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Re: 9-3 Phoenix Photos Posted by Snowmobile [Email] (#686) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Snowmobile) on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:40:12 In Reply to: 9-3 Phoenix Photos, B Millar [Profile/Gallery] , Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:01:59 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I think Castriota tried to mix too many saabs together in his design... I felt that way for the phoenix also. The vintage models are nice, but I think what the general public remembers the most of saab is the SPG. If one wants to sell cars, it helps to appeal to that sentiment. To me, a new 9-3 should be an SPG inspired car, not mixing so many other things (eg Sonett)...
That said, the headlights are actually kind of inspired from the early days of the c900/99, but the result is kind of disjoint with both the present and past. I think it would have made more sense to concentrate on a form and proportion hinting at those cars... all the "liquid metal" stuff on the hood distracts from that... it would have been much more appropriate to maintain a clamshell hood and matching fold in the side of the car end to end (like on an SPG)...
I think Padian's attempt at a 9-3 prototype from 2008 (upper left in photo below, and the larger image) actually looks closer to what I'd have liked (though I could do without the "Sonett haunch" over the rear fender)... One of the big things he achieves is a "wedgy" look that many older saabs have (even the og9-5), whereas Castriota's looks more flat... though that may just be the angles of the photos...
It is possible Castriota's design looks better in person. These photos are fairly limited in what they show.
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