The Paris Motor Show is just a few weeks away, but General Motors yesterday surprised the world by revealing details about its upcoming Saab concept, expected to debut at the French show, at a media event in Detroit. The concept is the new 9X Air – a convertible version of the previous 9X BioHybrid concept vehicle from March’s Geneva Motor Show.

Weak sales and a failure to seriously compete with major German and Japanese luxury marques have marked the history of the aging Saab 9-5. Keeping in mind the current car’s shortcomings, designers are targeting a sportier and more elegant design for the next model, while moving upward in terms of both power and specification.

Saab confirmed at this week’s London Motor Show that it would be focusing on more compact designs for its future models as the most appropriate response to concerns about the environment, fuel prices and urban congestion. The move could be especially good news for Australia, since the current Saab lineup is somewhat limited in its range. Adding a small yet versatile platform to the mix could offer city dwellers another choice in the sport premium segment.

General Motors today issued a statement denying a Wall Street Journal report that executives were considering a sale or elimination of several brands - in addition to Hummer. The troubled carmaker has seen global sales plummet over the past several months as oil prices reach record highs and global economies worsen.

While the Hummer SUV brand remains under evaluation, GM has stated flatly that no other brands are on the chopping block.

General Motors has confirmed that its next-generation Saab 9-3 will be produced at the carmaker’s Trollhattan plant in Sweden, leaving the Ruesselsheim plant in Germany free to produce the next Saab 9-5 and a brand new compact car likely to be based on the 9-X BioHybrid concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this March. The new car is likely to be called the 9-1 and will be a premium hatch aimed at vehicles like the Mini Cooper, Volvo C30 and BMW 1-series.

Revealed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Saab 9-3 Turbo X will be arriving in Australia in June, trickling in a few units at a time until September. Only 30 cars will be available in Australia and New Zealand, 25 of which will be Sport Sedan variants, the remaining 5 being SportCombi estates.