Trollhättan, Sweden – Saab’s Driver Attention Warning System is a development project designed to counter two of the most common causes of road accidents: driver drowsiness and inattention at the wheel. It alerts the driver by using a combination of text and voice messages, or vibrations in the seat cushion, as soon as the risk of drowsiness or inattention is detected.

Unlike other similar systems, the Driver Attention Warning System does not rely on measuring an erratic change in the steered direction of the vehicle. It is designed to detect the onset of drowsiness or inattention, rather than the immediate consequences.

It utilizes two miniature infra-red cameras, one installed at the base of the driver’s A-pillar and the other in the center of the main fascia, which are focused on the driver’s eyes. The image from the cameras is analyzed by software that deploys a series of alerts when the pattern of eye-lid movement indicates the onset of drowsiness, or when the driver is not looking at the road ahead.

Infra-red imaging is used to ensure good performance in all day and night light conditions, and even if the driver is wearing dark glasses.

Drowsiness Detection
The system uses a sophisticated algorithm, against which the driver’s rate of eye blinking is measured. When the cameras detect a pattern of long duration eye-lid closures, indicating the potential onset of drowsiness, a series of three warnings is initiated.

In the first instance, a chime sounds and a text warning message “Tired?” is displayed in the main instrument panel. If the driver’s eye-lid movement does not immediately revert to a normal ‘wide awake’ pattern, a speech message “You are tired” is then delivered through the car’s audio system. If there is still no response, a stronger warning tone and the message, “You are dangerously tired – stop as soon as it is safe to do so!” will come over the audio. This can only be cancelled when the driver presses a reset button in the fascia. The system is then immediately reactivated.

Inattention Detection
The cameras are also able to monitor the driver’s eye-ball and head movement. As soon as the driver's gaze moves away from what is defined as the 'primary attention zone' - the central part of the windshield in front of the driver - a timer starts counting.

If the driver's eyes and head do not return to the 'straight ahead' position within about two seconds, the driver’s seat cushion will vibrate. This will stop once the position of driver’s eyes and head are consistent with the vehicle’s direction of travel.

The processing of the infra-red image is sufficiently accurate to detect when the driver retains some peripheral vision of the road ahead - such as while looking in the rear-view mirror, the door mirror or turning a corner - and will consequently allow a slightly longer time to elapse before activating the seat vibration.

Real-life Safety
The Driver Attention Warning System is a logical extension of Saab’s real-life safety philosophy. It takes account of what the driver actually does behind the wheel, rather than what he or she should be doing.

The system, installed in a Saab 9-3 SportCombi, is the work of the Human Vehicle Integration team at GME Engineering in Trollhättan, Sweden. It is part of a development program, Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems (IVSS), supported by the Swedish government and involving the national Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI).

"It is a fact that many drivers do not stop and get out of the car if they are feeling drowsy. So we are now trying to help drivers to help themselves,” says Arne Nåbo, head of the Human Vehicle Integration team, which specializes in driver ergonomics and managing the interface with in-car ‘infotainment’ systems for Saab cars.

"This system also helps prevent a dangerous habit we call 'cognitive capturing’. For example, the driver can become too absorbed in searching for a favorite CD, programming pre-sets into the radio or trying pick up a screaming baby's dummy from the floor."

Testing
The Saab 9-3 Sport Combi development car will now participate in an eight-month field trial program supervised by the Road and Transport Research Institute.

The car is fitted with a wireless GPRS 3G modem that will download data every minute to a web server at Linköping University, where the performance of the system will be analyzed. A group of volunteers will each drive the car for a month, the first week with the Driver Attention Warning System switched off for comparison purposes

The trial is part of a development and validation process that could see the system become available in future Saab cars. In commercial production, only a single camera is likely to be required and this would be completely concealed behind the car’s main fascia.

Saab’s TV advertising campaign for its new 9-3 model gives yet another unknown but promising female Swedish singer the opportunity to reach a worldwide audience. 23-year-old Nina Kinert, from Stockholm, sings the acoustic soundtrack ‘Through Your Eyes’, specially written for the campaign, with a distinctive, brittle timbre.

The Swedish automaker’s latest ad retains the raw, self-assured tonality of last spring´s successful ‘Release Me’ BioPower campaign, using a soundtrack and imagery designed to communicate quality, safety and ‘cool’ Scandinavian design.

“Our creative strategy is to present an authentic film atmosphere with a distinctive sound quality that is very Saabish,” says Saab´s Marketing Manager Kristian Jörgensen. “We like to offer something ‘extra’, an emotional take-out that will stick in people´s minds. Naturally, this depends on the viewer, but if people like the music, they will hopefully like the film.”

The ‘Release Me’ song reinforced the serious and emotional environmental message of the last campaign, while ‘Through Your Eyes’ enhances the story of the film and presents the new Saab 9-3 car in an alluringly ‘cool’ manner.

“We took an immediate liking to the tune, and above all, to Nina’s voice,” says Lena Olander, Saab Project Manager for Advertising and Internet. “We wanted to keep the soft imagery of the BioPower film and at the same time create an ‘on the road’ feeling, something which Nina´s interesting voice expresses perfectly.”

“Repeating the success of ‘Release Me’ will be difficult, but the first indications have been very encouraging. In a week, ‘Through Your Eyes’ climbed into the Top Three of Swedish Itunes,” adds Kristian Jörgensen.

Nina is enjoying her association with Saab. “It is great fun with Itunes going so well,” she says. “The song works and that´s why I have decided to add it to my new album.”

For the past year, Nina has been a full-time professional singer. Her debut album, ‘Heartbreak Town’, was released two years ago, followed last year by ‘Let There Be Love’. The new release of this album, now including Through Your Eyes’, comes out next month.

“I heard the tune today, standing in my kitchen,” she says. “It felt good, but I don’t think it sounds very much like me,” she adds jokingly. “My buddies have sent me a bunch of text messages since the film was first shown on Swedish TV.”

The new campaign is to be released globally by Saab with the strap-line ‘Designed to Perform’. It emphasizes the new 9-3’s bold design and exciting driving qualities, which are achieved by adopting the same approach that has put Scandinavian design on the world map – letting function and looks go hand in hand.

The ’Through Your Eyes’ song can be accessed by entering the international campaign site at http://saab.com.

30 Years of Saab Turbocharging



The idea that ‘less is more’ is intrinsic to the minimalist tradition of good Scandinavian design. Decoration and ornate detail can sometimes distract from an appreciation of form, line or shape. While this Scandinavian perspective is very much part of Saab car design, the ‘less is more’ philosophy can be even more closely identified with Saab’s mastery of the art of turbocharging.

It was Saab who put turbocharging on the automotive map. It all began exactly 30 years ago when the first Saab turbo model was revealed at the Frankfurt Show. At that time Saab was alone in pursuing turbocharging as a reliable and realistic means of extracting more power and efficiency from a production engine. Saab’s success over the next three decades shows that imitation is, indeed. the sincerest form of flattery, because there are few manufacturers who do not now offer turbocharged models.

