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http://kilometermagazine.com/artman...s_Jason_Castriota_as_New_Design_Director.html

Should be interesting to watch. . .

 

[TheDarkEnergist]

Ummm...yikes.

While this guy is certainly able to design well, let's hope the Mantide isn't what happens when he's set free. Let's also hope Saab isn't going to set him loose on their cars.

The Mantide and P4/5 are eerily similar in their design offenses. This move could be great, or greatly disappointing.

 

[cougar]

Interesting, certainly... though I'm not a fan of either the P4/5 or the Bertone Mantide... but they're definitely "different."

 

[Lepsis3942]

Saab needs to be distinctive, I certainly think Castriota is capable of that

I guess we'll see

 

[DJMRDARK]

His extreme modernism combined with Saab's desire to evoke their glory years could be interesting...in a good way.:thumbup:

 

[addictedtogum]

The Mantide and P4/5 are eerily UGLY in their design offenses.

not a fan of those cars. the granturismo on the other hand i can get down with.

His designs are different and quirky (possibly functional), isn't that what everyone says saab needs to go back to?

It'll be interesting for sure...

 

[stumyk]

Ummm...yikes.

While this guy is certainly able to design well, let's hope the Mantide isn't what happens when he's set free. Let's also hope Saab isn't going to set him loose on their cars.

The Mantide and P4/5 are eerily similar in their design offenses. This move could be great, or greatly disappointing.

I agree. The gran turismo is a disappointment in my opinion, and the p4 and mantide look to be designed by a 5 year old. The 599 is the best of the four mentioned, but I don't think it came close to living up to the elegance of the 550, and that makes sense considering the other designs associated with Castriota.

 

[HerrGolf]

Well better than Michael Mauer's crap, more than likely. His facelifts of the outgoing 9-5 and 9-3 were, in a word, undignified.

 

[Dave Zero]

I agree. The gran turismo is a disappointment in my opinion, and the p4 and mantide look to be designed by a 5 year old. The 599 is the best of the four mentioned, but I don't think it came close to living up to the elegance of the 550, and that makes sense considering the other designs associated with Castriota.

Supercars need to look like there were designed by five year olds.

The "over the top" is what makes them so great.

The simple, curvy, cokebottle fastback coupe has been done 1000 times over and over again. Do we really need another one?

That's why I think the Mantide is pure win and cars like the Alfa 8C that look like the same shape I've seen over and over again are just boring looking.

 

[chucchinchilla]

His extreme modernism combined with Saab's desire to evoke their glory years could be interesting...in a good way.:thumbup:

Agreed. I think manufacturing costs will keep outrageous designs like the Bertone Mantide off the table. That said, I have high hopes for something fresh and distinctive. I've never been a Saab fan, but I'm keeping an open mind for future products.

 

[alleghenyman]

This should satisfy anyone who thinks Saab needs to get more eccentric again.

I hope they're willing to take risks - some people hated the Audi horse-collar grille, BMW Bangle-vision, and Lexus-chintz, but it's hard to say those approaches weren't worth the risk.

 

[Entwerfer des Audis]

I'm anxious to see what he can come up with. I haven't really seen a huge volume of his work, so I can't say whether I think it'll work or not, but let's hope this works out well for Saab.