Saab Introduces New Model for North America
January 7, 1998 -- Saab introduced one new and one redesigned car at the North American International Auto show yesterday in Detroit. This is the first significant model introduction for Saab since the 900 was unveiled in 1994.
The new car is called the 9-5, as in nine with five zeros after it. The 9-5 is a premium sedan that replaces the Saab 9000, which has been the flagship of this Swedish manufacturer for 11 years. In a departure from previous Saabs, the 9-5 will feature a conventional trunk instead of a utilitarian hatchback. The car also has more traditional styling than recent Saabs. European sales of the 9-5 have been strong despite early criticism of the car's lack of Saabish character. Company officials said that Saab has added 1,000 employees to keep up with the demand for the 9-5.
The redesigned Saab model is the 9-3, an evolution of last year's 900-Series cars. The 9-3 benefits from an improved chassis and suspension, which work in concert with the car's recalibrated steering gear to give the 9-3 a sportier, more solid feel. The 9-3 also gets new exterior styling cues to distinguish it visually from last year's 900, as well as interior touches like improved front seats and repositioned controls. Despite the acute visual similarity to its predecessor, Saab has convinced us that this car is much improved over its predecessor because of the 1,100 changes that occurred in its redesign.
Turbocharged motors are present in every Saab for sale this year as the company moves to a new generation of engines which it calls Ecopower. Ecopower engines combine multiple valves with an advanced turbocharger strategy. This design consists of an asy mmetric turbo that is powered solely by the front bank of cylinders that in turn charge all of the cylinders in the car. According to Saab, the benefits of the Ecopower engine for drivers include reduced turbo lag and increased torque at low revs, a prob lem that previous Saab turbos have suffered from. Benefits of such an engine for the environment include reduced emissions and greater fuel efficiency.
January 7, 1998 -- Saab introduced one new and one redesigned car at the North American International Auto show yesterday in Detroit. This is the first significant model introduction for Saab since the 900 was unveiled in 1994.
The new car is called the 9-5, as in nine with five zeros after it. The 9-5 is a premium sedan that replaces the Saab 9000, which has been the flagship of this Swedish manufacturer for 11 years. In a departure from previous Saabs, the 9-5 will feature a conventional trunk instead of a utilitarian hatchback. The car also has more traditional styling than recent Saabs. European sales of the 9-5 have been strong despite early criticism of the car's lack of Saabish character. Company officials said that Saab has added 1,000 employees to keep up with the demand for the 9-5.
The redesigned Saab model is the 9-3, an evolution of last year's 900-Series cars. The 9-3 benefits from an improved chassis and suspension, which work in concert with the car's recalibrated steering gear to give the 9-3 a sportier, more solid feel. The 9-3 also gets new exterior styling cues to distinguish it visually from last year's 900, as well as interior touches like improved front seats and repositioned controls. Despite the acute visual similarity to its predecessor, Saab has convinced us that this car is much improved over its predecessor because of the 1,100 changes that occurred in its redesign.
Turbocharged motors are present in every Saab for sale this year as the company moves to a new generation of engines which it calls Ecopower. Ecopower engines combine multiple valves with an advanced turbocharger strategy. This design consists of an asy mmetric turbo that is powered solely by the front bank of cylinders that in turn charge all of the cylinders in the car. According to Saab, the benefits of the Ecopower engine for drivers include reduced turbo lag and increased torque at low revs, a prob lem that previous Saab turbos have suffered from. Benefits of such an engine for the environment include reduced emissions and greater fuel efficiency.
Add A Comment »