What is it? The 9-X BioHybrid is a small, upscale three-door hatchback concept designed to appeal to longtime Saab loyalists who may have owned, or at least lusted for, 900 hatchbacks in the 1980s and '90s. Saab says this show car is approved for production as the company's entry-level 9-1. It will be smaller and cheaper than the 9-3 lineup. But don't look for the 9-1 in showrooms until 2011 or 2012.
As a concept, the 9-X BioHybrid uses a 200-hp, 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, flexible-fuel engine that can run on any mix of gasoline or E85 ethanol. It is a hybrid that uses the two-mode full hybrid system from General Motors.
What is new or notable? The 9-X BioHybrid also has a wireless electronic communication system from Sony Ericsson that can stream video for passengers, and it allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously. The powered, slide-out cargo floor extends and retracts automatically when the tailgate is opened.
CR's take: Saab fans could use a less expensive, more competitive model. But too many of these small, upscale cars popular in Europe end up being too expensive and underpowered to compete here. By the time the 9-1 hits the market, upscale hybrids could be commonplace.
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