In what should come as a surprise to no one, the new Saab concept that will debut in a little over a week at the Geneva Motor Show will in fact use BioPower engine. BioPower, for those that haven't been paying attention, is Saab's branding for ethanol-capable flex-fuel engines. Saab Development Director Jörgen Nylén confirmed to Spanish site MotorPasion that the concept that will presage a new model (likely to be called the 9-1 or 9-1x) will be a premium compact car meant to compete with the likes of the Volvo C30 and Audi A3. One other thing we can confirm is that the center car in the image shown above is the only official one of the new concept. The other image that has been floating around showing a car in profile with a sheet draped over it is actually from a Swiss Saab ad according to a Saab spokesman. The car is shown in that ad is almost certainly an older concept called the 9X that appeared several years ago. The 9X is the car on the left above.

[Source: MotorPasion.com, via CarScoop]

Saab will be debuting a new concept at the Geneva Motor Show in just a couple of weeks and most people are expecting it to be a new mini-car. We already showed you what Motor Trend thinks Saab has cooking in Trollhättan. Now a teaser image has turned up on the media site where GM is announcing the presentation of the new car. With the silhouette of the new car flanked by the previous 9X and Aero-X concepts, it's clear the new concept is continuing some of the design language seen on recent Saabs, particularly the head lights and and wrap-around windshield glass. Beyond that and the presence of two front wheels we know nothing else at this point. One safe bet - considering Saab's fondness for ethanol - is a flex-fuel engine. With GM recently confirming that they will offer a 1.4L turbo four starting next year, an alcohol-burning version in the Saab seems like a no-brainer.

[Source: General Motors]

The Geneva Motor Show is coming in less than three weeks, and one of the world premieres at the show will be a new concept from Saab. In the announcement from GM, the concept is supposed to show "a further step in its continuing product range extension." Given that it's unlikely that Saab will expand its line with anything larger than the 9-5, and we already saw the 9-4x in Detroit, the most likely new model would be something below the 9-3.

According to Motor Trend, someone spotted a sketch of a MINI-like car while touring the GM E-Flex studio recently. So MT set artist Mark Stehrenberger to work creating a rendering of what a small Saab might look like. Is this wee Swede what Saab will be showing at their preview party in Geneva? As soon as we know, you will, but if I was a betting man it would bet on this 9-1.

[Source: Motor Trend]

The world has known about a possible compact-sized Saab since early September. Since then, there has been talk of the compact car getting a hybrid drivetrain. No official word is out yet on the matter, but Swedish publication NyTeknik is reporting that the compact will go on sale after 2010 and will be available with a hybrid drivetrain from day one. If the article is correct, the new Saab will be the 9-1 and will use the same platform as the Opel and Saturn Astra. That's the Delta platform, which is the same platform which is expected to underpin the Chevy Volt.

While we've already reported that the Volt -- if it is indeed produced -- will be made in Detroit, but maybe other Delta hybrid models will be built elsewhere, like in Saab's plant in Trollhättan, Sweden. In fact, Saab would like to built all of the hybrid models based on the Delta platform at their plant. Other interesting tidbits from the article are that the Saab team of engineers want the platform to support gasoline, E85 and diesel engines. They also have developed a second motor to power the rear axle (maybe like what they've already shown here), potentially offering all-wheel-drive. Take a look over at Trollhättan Saab to read a translated version of the article. Could we see a turbocharged, Biopower ethanol capable, all-wheel-drive Saab 9-1 hybrid in America? We'll just have to sit back and wait. Feel free to speculate away in the meantime!

[Source: Trollhättan Saab]