Monday 21st June 2010

Saab Hires Supercar Stylist

Former Pininfarina man, Jason Castriota, to head-up Saab design revival

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Saab has hired US designer Jason Castriota to head up its design team. Castriota, whose work to date includes the Maserati GranTurismo coupe, the fabulous one-off Ferrari P4/5 and the Bertone Mantide concept, has been brought in to help create a brand new design language for the Swedish car maker, and to help return it to its quirky, distinctive roots.

The first focus for 36-year-old Castriota will be a replacement for the 9-3, which is due in 2012.

"The 9-3 design as made by him is basically done, and I can tell you it is spectacular," Victor Muller, CEO of Saab's parent company Spyker, told Bloomberg. "It is truly aircraft-inspired and Swedish-clean."

"It's absolutely vital we get this car right," said Castriota. "This is Saab returning to its roots, not having to worry about being part of a much larger machine that they were before in the GM organization."

The next major project after the new 9-3 will be a small car inspired by the droplet-shaped 92 of the early 1950s. According to Bloomberg, Saab is talking to BMW about using the Mini's chassis and drivetrain for its planned small car.

"A small premium car from Saab is a very important vehicle and is something that could truly help the overall production volume of Saab," Said Castriota.

Before his move to Saab, Castriota worked at Pininfarina between 2001 and 2008, and then moved to Bertone until last autumn, when he set up his own outfit - Jason Castriota Designs.

[RJDM3]

I am hoping we start to see some interesting things come out from Saab in the near future

[Yelly]

So Sabb didn't go bust, then?

What happened to Saab? Did GM just decide not to sell?

[Greenwich Ross]

Yelly said:

So Sabb didn't go bust, then?

What happened to Saab? Did GM just decide not to sell?

Think Spyker bought 'em.

[ewenm]

Greenwich Ross said:

Yelly said:

So Sabb didn't go bust, then?

What happened to Saab? Did GM just decide not to sell?

Think Spyker bought 'em.

[JohnGoodridge]

If spyker bring their quirkiness to Saab we're in for some really interesting cars.

[glazbagun]

I just hope they can survive long enough to bring something great to the market.

[Negative Creep]

dear Jason


No more Dame Edna headlights please


Thanks

[rory182]

So glad Saab are still around would have been a real shame to see such innovators disappear.

[Mannginger]

Really interested to see what he's done with the Saab models. It'll be a tough balance to be quirky yet mainstream enough to attract goodly numbers of buyers.

His previous works have been lovely and as mentioned above, anything would improve on the current "sunglasses" look!

[Scoobysnax1963]

I've had Saabs for 19 years, albeit Abbott Racing tuned ones and they're greeeeaaaatt!!!! Can't wait to see the Spyker revival of Saab.

[squirrelz]

JohnGoodridge said:

If spyker bring their quirkiness to Saab we're in for some really interesting cars.

Yep, can't for a small exec car with scissor doors

[Richiefly]

Would be great if they went back to the roots with the Saabs again (anything other than the current awful front end designs) - didn't the spyker have a flat, four spoke, chrome steering wheel etc? Would be good to see the quirkyness of Saabs of old, when they used to advertise them flying along underneath one of their jets!

Bring back that era is what I say, turbo'd petrol engines and outlandish interiors (quite possible whilst retaining practicality) Remember the old 900 turbo's - great cars in their day, great change from the cavaliers and other mass produced boring stuff.

[tgx4776]

Ummmm unless I am mistaken Saab has never had outlandish interiors

[geoffracing]

Although I believe SAABs are the best cars in the world, I find them all horrid (apart from the Fiat Croma/Lancia Ferrari body, which in fact isn't original in the least!).
So the news of a Pininfarina designer coming along is GREAT!
I might at last be tempted by one...

[dinkel]

Went like a complete hooligan on track.

[Richiefly]

tgx4776 said:

Ummmm unless I am mistaken Saab has never had outlandish interiors

Sorry - I didn't explain myself very well, what I meant was quirkyness of old meets outlandishness of Spyker.

[mark3man]

Richiefly said:

(anything other than the current awful front end designs) - didn't the spyker have a flat, four spoke, chrome steering wheel etc?

Just shows beauty is in the eye of the beholder - most people say the nose of the 9-3 I have is so distinctive compared to anything else around.

Not quite sure if a steering wheel redesign will help - Saabs are drivers' cars and they will need a wheel with controls on it.....

[pagani1]

A cool dude! I loved his P4 /599 better than the based car but don't tell Ferrari

[Smartass]

Great news. Hopefully they'll come up with something cool, practical, and just a touch mental and then make it available with four wheel drive rather than front wheel drive.

[tgx4776]

Richiefly said:

tgx4776 said:

Ummmm unless I am mistaken Saab has never had outlandish interiors

Sorry - I didn't explain myself very well, what I meant was quirkyness of old meets outlandishness of Spyker.

Due to the controversy over the outlandish appearance of Spykers both inside and out among not only core Saab customers but potential costumers I believe it would only be wise to offer a Spykered interior treatment to Saabs on special editions and custom orders only

Saab needs a highly logical, comfortable, easy to use, safe cabin built around the driver. It will benefit form good materials and attention to detail from Spyker but phantasmagorical cabins are best left to Spykers and special edition Saabs.