That’s because the attractions of turbocharging are even more seductive today than they were three decades ago. It is the key to what Saab calls ‘rightsizing’. Less is more. A turbocharged engine is lighter, smaller and more fuel efficient than a non-turbo, ‘naturally-aspirated’ engine capable of producing similar power. Not only that. A turbocharger develops more power by harnessing the energy from an engine’s exhaust gas flow. The idea of, in effect, recycling energy that’s otherwise wasted is even more compelling.

Something for Nothing
While engineers will tell you that ‘getting something for nothing’ is not a realistic expectation in engine design, most will agree that about 30 per cent of the energy released when an engine burns fuel goes down the tube, or, in this case, the exhaust pipe. A turbocharger uses that energy to force more air into the engine. Of course, some more fuel has to be added when extra air is pumped in, but a turbo gives the driver a choice in the matter.

As Saab’s leading expert, Dr Per Gillbrand, often known as the ‘father of the production turbo’, used to say: a turbocharged powerplant is really ‘two engines in one.’ There is a ‘small’ engine for driving in everyday traffic conditions and then a ‘large’ one, giving more power and performance, when the turbocharger joins the party at higher throttle openings.

Today, Saab remains at the forefront of turbocharging technology. In a world seeking to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, Saab BioPower engines bring together turbocharging and bioethanol (E85) fuel to drastically reduce those emissions - while also producing more power than is possible with gasoline. A smart, win/win solution.

Back at Frankfurt in 1977, the sceptics were more concerned about turbocharging being a winning solution in terms of just power. Early attempts at controlling boost pressure had produced severe reliability issues that discouraged other manufacturers from further development for road-going production cars.

But Saab, driven forward by the independent mind-set of its engineers and executives, remained convinced that it could be done. The company was able to draw on experience from aircraft design, where turbochargers were commonly used in aero engines to compensate for the effects of thin air at altitude. It also shared knowledge with colleagues in what was then the company’s truck division, who were using turbochargers with large, heavy-duty diesel engines.

Challenging Conventional Wisdom
Saab developed technology to ‘tame the turbo’ by using a by-pass valve to control the build-up of boost pressure. It did not take long for the world to appreciate what had been achieved. Fitting a turbocharger to the 2-liter engine of a Saab 99 gave 23 per cent more maximum horse power and a massive 45 per cent increase in torque, the engine’s pulling power under acceleration. To produce similar power ratings, a naturally-aspirated engine of the time would have been up to 50 per cent larger in capacity and about 50 kilos heavier, with overall fuel consumption 30 per cent worse. Saab has changed conventional wisdom that equated engine power with engine size.
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An early Saab 99 Turbo road test in the UK’s influential Autocar magazine concluded: “It is not just its performance, but the way it delivers it. Its acceleration pattern is unique. Like a roller coaster running downhill, the Saab just gets faster as the turbocharger boost increases. It’s uncanny.” The age of the turbo had arrived and, during the next decade, black Saab 99 and 900 Turbo models were to become defining image for the Saab brand.

Over the years, Saab has continued to refine the art of turbocharging. The roller coaster is still there, but the ride is a bit more comfortable. Advances in engine management systems and turbocharger design have given today's Saab turbo engines a much smoother and more progressive power delivery. The new Turbo X, for example, delivers exceptionally strong pulling power of 400 Nm from very low engine revs, the characteristics of a far larger engine.

Rightsizing
Turbocharging has led Saab 2,650 meters (8,700 ft) up in the American Rockies to demonstrate how its turbo cars can still perform in the thin air of altitude. And down at sea level, it has given the 9000 Aero model faster in-gear acceleration than a Ferrari Testarossa. There is even a satisfied Saab 900 Turbo owner who has clocked up more than one million miles.

As long ago as 1992, Saab was able to demonstrate the abilities of its Trionic engine management system (Generation 8 is used today) by arranging an independent car test in City of London traffic. It showed that levels of regulated pollutants in the Saab’s exhaust were actually lower than found in the surrounding atmosphere. The car was ‘cleaning’ the urban air!

Today, in an era when the desire to save energy and achieve greater efficiency has never been greater, the future of Saab turbocharging has never been brighter.

‘Rightsizing’ is how Saab describes the process of making engines more efficient, of reducing their size, weight and environmental impact without losing performance .. showing that less is more. Turbocharging is a key component, combined with sophisticated engine management, ‘lean burn’ technologies and the potential use of bio-fuel, such as Saab BioPower and E85 bioethanol.

Back to Saab turbo pioneer Dr Per Gillbrand. He shared a similar philosophy when it came to efficient engine design. “All engines have an oil pump, a fuel pump and a water pump”, he used to say. “So why not an air pump, which is all a turbo really is. I think it's odd that all engines don’t have one!” Nowadays, thanks to the power of such independent thinking, an increasing number do.

Ready for Take-off:
Saab Launches 60th Anniversary Celebrations

Saab fans and enthusiastic owners from all over the world are gathering in the Swedish town of Trollhättan this weekend, to celebrate Saab’s 60th anniversary as a car manufacturer.

Four days of events and festivities will culminate in a huge gathering of historic Saabs outside the Saab Car Museum on Sunday, June 10 – exactly 60 years to the day after the first Saab car was revealed. To learn more about activities at the Saab 60th Anniversary Festival, visit www.saabfestival.se

Back in 1947, Saab was known only as an aircraft manufacturer - the name is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget AB, or Swedish Aircraft Company Limited. That first car, the Saab 92, looked like no other with its streamlined shape and innovative engineering. Hardly surprising, since it was conceived by a team of aircraft engineers not bound by the conventional automotive design wisdoms of the day.

Now, more than four million cars later, Saab is established as a global premium car brand selling in more than 60 countries around the world, many represented by enthusiasts coming to Trollhättan, Saab’s home town. Much has changed in the automotive industry since those post-war years, but the same spirit of innovative, independent thinking behind the Saab 92 continues to inspire the Saab brand and the development of its products today.

It is a perspective driven forward by a unique brand heritage, reflecting the values of Scandinavian culture and Saab’s roots in aviation. It was Saab who pioneered numerous advances in car safety, good driver ergonomics, environmental responsibility and, of course, enhanced engine performance through turbocharging.

Today, while most manufacturers have followed Saab’s lead in adopting turbocharging, the company has again ‘moved the goal posts’ with its innovative BioPower technology. This unleashes the potential of turbocharging to deliver more performance, as well as greatly reduced fossil-based CO2 emissions, when using E85 fuel (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline). It is technology that has propelled Saab to the forefront of Europe’s emerging market for ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles.

Turbocharging is typical of the ‘less is more’ Scandinavian mind-set and, in an era when the need to save energy and achieve improved efficiency has never been greater, it continues to be a cornerstone of Saab’s future development.

