Report: Hirsch Tuning already extracting 335 HP from new Saab 9-5

2010 Saab 9-5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Saab 9-5 hasn't even lost its new-car smell yet and already tuners are coming out of the woodwork to churn out power upgrades for the car's three available engines. If you happen to find yourself in Europe and holding the keys to a brand-spanking new 9-5, Hirsch is claiming that it can pull up to 335 horsepower from the Aero's 2.8-liter turbo V6 engine. That's around 35 more ponies than what Saab shells out from the factory – not huge numbers, but still a useful increase.

According to enthusiast website SaabsUnited.com, Hirsch can bump the output from the not-for-North-America 2.0-liter turbo-diesel from 160 horsepower to 190, and the 220 horsepower four-cylinder engine can be massaged to 260 ponies with a little effort. It isn't immediately clear how much the Hirsch upgrades cost, or what goes into pulling the ponies from the existing engines. We're guessing the program is little more than an ECU reflash, possibly with a less restrictive exhaust or air intake to boot, but we could be wrong. Either way, we wouldn't be surprised to see similar efforts pop up in our neck of the woods soon.