Saab News Blog

Saab launches the 2008 Saab Turbo X vehicle to commemorate Saab’s three decades of leadership in turbocharging. The 2008 Saab Turbo X has a beautifully black exterior bodykit and a matte grey titanium-like front grille and exterior. The colors are inspired by the black 99 and 900 Turbos, Saab’s first ever turbocharged vehicles released in the fall of 1977.

The Saab Turbo X has a sleek, aerodynamic design which incorporates Saab’s new cross wheel drive technology into the drivetrain. It boasts of  295 lbs-ft of torque from its 280 hp 2.8V6 turbo engine. It is the top of the line, high performance vehicle of the Saab 9-3 car models. The exterior is aerodynamically and aesthetically enhanced with a deeper lip spoiler, integrated air intake and 18-inch alloy wheels with a grey titanium-like finish. The interior is driver focused, with carbon-fiber finish door inserts, glove box and gear shift console. The steering wheel is made up of thick-rimmed, soft grip leather which makes driving a more enjoyable experience for anyone who drives the Turbo X.

The vehicle will be introduced to the North American market at the 2007 New England International Auto Show in Boston. The automotive manufacturers have decided to launch the Turbo X in Boston as a tribute to the area where Saab first started the US branch of their business enterprise. The Saab Turbo X will be available in 4-door Sport Sedan and 5-door SportCombi body styles in either six speed automatic or manual transmissions. It has a standard retail price of $ 42,510 for the sport sedan and a $ 43,510 for the SportCombi.

The first 100 customers to purchase the Saab Turbo X before January 31, 2008 will be invited to attend the Turbo X Academy Driving Program. Attendees to the Turbo X Academy Driving Program are also entitled to two nights stay at the four-star hotel Chateau Elán. As a part of the program, the proud owners of the Saab Turbo X will also be given the chance to drive their vehicle around the renowned track at Road Atlanta. The Saab Turbo X will be released as a production car in the spring of 2008.

Source: 2008 SAAB Turbo X: Black To The Future

ELLE magazine Hong Kong honors Anthony Lo as “Asian Designer of the Year” at the recently concluded 2007 ELLE Magazine Style Awards. The awarding ceremony is an event that has been held every year since 1997. This year’s awards night was a truly an Asian affair with Asian editions of Elle Magazine from China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand participating actively in the event.

Anthony Lo is the designer behind the concept of the Saab Aero X, an impressive vehicle that finds its design inspiration from Saab’s aircraft heritage. The Saab Aero X is designed as a two –seater sports coupe that has a glass cockpit canopy that looks very similar to the interior of a fighter jet. The Saab Aero X gives its occupants a full 180 degrees view of the road because its windshield wipers are located at the side of its vertical sliding car doors and away from the windshield. It boasts of a 400 hp, twin-turbo BioPower V6 engine which runs on ethanol as fuel. The vehicle does away with dials and buttons by incorporating car functions Read the rest of this entry »

Saab has recently launched a cross wheel drive technology in its Turbo X and 9-3 Aero XWD Sport Sedan and SportCombi models. The intelligent system of “cross wheel drive” was developed in Sweden by vehicle safety expert, Haldex. The company has developed a unique torque transfer system that allows both the front and rear wheel drives of a Saab vehicle to be able to transfer torque among each other, depending on the need. The innovative system is said to increase driver involvement with tire movements and greater vehicle stability in all driving conditions.

This is a unique system for automotives because it is the first of its kind to utilize advanced technology in the transfer of torque among all the wheels. Vehicles equipped with the “cross wheel drive” system come with a 280 hp (206 kW), 2.8 V6 turbo engine that offers 15% more maximum torque (400 Nm/295 lbs/ft). Saab decided to introduce the “cross wheel drive” technology with one goal in mind: better traction.

The “cross wheel drive” technology has a Torque Transfer Device (TTD), a Rear Drive Module (RDM), and an electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). These mechanisms have a separate electronic device unit that is activated when the clutch plates are pressed together. In a wet, slippery road or a steep incline, for example, the Torque Transfer Device (TTD) transfers power between wheels. As the TTD is initiated, the Rear Drive Module (RDM) becomes activated. The Rear Drive Module (RDM) functions as its name entails, it controls the rear wheels to provide better traction. The electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) works hand in hand with the Torque Transfer Device (TTD) and the Rear Drive Module (RDM). Each tire of the Saab vehicle has speed sensors, these sensors detect which tire has the best grip or traction while on a slippery road or an incline. The electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) then transfers the torque to the wheel/s that it detects to have the best grip.

To avail of the “cross wheel drive” technology, Saab vehicles would need “a new rear sub-frame to carry the RDM, revised rear suspension geometry and new wheel hubs for the drive shafts”. As a requirement, all cross wheel drive equipped Saab vehicles will need 18 inch alloy wheels.