More than 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the 60th Anniversary Festival. They will celebrate the people, the cars and the events that have shaped a unique brand. It is a rich heritage of which Saab is justifiably proud and one that will ensure the next 60 years of independent thinking are just as exciting.

Erik Selects Six Favorites from Saab’s Hall of Fame

The career of Eric (“Mr. Saab”) Carlsson, international rallying’s first superstar, spans six decades. It has taken him from test driving in Trollhättan, to the top of the podium in Monte Carlo and on to a globe-trotting role as Saab’s international ambassador. Here Erik chooses his six favorite Saabs, one from each decade. His recollections, and the cars themselves, tell the story of how the automotive aspirations of an aircraft manufacturer took wing.

As a young boy, Erik Carlsson used to stand on the perimeter of his local airfield in Trollhättan and admire the aerobatics of Saab aircraft flying overhead. Little did he know that Saab would one day start making cars and that he would play a key role in its growth as an auto maker.

Erik’s legendary exploits at wheel of the ‘little red cars from Sweden’ include two back-to-back victories in the Monte Carlo Rally and a hat-trick of wins in the British RAC Rally. His success in the early Sixties launched Saab as a global car brand and today, at 78 years young, Erik still plays an active part in Saab activities.

Preparing to lead the celebrations for Saab’s 60th Anniversary next week, he is happy to take up the theme by identifying his six favorite Saab cars, one from each decade.

1950s
“I think we all have a special place in our heart for our first car, “ he says. “In my case it was a Saab 92, in green like they all were then, which I bought second-hand from a farmer in Trollhättan. It was 1952, I was 23 and I had started a job at a local garage.

“Saab was the big local company and they had just started making cars. It was an exciting time and the 92 really was something different from other cars, with its streamlined shape and aircraft engineering. Most cars then had a separate body and chassis bolted together, but the 92 had one single body structure, as most cars do these days. It was light but extremely strong, as I found in my rallying.

“It also handled really well with the front wheel drive. It had a small engine but I could go quicker than larger cars that had quite a bit more power.”

1960s
Erik’s success in local rallying events at the wheel of his 92 quickly led to full-time employment with Saab as a test and development and works rally driver. His ‘Saab of the 60s’ is the famous Saab 96 that brought international rally success for him and for the company. More than 500,000 examples were to be sold in a production run spanning almost 20 years.

“The 96 had more power, good suspension, disc brakes and great handling. We didn’t have a roll-over cage, but with the 96 you didn’t need one, as I appreciated a few times. Although I got the nickname ‘Carlsson on the Roof’, I don’t think I rolled all that many times. But I remember one occasion when I rolled over in a ditch and water was coming in. It was like sitting in an aquarium but the roof pillars were extremely strong so we weren’t drowned or hurt much at all.”

The aircraft engineering tradition of combining strength with light weight helped establish the popularity of the Saab 96 and in snowy and icy conditions Erik was able to fully exploit its sure-footed handling. But he also has a soft spot for the sister car of the 96, the Saab 95 wagon.

“Quite a few eyebrows were raised when I did the ’61 Monte Carlo with one. It was unheard of to use a wagon or estate car but the 95 handled and drove every bit as well as the 96. I was fourth that year. We used the wagon, together with its aerofoil on the roof, because it had just come out with a four-speed gearbox, which really helped on the steep alpine passes.”

1970s
Carlsson’s choice as ‘Saab of the 70s’ is the now iconic, black Saab 99 Turbo. “A lot of people at the time said we wouldn’t get turbocharging to work for passenger cars,” says Erik. “I would say history has proved them wrong.”

These days, the words ‘turbocharging and Saab’ are as closely associated as ‘peaches and cream’ or ‘bacon and eggs’ , but back in 1977, exactly 30 years ago, when the 99 Turbo was unveiled, Saab surprised the automotive world by declaring that it had succeeded in ‘taming the turbo’ .

“The 99 was a great chassis and with the turbo we had real power to exploit its potential,” says Erik, who remembers secret forest test driving and his first experiences of the explosive performance on full boost. “We had to do a lot of work to control the boost, to stop the engine blowing up and to get the power on the ground. But, of course, we showed it could be done and just about everyone now uses turbocharging.”

The logic behind getting ‘big engine power from a small engine’, or ‘right-sizing’ as Saab calls it, is even more attractive these days, with the need to save weight, reduce bulk and improve fuel consumption. “Our top engineer, Pelle Gillbrand, who led the project, used to put it very simply,” says Erik. “He would explain that all engines have a fuel pump, a water pump and an oil pump – so why not an air pump? That’s all a turbo really is and he thought it was strange that all engines didn’t have one.”

With its wraparound, cockpit-inspired windshield, ‘clamshell’ hood and ‘self-repairing’ bumpers, the bold and distinctive looks of the larger Saab 99 took Saab upmarket, a process continued by its evolution into the ‘classic’ Saab 900, of which more than 900,000 were sold.

“The first production cars in jet black and cardinal red had Inca ally wheels, which were intended to symbolize the turbine of turbo, not a cheese-grater, as some people suggested,” laughs Erik. “It was, and still is, a very distinctive car. We had the ignition key between the seats on the floor and people were always surprised by that. But why not? There were valid reasons for it, to do with ergonomics and good crash impact safety. It’s like the throttle controls of an aircraft, between the seats in the cockpit. We still have it today and that’s another feature where I think we have proved the skeptics wrong!”

1980s
Carlsson’s choice for the ‘Saab of the 80s’ – the Saab 900 Convertible – surprised the automotive world when it was revealed as a design study at the Frankfurt Show in the autumn of 1983. “I don’t think anyone was expecting Saab to come up with a convertible,“ says Erik. “After all, it is not the kind of car that that a Scandinavian manufacturer was expected to produce, but it turned out to be an outstanding success.”

Back in the 80s, convertibles were not as popular as they are now and Saab was to play a pioneering role in establishing the attraction of an open-top car as a practical, all-year-round means of transport. “We always had a strong soft-top which was fully automatic, quick and easy to use,” says Erik. “That was an essential requirement and we were able show people this was a car that was good to own and drive in winter as well as summer.”

Initially produced for the US market, the first 900 Convertible soon went into production for global sale. “It was a great looking car, roof up or down, and looked like a completely new car, rather than a version of the 900 three-door model,” says Erik. “I still run a Saab Convertible at different times of the year. Even in winter, when it’s cold, you can have the soft-top down with the heater going and still be very comfortable.”

Over the years, Saab has organized keynote events for the Convertible, such as driving in the Land of the Midnight Sun, a 1,500 kilometer (900 mile) excursion through Sweden into the Arctic Circle to North Cape, the ‘roof of Europe’. Another favorite, led by Erik, has been ‘Rally Monte Carlsson’, which follows a route from the Mediterranean beach in Monaco up through the maritime Alps to a ski resort 2,000 meter above sea level. “You can be driving in warm sunshine with the top down and a few hours later be up in the snow and ice. It’s a great demonstration of what the Convertible has to offer,” adds Erik.

