The losses of the group Saab rapidly growing: $ 300 million last year to $ 200 million in 2004. The Swedish unit of General Motors in the worst case, waiting for sales, at best - restructuring. If the second help, all the same brand may finally cease to be «Sweden». GM in the program of unification of platforms considering closing factories Saab in Sweden, which protest against the local managers.

Marketing believed that misfortune Saab - in the «short» model and a number too high a price. Scandinavian sure will be able to overcome the crisis by increasing sales of the new SUV, which is expected to premiere this year, universal 9-3 SportCombi and the updated version of 9-5. But before all this, there is still need to live. In the meantime, the factory in Trolhettane released last year, 128 000 cars against 135 planned, 000. And this despite the fact that the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of GM, Robert Lutz has been saying that you can count on earnings, with an annual production of not less than 250 000 vehicles.

In such a situation, the fans with a special brand Saab looking forward to the premiere of the Geneva concept Aero X, whose photos have appeared shortly before the motor. Once a reservation that the 2-seat coupe built on the base Pontiac Soltice (as well as the new Opel GT). However, family resemblance to the traditional American GT is limited to a common platform. Aero X - Saab in an attempt to breathe new life, turning to aviation history and bylomu brand identity.

First of all, the new body is the unusual architecture. The main feature - the lack of doors and side windows in the traditional sense. The driver and passenger were under glass «lamp», as in a fighter cockpit. This monolithic structure rises above the hood on brackets, opening access to the salon.

A key element in the design - Panoramic glass, providing an overview of 180 ^(o). It develops the tradition, the familiar patterns of fans 99 and 900. «We are encouraged with the way the Swedes use the glass surface in the high-tech projects to achieve various optical effects», - told the designers of the European offices, one GM, Eric Rocca.

«Aircraft» Drawing visible everywhere. Himself a body, an unusually smooth, with small details, like the fuselage a small private plane, a 11-spitsevye alloy wheels mimic impeller turbine aircraft engines. 22-inch wheels in front and 23-inch rear wheel arches require huge - as a result of the front fenders above the bonnet line.

Length Concept - 4675 mm with 2800 mm wheelbase. The founder was able to achieve the ideal weight 1500 kg equipped on the axes - 50:50. Aero X is equipped with a system full of drive and the adaptive suspension, electronically controlled. Front - double triangular levers at the rear - mnogorychazhka. Engine - 2.8 liter V6 with two turbo - from the Australian unit of GM Holden. Motor power increased to 400 hp Fuel - almost traditional Saab ethanol. Engine agregatiruetsya with 7-speed automated manual transmission with a «pair» clutch, similar to DSG. At the helm are the petals for manual switching.

Sea trials Aero X did not. But for the computer calculations, to «hundreds» coupe should accelerate to 4.9 seconds, maximum speed is limited to measure 250 km / h. «In the cabin had to remove all excess luxury alien ascetic Scandinavian style», - said Rocca. Refused even to wood and aluminum panels - instead of their strict black carbon. The only visual-striking detail - Aluminum yoke «lamp». The traditional scale and pointers have given way to a three-dimensional projections. All the greenish color of the backlight, using light-emitting diodes - an impressive contrast with the smooth white leather seats.

Aero X - a clear success Saab. However, developers have already managed to upset the audience by stating that the prototype - only showcase the latest development of the company. On the series production of this model is not speech. Some of these developments, for example, head lamp light, consisting of a single LED and projection lenses, will soon appear on the series production. True, it is unknown whether there will be a model brand Saab.