Saab unveils Turbo X at Frankfurt Auto Show
The new Saab Turbo X will make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show next month, in celebration of the Swedish auto maker’s 30 years of leadership in turbocharging. There, Saab will “go back to the future” by evoking the iconic appeal of its classic Black Turbo models as a tribute to the cars that started it all.
Introducing a cutting-edge technology, the Saab Turbo X has the visual appeal similar to Saab 99 and Saab 900 black turbos of the 1970s and 1980s. The Saab Turbo X is intended to revive the appeal of those classic Black Turbo models. What sets the new Turbo X apart, however, is that an all-wheel drive is introduced to the 9-3 lineup. It is in Frankfurt where the 2008 9-3 will make its first grand entrance, with an AWD system that can not only transfer 100 percent of available torque to the rear wheels but also split torque between the rear wheels.
Saab plans to feature the 2008 Saab Turbo X with a more powerful, 280-horsepower version of the turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 that is in front-wheel-drive versions of the 9-3 Aero XWD.
Thirty years ago, Saab surprised the automotive world by presenting its first turbocharged model at the 1977 Frankfurt auto show. That car was the Saab 99 Turbo, which started a trend that others would follow suit. Since then, the Swedes have used turbocharging to enhance performance throughout their model range. Likewise, the groundbreaking features of the new Saab Turbo X are expected to get worldwide emulation.