Over three generations, Saab has sold more than 250,000 Convertibles. In many European markets it has often featured as the top-selling car in its class.

1990s
Fixed roof motoring was recommended in 1986 when Erik had led a team of Saab test drivers at the wheel of three 9000 Turbos on the famous ‘Long Run’ at the Talladega Speedway in the United States. Over almost 20 days, stopping only for fuel, tires and routine servicing, they established a series of speed and distance records for standard production cars. The lead 9000 covered 100,000 km at average speed of 213.299 km.

In recognition of this achievement, a top sports flagship model, the 9000 Talladega was introduced. In the UK this was known as the Carlsson edition, Erik also lending his name to a 900 series version as well. These performance models were later given their ultimate expression in the Saab 9000CS Aero of 1993, Erik’s choice as the ‘Saab of the 90s’. It set a first template for top-of-the-range Aero models that continue at the pinnacle of Saab’s product range today.

“The 9000 was a great car, very roomy and comfortable. It was a large hatchback that offered all the versatility of a wagon,“ says Erik. “With the rear seats down, you could carry a hell of lot and with the seats up it was just like being in a sedan.”

Saab was also introducing its own engine management system, Saab Trionic. With a processing capacity greater than the computers that put men on the moon, Saab Trionic was an ideal platform for the launch of the more powerful Aero. “The new 2.3 turbo engine gave fantastic torque and the Aero model was the quickest car we had ever produced at that time,” says Erik.

“The engine was extremely smooth with its balancer shafts and gave good power from very low revs. It really showed what we could do with turbocharging. You could be in almost any gear, just put your foot down and go. With the 9000 Aero, we asked everyone to ‘talk torque’ when describing what it was like to drive.

“It was a large car, but it handled very well and everyone appreciated how good the seats were. That is something Saabs has always been known for. Even the seats in my first 92 were very comfortable.”

The Saab 9000 five-door hatchback and sedan range took the Saab brand further into the premium car segment, and more than 500,000 were sold before production ceased in 1998..

2000s
When he’s not at the wheel of a Saab Convertible, Erik usually drives a Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi, but this is not a contender for his choice of a Saab for the first decade of the new millennium. That honor goes to the Saab Aero X Concept, shown at the Geneva Show last year.
With its aircraft-like canopy and a V6 BioPower turbo engine capable of running on pure bioethanol fuel, offering the prospect of zero fossil CO2 emissions, the Aero X is a concept in tune with the demands of the new century.

“Sweden has a great tradition of concern of the environment,” says Erik “And Saab was first to introduce improvements like asbestos-free brake pads and CFC-free air conditioning systems. This car follows in that tradition, without sacrificing the sort of turbo performance we all enjoy.

“Looking at the Aero X, I see how far our cars have travelled in 60 years,” says Eric, who drove Saab’s first two-seater car, the lightweight Saab Sonett in 1956.

“But I think this is a good time to be looking towards the future, as well as enjoying the cars of the past,” he adds. “The Aero X is a very modern design and it shows that Saab will be making exciting cars in the future. We did not produce a concept car until 1985, now there have been several recently, which shows the Saab spirit is strong.

“That wraparound windscreen gives it a good Saab character. It is, of course, a design concept, but I’m not sure about the opening canopy without any doors, but then my first Saab did not have a boot lid and the doors opened from the front!”

In a more serious vein, Erik agrees that when his career with Saab began, the company’s cars were almost unknown beyond Scandinavia. And he is too modest to point out that his rallying success played a major part in establishing Saab outside its home country. The brand is now a global player, selling premium cars in more than 60 markets around world. Carlsson and Carlsson’s Choice can both take credit for helping to make it happen.

Erik will be reunited with his Carlsson’s Choice - and many other favorites - at Saab’s 60th Anniversary Festival in Trollhättan, from 7-10 June, celebrating the unveiling of the first Saab car exactly six decades ago.

In what could be the biggest-ever gathering of Saab fans and enthusiasts, more than 30,000 visitors are expected to come from all over the globe to enjoy a packed program of events. (Visit www.saabfestival.se for all the details).

Carlsson’s Choice:

Saab 92 (1950)
Monocoque construction, 2-door sedan, front-wheel-drive
Two cylinder, 2-stroke, 764 cc. 3-speed gearbox
Max. power: 25 hp @ 3,800 rpm. Max. torque: 59 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Max speed: 105 kph (65 mph).

Saab 96 (1960)
Monocoque construction, 2-door sedan, front-wheel-drive
Three cylinder, 2-stroke, 841 cc. 4-speed gearbox
Max power: 38 hp @ 4,250 rpm. Max torque: 80 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 125 kph (78 mph). 0-100 kph (62 mph): 25.6 secs

Saab 99 Turbo (1977)
Monocoque construction, 3-door hatchback, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 1985 cc. 4-speed gearbox
Max. power: 145 hp @ 5,000 rpm. Max torque: 235 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 198 kph (124 mph). 0-100 kph (62 mph): 8.9 secs

Saab 900 Turbo Convertible (1986)
Two-door convertible, powered soft-top, four-seater, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 1985 cc. 5-speed gearbox
Max power: 175 hp @ 5,300 rpm. Max torque: 273 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Max speed: 205 kph (128 mph). 0-100 kph (62 mph): 8.7 secs

Saab 9000CS Aero (1993)
Monocoque construction, 5-door hatchback, front-wheel-drive
Four cylinder, turbocharged, 2290 cc. 5-speed gearbox
Max power: 225 hp @ 5,500 rpm. Max torque: 350 Nm @ 1,950 rpm
Max speed: 240 kph (150 mph). 0-100 kph (62 mph): 6.9 secs

Saab Aero X Concept (2006)
Monocoque construction, 2-seater coupé, canopy opening, all-wheel-drive
V6 BioPower, twin turbochargers, 2792 cc. 7-speed gearbox
Max. power: 400 hp @ 5,000 rpm. Max. torque: 500 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Max speed (limited): 250 kph (156 mph)). 0-100 kph (62 mph): 4.9 secs (projected)

Saab’s international TV campaign for eco-friendly BioPower, featuring the soulful song “Release Me”, has achieved instant recognition for the previously unknown rookie Swedish band Oh Laura and lead singer Frida Öhrn.

The TV ad, currently running in all Saab’s major European markets, has been downloaded more than 210,000 times from the websites Youtube and MySpace – a hit rate greater than most established pop stars have achieved. Google at the same time displays a massive 1,390,000 hits for the combination of ‘Oh Laura’, ‘Release Me’ and ‘Saab’.

As a result of this popularity, Oh Laura have now signed up to record the full version of ‘Release Me’ as a debut single and are also putting the finishing touches to their first full length album, to be launched later this month (May).