Source: Saab’s New “Cross Wheel Drive” in Detail , Haldex

Saab is one of the first automotive manufacturers to offer an E85 flex fuel (bioethanol) vehicle to the Australian car market. E85 flex – fuel vehicles are already common in Europe. But the introduction of E85 flex – fuel cars is breakthrough both for Saab and its Australian market. The vehicle, called a BioPower 9-5, is already on sale in Australia.  Saab Australia offers three versions of the BioPower 9-5 vehicle – the Sport Sedan, SportCombi and the Convertible type.

The launching of the Saab BioPower 9 – 5 is opportune as this was also the same time that United Petroleum, the largest fuel supplier in Australia, announced that they were to build two bioethanol fuel pumps, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney, to cater to the alternative fuel market.

The use of bioethanol on Saab’s BioPower 9-5 will be able to reduce carbon emissions from 120-130gm per kilometer of carbon dioxide to 40gm per kilometer. It will also cut down fuelcosts for car owners because bioethanol powered cars run on 82 percent ethanol and only 15 percent petrol. A liter of bioethanol cost only about one dollar.

Other car manufacturers are expected to follow Saab’s lead by introducing bioethanol powered cars to the Australian market, as well. More and more car owners are going “green” and turning to alternative sources of fuel. Older Saab cars may need some engine conversion in order to be able to run on bioethanol but high – quality, discount priced Saab OEM parts are easy to find.

Source: Saab gives Australia bio-ethanol Cars

The automobiles produced by the Swedish automaker Saab are definitely known for having superior quality, which leads to the contentment of every vehicle owner. However, because of the changing way of life of many motorists, Saab and other auto part makers have come up with several automotive accessories that can enhance the already fulfilling drive experience offered by Saab automobiles. These auto accessories cater to the needs and wants of contemporary vehicle owners and passengers in terms of vehicle performance, maintenance, and even on-board amusement.

This season of autumn, owners of Saab automobiles can select from a wide array of functional accessories for different Saab models. These up to date Saab supplementary parts are designed to keep up with the dynamic lifestyle of modern motorists. Here are some of the popular Saab add-ons:

Hirsch Performance Engine Upgrade

The quality of Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 models can still be improved by increasing their torque and power. The Hirsch Performance engine upgrade is an ideal Saab accessory that can raise the power of the Saab vehicle by 30 %. In the United Kingdom, Saab wholesalers at present are selling this Hirsch accessory for £749.

Saab iPod Kit

Music lovers will find every road trip enjoyable with the Saab iPod kit. All the music files stored in their music devices can now be played on the audio system of the Saab automobile. With just a simple click of a button, passengers can already listen to their favorite songs. This hip auto accessory also includes a recharging mechanism connected that can easily be connected to the iPod, making the musical gadget always ready to operate.

Saab Boot Mat

An accessory that can help vehicle owners maintain the cleanliness of their automobiles is the Saab boot mat. This rubber-made accessory prevents the Saab carpets from being messed up. The rubber material is also ideal in protecting the luggage area from spills, mud, and other harmful factors. Moreover, the Saab boot mat can be easily removed. That’s why cleaning it can be very easy for vehicle owners.

This modern world already offers a lot of anxiety-inducing things that cause harm to the lives of people, and to hear about a technology that would somehow lessen the consequences brought by a stressed body and mind is something that any person would be very thankful of these days.

The new technology of Saab is certainly one of the greatest innovations that would keep any modern-day driver away from the risks put forth by too much pressure. Finally, a system that will minimize the negative outcomes that stress can bring has been invented. To add up to the efficiency brought by Saab OEM parts, a fatigue warning system is to be installed in future Saab automobiles.

The Swedish automotive company, in cooperation with Sweden’s Linkoping University, has already started a test drive of a Saab vehicle with a fatigue warning system, which will last for eight months.

The main function of the Saab fatigue warning system is to monitor the movements of the driver’s head and eyes. The system is equipped with two infra-red cameras located at the dashboard and at the bottom of the windscreen post. By tracking down the head movements of the driver, the fatigue warning system is able to determine whether or not the driver’s attention is on the road.

Once the fatigue warning system detects that the attention of the driver is drifting, it will display a text message on the dashboard, warning the driver of his loss of focus. Aside from a text message display, the system can also make use of vibrating seat cushions to remind the driver to focus on the road ahead. Moreover, the system can send out a voice message “You are dangerously tired - stop as soon as it is safe to do so!” if the state of the driver’s attention is getting worse.

With this new Saab technology, the safety of drivers can be upheld despite the many distractions that may enter their minds while driving. The innovative features such as text display, vibrating seats, and voice message is certainly a big help in redirecting the wandering focus of any motorist.

Source: channel4.com