But now the Prius is one of the top 10 cars being sold, it's hard to imagine sales to increase dramatically for them. It's possible we'll see the overflow onto the Camry hybrid this year.

Make													Model	Feb-07							Feb-08								% Change
Honda													Accord	312							42								-87%
Honda													Civic	1,924							1,808								-6%
Honda													Insight	0							0								-
Toyota													Prius	12,227							10,895								-11%
Toyota													Highlander	1,892							1,938								2%
Toyota													Camry	3,332							4,121								24%
Toyota													GS 450h	160							77								-52%
Toyota													RX 400h	1,249							1,148								-8%
Toyota													LS600hL	0							112								-
Ford													Escape/Mariner	1,696							1,743								3%
Nissan													Altima	206							529								157%
Total														22998							22413								-3%
Make													Model	Cumulative, 2006							Cumulative, 2007								% Change
Honda													Accord	560							90								-84%
Honda													Civic	3707							3553								-4%
Honda													Insight	0							0								-
Toyota													Prius	20526							22274								9%
Toyota													Highlander	3702							4081								10%
Toyota													Camry	6133							7871								28%
Toyota													GS 450h	327							141								-57%
Toyota													RX 400h	2494							2359								-5%
Toyota													LS600hL	0							217								-
Ford													Escape/Mariner	2934							3217								10%
Nissan													Altima	206							1002								386%
Total														40589							44805								10%

Consumers Are Changing the Cars They Would Consider - Kelley Blue Book

A Kelley Blue Book survey shows that gas prices are pushing people into considering vehicles they would have otherwise 'ignored.'

According to the study from KBB:

• 64% have changed their minds or are now thinking about vehicles they normally would not have considered before
• 50% reported less shopping of non-essential retail items,
• 44% who claim they will eat out less often,
• 40% who plan to purchase fewer media entertainment items and
• 9% of new-car shoppers who intend to delay the purchase of a new home due to the rise in gas prices.

Personally, I find the last one the most astonishing. Are high gas prices really affecting whether or not people are going to purchase a home?

As oil prices continue to leapfrog the $100 a barrel mark, gas prices are expected to continue to rise and people are beginning to really feel the difference. This is pushing buyers into considering more fuel efficient cars.

Want to know more about Hybrid Cars?

Press Release Follows:

IRVINE, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study (http://www.kbb.com), elevating gas prices have in-market new-car shoppers considering vehicles they would have otherwise ignored. The February 2008 results reveal that almost two-thirds, 64 percent of shoppers, have changed their minds or are now thinking about vehicles they normally would not have considered before.

In the last week, oil jumped to a record $102 a barrel signaling a possible price hike at the pump over the next few weeks. Nearly 32 percent of new-vehicle shoppers in the Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study claim that if gas prices jump even 25 cents, they will begin looking at more fuel-efficient vehicles.

In addition, shoppers have made adjustments in their personal purchasing habits to offset heavy gas charges. The Kelley Blue Book study shows that 50 percent reported less shopping of non-essential retail items, compared to 44 percent who claim they will eat out less often, 40 percent who plan to purchase fewer media entertainment items and nine percent of new-car shoppers who intend to delay the purchase of a new home due to the rise in gas prices.

"Consumers continue to look for ways to tackle the gasoline price issue, and this study shows they are willing to make alterations in their shopping habits and lifestyles to balance their expenses," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "Technologies that offer better fuel economy, like the gasoline-electric hybrid, are being offered in more models, and other technologies, like 'clean diesel,' are waiting in the wings, helping shoppers reevaluate their purchase decisions to find better fuel economy."

The latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study was conducted on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com among 1,200 in-market new-vehicle shoppers during February 2008.

Toyata Prius is Beat Out by the IQ

While hybrid engines make a difference, they are not the be all and end all to reducing emissions and increasing fuel economy. Sometimes, all it takes is going smaller.

With that in mind, Toyota introduced the IQ in Geneva, a car that will emit 99 g/km of CO2, beating the Prius by 5 g/km.

Ford is also coming out with the Fiesta, which is supposed to get CO2 emissions under 100 g/km.

But don't look for either one to be sold in the US anytime soon. The IQ will be sold in Japan and Europe in the coming year.

Source: Toyota iQ will beat Prius in fuel efficiency - Automotive News

The 2985mm-long iQ will be Toyota's smallest model, positioned below the Aygo minicar.

The 3+1 iQ seats two adults in the front, one adult in the back and a child behind the driver.