Shot in atmospheric black-and-white under the tagline “Release the Power of Nature”, the Saab ad features powerful images of rushing water and animals struggling for freedom as a counterpoint to Frida Öhrn’s distinctive vocals. It is a graphic representation of the environmental message behind Saab BioPower technology, which releases the potential of bioethanol as a renewable and sustainable fuel derived from a wide range of crops and forestry by-products.

The power of the commercial, produced by the Lowe Brindfors agency in Stockholm, has already been recognized by the Swedish trade press magazine Resume, which has given it a “Best Campaign of the Month” award.

“We worked intensely to combine content and feeling when shooting the film,” explains Kristian Jörgensen, Marketing Communications Manager at Saab Automobile. “ It is rewarding to make a TV-ad with a real ‘stand out’ impact’ that reaches out and touches people in their hearts.

“The music and Fried Öhrn’s powerful vocals are a perfect fit for the strong emotions of the film. We are delighted by the huge impact this commercial has created. It has also turned out to be a powerful launch pad for the career of Oh Laura and we wish them every success.

“Our BioPower models are unique in being able to offer enhanced engine performance, together with a strong environmental benefit. Green issues are very much top of the agenda at the moment and the TV campaign is clearly right in time and right in tonality.”

Frida and her Oh Laura colleagues, Rikard Lidhamn, Jocke Olovsson, Magnus Olsson and Jörgen Kjellgren, are to perform ‘Release Me’ and other songs “live” during Saab’s 60th Anniversary festival in Trollhättan, Sweden, next month. (June). They will then go on tour with logistics support from Saab in the shape of new Saab 9-5 SportCombis – BioPower models, of course.

Saab leads Europe’s emerging market segment for flex-fuel-cars and is the only brand offering ‘eco-friendly’ variants of all models sold in Europe. These BioPower models combine turbocharging with the use of bioethanol fuel (E85) to deliver increased power and performance, as well as significantly reduced fossil CO2 emissions.

Detroit – Steve Shannon has been named general manager, Saab Automobile USA. He replaces Jay Spenchian, who has been appointed executive director, GM Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing strategy and revenue management. Both appointments are effective immediately.

Shannon, 47, joined General Motors in 1982 and has held positions in field sales, marketing and product planning in both the United States and Europe. His most recent position was general manager of Buick. Starting in April 2005, he oversaw the launch of an array of critical new Buick products such as the Lucerne sedan and the Enclave crossover.

Prior to his role at Buick, Shannon had been the Executive Director of Marketing Services for GM’s Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing organization since 2000. There, he was responsible for supporting GM's marketing divisions and the field sales organization for auto shows, dealer business meetings, creative services, vehicle event coordination and GM racing.

From 1997 until 2000, Shannon lived and worked in Europe as the Executive Director for General Motors Europe Marketing Services.

Steve Shannon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1982 and a Master's of Business Administration from the Columbia Graduate School of Business in 1986. He is married to wife Cindy, has three kids and resides in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

World Premiere: Saab BioPower 100 Concept

Saab extends its leadership of bioethanol technology by showing a Saab 9-5 Concept optimized to run on pure bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque from its 2.0-liter turbo engine, all with substantially reduced CO2 emissions. It demonstrates the exciting performance potential of bioethanol when combined with Saab turbocharging expertise and a sophisticated engine management system.

* First production-based engine optimized for E100 fuel.
* Potential for future ‘rightsizing’ - small engine giving ‘large’ engine power
* Fully functioning test car: 0 - 100 kph in 6.6 sec, 80 – 120 kph in 8.2 sec
* Power levels on a par with naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter engine


Saab BioPower added to 9-3 Range
The Saab 9-5 BioPower is already established as the top selling model in Europe’s emerging flex-fuel segment. Now Saab offers BioPower technology throughout the 9-3 range, including the unique prospect of an eco-friendly premium Convertible.

* 1.8t BioPower engine for 9-3 SportSedan, SportCombi and Convertible
* 17% more power (175 hp), 10% more torque on E85 fuel
* Saab is first manufacturer to offer flex-fuel variants across all core products


Saab Celebrates Diamond Jubilee
The first Saab car was revealed on 10th June 1947 and Saab celebrates the 60th anniversary by showing its first car, ‘UrSaab’, alongside the award-winning Aero X Concept. Two cars ‘book-ending’ the innovative story of Saab design.

* New Saab Aero X-inspired Salomon ‘Aero’ skis on display with concept car.
* Anniversary Edition 9-3 and 9-5 models now available
* Saab enters anniversary year after record global and European sales in 2006

MILWAUKEE — Saab Automobile USA recently announced that it is offering a free new Saab to any U.S. customer who covers the distance of one million miles (or more) in a Saab that he or she originally purchased new. First to seize the opportunity was Wisconsin resident and insurance salesman Peter Gilbert, who completed his million miles in a 1989 Edwardian Gray Saab 900 SPG at last year’s Saab Owner’s Convention in Lake George, New York.

Mr. Gilbert received the keys to his free new Saab, a Titan Gray 260 hp 9-5 Aero SportCombi (MSRP $38,735) from Saab Automobile USA General Manager Jay Spenchian. The event took place at a media reception at Saab dealer Concours in Milwaukee, close to Mr. Gilbert’s residence.

“Saabs are made for people who love to drive, as proven by the many high-mileage examples in the Saab owners’ community”, Spenchian said. “Having personally been with Peter Gilbert in his 900 SPG as we crossed their magical finish line together, one cannot help but being impressed by the condition of car and driver after one million miles. Our offer of a new Saab to any U.S. customer who equals this achievement, should be seen as a token of appreciation for the enduring loyalty and confidence in Saab.”

The new Saab comes with the 100,000 mile/5 years GM Powertrain limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles no-charge scheduled maintenance, standard with every model in the 2007 Saab Automobile USA portfolio.

“I am obviously on cloud nine with my new Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi”, Gilbert said. “It is not just fast and fuel efficient, but also extremely safe. A reassuring thought, keeping in mind that my faithful 900 SPG and I survived many a collision with Wisconsin deer. Who knows, I might take a run at another million miles in my new Saab 9-5!"

The offer of a free, new 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero [not to exceed an Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price of $38,735 (certain features and options are subject to availability at time of delivery) and delivery to take place at an authorized Saab USA dealer] valid from the date of this release through calendar year 2007 (offer ends Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time), is available to any U.S. customer who can present verifiable proof to Saab Automobile USA that he or she is the original owner of the Saab vehicle that covered one million road miles or more, that the vehicle is in running condition, that the odometer hasn’t been tampered with, and that the vehicle is currently and has always been registered in the United States. The customer is responsible for all applicable taxes, title fees, registration and destination charges. Visit www.saabusa.com for important details and limitations on this offer.

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2007 model year, Saab markets seven car variants that have an estimated EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway.

