Saab looks to downsize...engines, that is
With stricter European emissions controls looming, expect to see Saab jump on the "less is more" (or, at the very least, "less is equal") bandwagon, joining companies like Renault and Volkswagen, which have begun implementing smaller engines that provide power comparable to larger units. In an interview, Saab Great Britain's managing director Jonathan Nash stated that smaller-displacement turbocharged E85 engines are likely to appear in the near term. Look for them to ape the success of the currently-available, larger BioPower engines that are top-sellers in Sweden. Those motors make more power on Ethanol than gasoline, and Saab feels it can go smaller without forcing drivers to accept a performance penalty. For consumers to take full advantage, their markets need to have readily-available E85 of course. Longer term, Nash says that the Biofuels and hybrid technology are probably the future of Saab, and you might remember that this combo was previewed last year in the Saab BioPower Hybrid concept.
[Source: 4Car]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jb 1:27PM (10/06/2007)
Wow imagine that. The newer version of a car which DOES NOT HAVE to be more powerful. Maybe, the same restrictions should be applied in the US!!
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500 2:15PM (10/06/2007)
Does Saab (GM) know something Mercedes and BMW don't? Last time I checked, they sell a lot more cars than Saab, offering large powerful engines AND the option of smaller more efficient powerplants for customers who want/need them.
The relative lack of power has been the main factor keeping Saab off my shopping list, especially since the GM takeover. Don't ruin Saab when it's just starting to get good again.
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sydbot 8:36PM (10/06/2007)
What if they eked out the same power:weight ratio of the old turbo 900 series, while providing a 20-30% advantage in mileage versus the competition?
500 11:11PM (10/06/2007)
I drove a few Saabs in the late 80's/early 90's and loved them. But the same performance as the old 900 Turbos wouldn't cut it in today's market. Not for a "luxury" brand. That's my point; the competition has leapfrogged ahead.
Sure, offer the "green" powerplants, but also offer something to compete with BMW's "M" division and Audi's "S" models, for a little less money.
mike 11:11AM (10/07/2007)
500,
Where do you drive man that you can use your 200-300-400 hp? I get on the road at 6AM and I can't
use 40hp from a 167 hp engine.
Is there a population decrease going on in your neighborhood? Because mine is just getting more crowded....
Sometime the Auto-Oil-Industry is going to have to build cars for the Real World, and stop making them for the Imaginary World.
500 6:17PM (10/09/2007)
mike, horsepower is like anything else; once you get used to a certain level, you always more. My 302 hp Mercedes now feels quite ordinary to me.
jim 9:23PM (10/06/2007)
Watch carefully and you'll seen BMW and MB cutting power and engine size also. The EU carbon restrictions will force them to do so.
Saab is trying to carve a niche for itself as a 'green' auto company so getting out in front makes sense. The Germans will likely reduce power/engine size and not talk about it.
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John Metcalf 2:51PM (10/07/2007)
both vw and volvo would be more attractive to me if they downsized the engines to increase mileage.
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jamesFF 7:28PM (10/07/2007)
Will it work on regular gas? So far I have only seen one fuel station that sells E85.
I remember when Saab was working on an engine that was able to run on both gas and diesel.
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alexer 11:05PM (10/08/2007)
saab its getting sexy. if they get the biopower here in the states ill get it right away. saab is fun to drive.
saab is sexy
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Mister Bean 9:40AM (10/08/2007)
Isn't this something Saab has been doing for a while? They've been using n/a and turbo four cylinders in most of their cars since at least the early nineties. My 2000 9-3 has a 2.0 turbo and gets over 35 mpg on the highway.
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MikeW 11:44PM (10/07/2007)
Upsize the transmission.
7,8,9 speed automatics are do-able.
Wider ratio CVTs (The new multitronic is over 6.6:1, while the Altima V6/murano is stuck at 5.4:1, though four cylinder is 6:1)
VW has a transverse 7 speed double clutch transmission, hopefully a 7 speed wet clutch will be next.
VW bring over the Golf GT, and the twincharger. Drop the craptastic 2.5 I5, wow an extra 20hp and an extra 500rpm. Then a higher power 2.0 can replace the R32, and a R36 can replace the R32.
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