Sometimes I love to go back to the vault and take a look at some of the old concept cars that made a splash at Motor Shows around the world. Today I decided to take a look at the Saab Aero X, the Saab 'green machine'.

When the Saab Aero X showed its face at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006, it was crowned best concept car for the show. It featured a radical ultra modern design and an environmentally friendly focus. For me, it was one of the first cars to prove that an environmentally friendly car did not necessarily have to be an ugly one.

The Saab Aero X is powered by the 298 kW twin-turbo BioPower version of Saab’s award-winning, Australian built 2.8-litre Global V6 engine. The Aero X concept runs on 100 per cent bioethanol fuel. It was trumpeted as providing "performance with responsibility".

Body wise, the Aero X features super light carbon fibre bodywork, lightweight powertrain and electronically-controlled suspension. Computer simulations anticipate zero to 100 km/hour in just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/hour (speed limited).

The Saab Aero X takes a different approach to cabin design, doing away with traditional doors altogether. Instead, the Aero X features a glass canopy and wrap-around windscreen, which eliminates the need for traditional A-pillars. The canopy is operated via remote control.

Sitting on massive 22-inch front and 23-inch rear alloys, the wheels themselves are shaped to draw in air around the brakes to keep them cool.

The Saab Aero X is a concept that builders of other environmentally friendly vehicles (including hybrids) need to go back and take a look at. Environmentally friendly does not have to mean ugly!

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