2007: Saab 60th Anniversary

Did you know that.... James Bond, special agent 007, drove a Saab 900 Turbo? Or that Grand Prix driver Sir Stirling Moss once navigated for Saab rally legend Erik Carlsson? And that Saab not only produced aircraft, but also a series of ultra-light caravans? Whatever your interest, we hope you’ll find this review of Saab’s first 60 years entertaining, informative, and even a little surprising in places – just as you would expect from the Saab brand.

The first Saab car was revealed to the automotive world on 10th June 1947 in a staff canteen at the aircraft company’s Linköping headquarters in Sweden. Such humble beginnings marked the birth of what has become a major international brand, now represented in more than 60 countries all over the world.

In celebration of our upcoming diamond jubilee, we’ve assembled a potpourri of 60 little ‘gems’. It’s intended to express something of the passion and tradition for innovative, independent thinking that continues to inspire the Saab brand and the development of its products today.


1
Greta Molander, a Swedish-born woman who began rallying in 1929, was the first driver to win a prize for Saab on the Monte Carlo Rally. She took the Ladies Cup in 1952, driving a Saab 92, ten years before Erik Carlsson achieved the first of his two Monte Carlo victories.

2
Saab once considered going into boatbuilding. In 1944, as war was drawing to a close, Saab the aircraft maker was looking to diversify into other products during peacetime. A number of aluminum-hulled boats, including some with hydrofoils in the bows, were built but, in the end, automobiles were considered to be a better bet.

3
It was back pain suffered by a senior Saab executive that prompted the development of the heated driver’s seat, an innovation from Saab in 1971. The pain was particularly bad on cold, frosty mornings and a colleague devised a means of heating the driver’s seat to minimize the discomfort. As the result was so effective, and also so popular, the solution was put into production.

4
A 1:10 scale model of an early Saab 92 prototype was tested in an aircraft wind tunnel in 1946. Such testing was very unusual for a production car manufacturer of the time but very much second nature for an aircraft maker. The final prototype’s 0.32 co-efficient of drag was exceptionally low for a production car of time and would still be competitive today.

5
Rather like the first T-model Ford, you could have an early Saab 92 in any color you liked – as long as it was bottle green. The paint was readily available in surplus army supplies left over from the war. Saab did not offer a color choice until 1952.

6
In 1993, Saab adopted a feature commonly found in aircraft cockpits when it introduced ‘need to know’ instrument and information illumination on the new Saab 900. The innovative ‘Night Panel’ feature on Saab cars allows the driver to eliminate potential distraction by switching off main fascia displays, except the speedometer and essential warning lights.

7
Saab engine guru Dr Per Gillbrand – often described as the father of the production turbo – has a very simple explanation for his commitment to turbocharging. “All engines have an oil pump, a fuel pump and a water pump”, he said. “So why not an air pump, which is all a turbo really is? I think it's odd that all engines don’t have one!”

8
Saab staged what is probably the world’s highest car launch when it presented the Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon in 2000. At an airstrip near a New Mexico ski resort in the United States, 2,650 meters (8,700 ft) up in the Rockies, journalists were invited to carry out acceleration runs with the new Saab and other high-powered cars from premium class competitors. The results demonstrated how Saab Trionic engine management was able to maintain the turbo engine’s performance, despite the thinner air of high altitude, while the other cars that were left behind.

9
In 1966, to keep the arrival of the upcoming Saab 99 secret, endurance testing of prototypes was carried out inside an old aircraft hangar. Non-stop runs were conducted as the prototypes circled round and round for several days at a time to test driveshaft durability.


10
The best selling Saab of all-time is still the first generation ‘classic’ 900. A total of 908,817 were built between 1978 and 1993, of which 48,888 were Convertibles. Widely viewed as one of the most charismatic Saabs, many 900s are still seen on the road today, 13 years after production ceased. Some are treasured by collectors, but most are used for regular daily transport. Saab reliability and durability has enabled them to clock up extremely high mileages.

11
In 2006, 20 years after its launch, total sales of the Saab Convertible passed the quarter million mark, confirming Saab’s prominent position in Europe’s premium soft-top segment. In many markets, the Saab convertible has been the best-selling model in its class.

12
When the cameras roll and the action begins, it is the Saab Convertible that often gets the part. Jack Nicholson (As Good As It Gets), Matt Damon (The Bourne Supremacy), Richard Gere (Final Analysis), Paul Giamatti (Sideways), Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld TV show) and Reese Witherspoon (Sweet Home Alabama) have all appeared in a Saab Convertible on screen.

13
As early as 1952, Saab set an industry standard in locating the Saab 92’s fuel tank low down, between the rear wheels – for good impact protection and improved weight distribution.

14
In 1991, Saab set another industry design standard by introducing handy, under thigh, storage pouches on the leading edge of the front seat squabs on the new Saab 9000CS. This feature has now been commonly adopted by other manufacturers.

15
The smooth, choreographed action of the Saab 9-5’s cup-holder so impressed a UK journalist from the Times newspaper, he likened it to watching a Saab Gripen fighter rolling out of formation and lowering its undercarriage before coming into land.

16
Saab engineers love to ‘talk torque’ when discussing turbocharging, referring to the effortless, tidal wave of pulling power that is on tap without needing to ‘rev’ the engine hard. In fact, the long, flat torque ‘curve’ of a typical Saab turbo engine has frequently been likened to the plateau-like profile of Ayers Rock in Australia.

17
Gunnar Ljungström, the aircraft engineer who led the Saab 92 project, maintained a spirit for innovation long into his retirement. In his 80s, he designed a wooden chair that converted easily into a step ladder for elderly people in the home. It was produced for a time by a firm in Trollhättan, Saab’s home town.

18
There are several good reasons why the ignition in Saab cars is traditionally placed between the front seats. Good ergonomics, inherited from the cockpit design of Saab aircraft, dictated an easy-to-use location adjacent to the handbrake and gearshift lever. This position also reduces the risk of knee injury in a crash impact. And it is no coincidence that the central console is where most controls can be found in aircraft.

19
In 1985, long before green energy became an agenda item, Saab’s first concept car, EV-1, featured solar roof cells to power a ventilation fan to keep the interior cool when parked in hot temperatures. It also included integrated, self-repairing bumpers and an instrument ‘Night Panel’ facility, both features to appear on later production cars.

20
The design of the innovative rear cargo tracks on the Saab 9-5 SportCombis was inspired by the seat-mounting rails used in the cabin floors of passenger aircraft. The tracks are strong enough to support the entire weight of the car, as once demonstrated at a 1998 UK press launch, when the complete vehicle (minus fluids) was suspended on a crane from just two hooks in the tracks.

21
The stunning 2006 Aero X concept car draws on Saab’s aviation heritage to provide the driver with a clear, 180° field of vision by adopting an aircraft-style canopy to completely eliminate the need for windshield pillars – and even doors. Inspirational design that won US Autoweek magazine’s ‘Best in Show’ honors on its world debut at Geneva and Autocar’s ‘Concept Car of the Year’ award in the UK.

