AutoCritical

Here’s an interesting fact that you may not already know about Saab that I find very interesting. All their production cars carry the number 9 at the beginning of their model numbers that signifies it as a civilian vehicle, since in the past Saab used to produce military transportation, mostly air planes. (Except for the Saab 600, it being a rebadged Lancia Delta)
The Saab exterior and interior styling has always claimed to links to aeroplanes, for the interior the usual mass of buttons can draw comparisons but to what strength the exterior connects can be quite debatable – although did you see the attempt of propeller like wheels? They should have stuck with something more similar to the Aero X concept!

Saab Automotive- Saab Aeronautics

I personally love the Sweedish Saab style. There is always something distinct that separates them from the more popular cars in the same market. Proportionally the new Saab 9-5 is robust, and more so than ever in a widely attainable production car there are strong elements drawing influence from air flight.

Aeronautical themes - Saab 9-5 with a proposal sketch

The glasshouse more strongly represents one surrounding the cockpit of a plane with an almost ‘wrap around’ appearance, mostly helped with the darkened A-pillar. Although sounding quite simple, it takes more than just darkening the A-pillar to create this illusion. Accentuation through the use of chrome further pushes this aeronautical theme to something that stands out as a main feature.

Chrome highlights - Can you see the cockpit of the plane?

Other areas of chrome accentuation belong to the lower fender vent that joins the side rocker that catches a strong line of light. This cleverly creates the illusion of more chrome than there actually is, and I’m guessing in the natural light a spear of light shoots out of the front fender vent all the way through to the lower of the rear fascia. Overall this creates a length across the body side that perhaps even resembles a nosecone from an aeroplane.

Jet fighter afterburner

Around the rear half of the car is a more sculpturally organic shape that doesn’t call attention to its length, and with the heavy set C pillar really emphasis the length of the ‘nosecone’. In other certain contexts a heavy rear can look a bit off, but I think Saab have justified this through this idea. Keeping in line with the aeronautical theme, the rear lighting design reminds me of images of a glowing red hot jet fighter rocket ready to take off! This Saab is indeed ready to go!

From the Aero X concept

Just like a hungry jet fighter sucking in air to feed the burners, the 9-5 does too. In keeping with the corporate face of Saab, the traditional grill layout complements the shape of the front and hood which results in a clean and refined look – reminiscent of the Aero X concept. Even the bonnet creases carry a restrained aggression where they bulge out, yet flow cleanly into the fascia detail work.

Saab 900 and Saab 9-5

It’s good to see car designs that make reference to their signature styles of the past; I see a lot of the influences of say, the Saab 900 in this design. The proportions (more obvious in the C Pillar) although updated to a more current setup, still manage to pay homage to its heritage. I’m pretty keen to see what else Saab has to offer – the aero model will be something to watch out for, especially after the take over with Koenigsegg!

Proportions of vehicles are always changing, both to fit the new regulations to do with things like safety and style. Proportions are also one of the design elements that can really ‘make or break’ the design of a vehicle and how a designer uses this to their advantage is to exaggerate them. The end is usually a result of a sketch with large wheels, and a small DLO.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox - Strong body side, bug-eye front...

From a few key elements, I think the proportions on the Chevrolet Equinox takes on characteristics of a concept sketch, starting with the bulky wheel arches that dwarf the more ‘production’ looking wheels, and the small DLO that is separated with a C-Pillar to the rear glass.

Concept-style wheel arches - smaller more realistic wheels - Unusual 'C-Pillar'

Just because a production car has concept-like features, doesn’t specifically or instantly make it a good looking car, or a successful design for that matter. In the instance of the Equinox I think the front wheel arches are a bit too dominant in comparison to the rear. If they were measured, they would probably be quite similar, but because there is less body color mass around the arches of the front than the back, the illusion results in the wheel arch sizes seeming a bit off balance (looks too heavy in the front).

Perhaps what is needed is a more aggressive front?

Although a heavy, planted look on a SUV may be successful for other designs, on this design it doesn’t suit when viewed holistically with the rest of the car. For me, the front of the car guides the feeling for the rest of the car and I don’t think the Equinox’s bug-eye almost cute face matches the heavy set arches. An attempt to ‘aggressify’ the front fascia of the car can be seen, but is not pulled off. The spears formed from budging lower vents and the under-hook of the lamps in theory is aggressive, but for some reason I think the soft and flat bonnet and peaky front grille, (and possibly that bow-tie badge) seem to be cheekily grinning at me. Is it grinning at you too?

A rear that is neither bold or cute

The rear of the car is quite anonymous and neither aggressive nor cutesy. It almost looks like a result of drawing horizontal lines between whatever was happening around the corners of the body side. Just as disappointing as the rear are elements that also don’t fit in with the rest of the design. For example, the rear glass solution on the side view around the C-pillar has an unusual solution that makes the roof look bent. Another is how the details around the head lamps meet the grille and front of the bonnet contradict each other.
Overall this design is all a bit mixed up. The front wants to be a small car, the side wants to be aggressive then the rear is nothing… literally…It’s a shame that this GM Designed car is so directionless compared to its Ford rivals…