22
The brand name ‘Saab’ is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, Swedish Aircraft Company Limited, founded in 1937. A stylized aircraft wing, a feature of early Saab car badges, can still be seen in the grille design of today’s cars as homage to Saab’s unique aircraft heritage.

23
According to popular myth, none of the 16-strong project team behind the first Saab car had a driving license. While that is not strictly true, most of them did not, as they were originally trained as aircraft engineers. We are certain only project leader Gunnar Ljungström and test driver Rolf Mellde had a car license.

24
The ‘92’ model designation was chosen for Saab’s first car as the number was next in sequence for what had until then been civil aircraft projects. The Saab 91 was a two-seater training aircraft and the Saab 90 a 24-seat passenger plane.

25
Sixten Sason, the designer of the early Saabs from the original 92 to the highly innovative 99, was a leading exponent of the emerging discipline of industrial design. Working as a freelance, he also designed the first Hasselblad camera, Husqvarna motorcycles and Electrolux domestic products.

26
The basement of a house in Trollhättan, Saab’s home town, has wall paintings of Nordic scenes, including a large sketch of the Saab 92, signed by Sixten Sason. The mural is dated 1955 and believed to been painted by Sason during a party at the house.

27
The ‘four dimensional’ Saab 9X concept – unveiled at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show – was voted Best Concept Car in the 2002 European Automotive Design Awards by Designers (Europe) members among car manufacturers, design studios and suppliers. The 9X’s innovative design offered coupé, roadster, wagon and pick-up body formats within one versatile architecture.

28
The Toppola Camper is an extraordinary accessory, popular in Sweden among hatchback Saab 99 and ‘classic’ 900 owners. It converts their cars into an instant ‘campervan’, complete with cooker, heater, rear standing room and a double bed. The entire module, resembling an automotive ‘rucksack’, is fitted by removing the car’s rear door.

29
The steel body panels of the first Saab prototype (92.001), built in 1946, were pummeled into shape by panel-beaters working on wooden benches standing in horse droppings. Apparently, this cushioned surface gave them just the right responses and feel for their work. An earlier full-scale wooden mock-up was covered in shiny, black shoe polish instead of paint.

30
The ‘unknown’ Saab models numbers – 94, 97 and 98 – were each used for car projects, one of which went into commercial production. Project number ‘94’ was a two-seater sports car, Sonnet 1, of which six prototypes were built in 1956. ‘97’ was assigned to what became the Sonett II and III sport coupés, produced from 1966-74. ‘98’ was a prototype designed in 1974 as a hatchback version of the 95 wagon. Anticipated sales volumes were considered insufficient to justify commercial production.

31
Erik Carlsson earned his nickname ‘On The Roof’ for early rally exploits in Sweden. It was also inspired by the ‘On The Roof’ Karlsson character in Astrid Lindgren children’s books. And he could even have earned it for a novel ‘roll-over’ technique he developed with co-driver Gunnar Palm to get their car out of the mud on another Safari rally.

32
Sten Wennlo, Saab’s Managing Director in the 70s, was a key supporter of turbo engine development. After a secret night-time turbo test drive, he stopped at a hot dog kiosk and phoned the engineering department to give the green light for production. The kiosk owner later became Saab’s first turbo customer.

33
In 1957, a press advertising photograph illustrating the versatile ‘beddable’ attributes of the Saab 93 caused controversy in Sweden. It showed a young couple settling down for the night on flat-folding seats inside the car – but the woman was clearly not wearing a wedding ring. This caused public objections and a ring was hastily drawn in on the woman’s finger.

34
In 1986 and again in 1996, a fleet of Saabs stormed the high speed Talladega Speedway in United States, setting a string of speed and endurance records for standard production cars. In 1986, the lead 9000 turbo covered 100,000 kms (62,140 miles), stopping only for servicing, fuel, tyre and driver changes, at an average speed of 213 kph (132 mph). Ten years later, the fastest 900 turbo covered 40,000 kms (24,800 miles), achieving an average speed of over 226 kph (140 mph).

35
‘78 Saab’ is not another ‘missing’ Saab model designation, but the name of a popular Australian‘soft rock’ band formed in June 2005. The name was adopted because one of the members owned a 1978 Saab when they were thinking of a catchy title for the band.

36
In the early 70’s Saab moved into international sponsorship by backing promising young Swedish athletes, helping to set tennis player Björn Borg and skier Ingemar Stenmark on the road to international stardom. Under the umbrella ‘SuperSwedes’, these two also helped launch the Saab 99 Turbo.

37
James Bond, special agent 007, drove a Saab 900 Turbo in the first three novels written by James Gardner in 1981-85, following the death of Bond creator Ian Fleming. A ‘replica’ of 007’s so-called ‘Silver Beast’ was built by Saab for promotional use and is now displayed in the Saab Car Museum. It features developments such as a built-in mobile phone with text messaging and tear gas ducts.

38
Erik Carlsson is the brother -in-law of GP legend Sir Stirling Moss, who was co-driver to Erik on the 1965 Safari Rally. They got lost and had to retire, but it was not Stirling’s fault – the navigation equipment was faulty.

39
In 1980, Saab produced an innovative promotional video featuring tennis star Björn Borg and rally ace Stig Blomqvist ‘doing each other’s jobs’. It showed Borg coaching Blomqvist at tennis and Blomqvist teaching Borg the finer arts of car control. Afterwards, Björn said it was the most nerve wracking experience he had ever had. But he was far better at rally driving than Stig was at trying to play tennis.

40
During the 60s, Saab produced a small caravan – the SAABO – in limited numbers. Light and simple, yet extremely versatile, several of these have survived and are valued among collectors. SAABOs are often seen at classic Saab gatherings, adding to the spirit of camaraderie among owners – and helping them save on hotel bills.

41
Senior Saab executives are currently participating in user trials of Saab’s AlcoKey, an innovative ‘alco-lock’ device that immobilises the car if the driver’s breath sample reading is found to be over the limit. The Saab volunteers are part of a 100-strong trial program underway in Sweden. The device has already won the Swedish Automobile Association’s 2006 award for innovations that contribute to improvements in safety or the environment.

42
Saab’s core real-life safety philosophy is born from its aviation heritage, where pilot and crew safety is always paramount. Saab’s current database of more than 6,100 real-life road accidents involving Saab cars goes right back to 1948, the first entry relating to an accident experienced by a Saab test driver.

43
The fastest production Saab ever is the current 9-3 Sport Sedan with a 250 hp, 2.8V6 turbo engine, also available in SportCombi and Convertible bodystyles. This sophisticated powerplant represents the state-of-the-art in turbo technology, drawing on Saab’s vast experience accumulated over almost 30 years since the launch of the first 99 Turbo.

44
In 1982, Saab was the first car manufacturer to take advantage of new materials to replace asbestos, introducing asbestos-free brake and clutch linings. In 1991, it also led the industry in eliminating CFC’s from in-car air conditioning systems.

45
In 1996, a Sonett 1 sports car from the Saab Museum – with Erik Carlsson at the wheel – set a new Swedish speed record of 159.4 kph (99 mph) for a 750 cc road car, exactly 40 years after it was built. All six Sonett 1’s that were produced still exist today, two of which are at the Saab Museum.

46
The Saab 9-5 BioPower is the only bioethanol-fueled car in the world to give the driver increased engine power and performance – as well as lower fossil CO2 emissions. That’s because its turbocharged engine allows Saab to exploit the higher octane rating of E85 fuel. Flex-fuel cars are able to run on gasoline and/or a renewable fuel, such as E85, which is 85% bioethanol and 15% gasoline.

47
For good roll-over protection, the windshield pillars and header rail on the current Saab 9-3 Convertible are strong enough to support a loading equivalent to more than twice the weight of the car.

48
A Saab car is designed to help you survive hitting a wild moose. Saab’s simulated moose crash test, developed in the mid-80s, involves the car striking a 350 kg (770 lbs) dummy moose head-on at 70 kph (43 mph). Hitting one of these large animals is a relatively common occurrence on rural roads in Sweden and the introduction of this demanding test is typical of Saab’s real-life safety approach.

49
In order to win his third RAC Rally in the UK in 1962, Erik Carlsson left a Saab 96 owner rather upset after ‘stealing’ a rear suspension component from his parked car to replace a broken piece on the rally car. The two became good friends afterwards.

50
The most ‘extreme’ development of the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan is Per Eklund’s 550 bhp entry in the European Rallycross Championship. With all-wheel-drive, it can accelerate from zero to 100 kph (62 mph) in 2.2 seconds, as fast as a Formula One car.

51
Saab’s real-life safety philosophy is also demonstrated by the development of the unique ‘pendulum’ B-pillar design on the Saab 9-3 and 9-5, found to be effective in helping to deflect side impact forces away from the passenger compartment.

52
In 1997, with the introduction of Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) on the 9-5 model, Saab led the auto industry in developing a system to help provide protection against whiplash neck injury in rear-end impacts. A Saab study published in the US Journal of Trauma in 2003 found a remarkable 75 per cent reduction in severe neck injuries when comparing the accident performance of Saab cars fitted with SAHR against older Saab models not equipped with the system.

53
The first hybrid vehicle entirely free of fossil fuel emissions is already here. The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, based on a 9-3 Convertible and premiered at the 2006 Stockholm Motor Show, combines electric power generation with a turbo engine using 100% pure ethanol fuel. It is also the world’s first hybrid soft-top model.

54
Saab has already developed a flex-fuel engine that can run on pure E100 fuel – completely eliminating fossil-based CO2 exhaust emissions. The technology is showcased in the 400 bhp, twin-turbo engine of the award-winning 2006 Aero X concept car.

55
Saab calculates that a Saab 9-5 BioPower driver averaging 15,000 kms (9,300 miles) a year on E85 fuel (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) will consume 1,060 liters (233 gals) less gasoline, thereby significantly reducing fossil-based CO2 emissions.

56
Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson drives a Saab 9-5 BioPower to demonstrate his commitment to greener motoring. Branson’s Virgin Group is to invest £1.6 billion over the next 10 years in the research and development of biofuels, including bioethanol, for transport.

57
Innovative Saab concepts that did not make production include a thermo-accumulator, designed to store engine heat for a quick warm-up during cold starts, and an exhaust gas storage bag, intended to briefly collect and then recycle exhaust emissions when the car’s catalyst gets up to working temperature. Installation and packaging issues prevented development for commercial production.

58
More than four million Saab cars have been produced since commercial production began in December 1949. The four millionth car, 9-3 SportCombi rolled off the production line in June 2005 and is now on display at the Saab Museum. Production milestones are being reached with increasing regularity. The millionth car – a Saab 99 Combi Coupé – was built in January 1976, the two millionth – a Saab 9000 Turbo – in March 1987 and the three millionth – a Saab 9-5 Sedan – in October 1997.

59
In the United States, a1989 Saab Turbo has clocked up more than 1 million miles (1.61m kms), equivalent to 40 trips round the world. Owner Peter Gilbert plans retiring the car to a local Wisconsin auto museum.

60
Saab enters its diamond jubilee year with global and European sales running at record levels. In 2006, over 130,000 cars were sold around the world, including more than 80,000 in Europe. Innovative concepts, such as the Saab Aero X and Saab BioPower Hybrid, point to an exciting future for the brand. And with new products coming in new market segments, the next 60 years for Saab are likely to be even more eventful.

Saab’s award-winning Aero X concept car has inspired the development of an innovative ‘Aero’ ski range from Salomon, leaders in freedom action sports equipment. The new ski line consists of four different models, with the ‘top-of-the-line’ Aero X design bringing a completely new dimension to the performance of carving skis. The Saab Aero X concept car will be displayed at the launch of the new ski line at the ISPO fair in Munich in February 2007.

The Saab Aero X concept, which won instant acclaim when it first was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006, makes a unique statement in performance car design. Featuring an aircraft-style cockpit canopy, instead of doors, and innovative instrumentation, it draws on Saab’s rich aviation and Scandinavian brand heritage, previewing an exciting design language for future Saab products. The Saab Aero X was awarded the “Best in Show” honor by US magazine Autoweek, and in November 2006 the British car magazine Autocar named it “Concept Car of the Year”.

This unique sports coupé concept from Saab has now inspired the high performance design of the Salomon Aero ski range, which combines full control for demanding skiers in extreme turns with a consistent high speed capability.

Saab and Salomon are two innovative companies associated with quality products that are bought by active individualists making their own independent-minded decisions. The Saab Salomon partnership started in early 2001, and recently a contract was signed for a continuation of the partnership to the year 2009. Saab and Salomon have together made exciting new additions to the fast-growing field of action and outdoor sports, sponsoring international championships and teams in the Raid Series, Crossmax skiing, In-line skating and Freeriding. This has made Saab visible to a younger and very active target group. A Saab Salomon website has been launched to provide information about all the ongoing events around the world every year (www.saabsalomon.com). In 2007 both Saab and Salomon will celebrate their 60 year anniversaries as the companies were established in 1947.

“The fact that Salomon has developed a new ski line based on the qualities of our Aero X concept is a great compliment to the power of its design”, says Irene Haslebrekk, Saab Salomon Event Project Manager at Saab Automobile. “Since our partnership began we have inspired and learnt from each other, developing new and innovative products for our customers. We are now preparing for more exciting projects for the near future.”

The Salomon Aero ski line represents the ultimate expression of Salomon’s current technology. It features a unique combination of aerodynamic technology, harnessing Salomon’s expertise to offer a new approach for the skiers in the Performance and Carving segment. The hybrid technology of the Salomon Aero X ski allows separate behavior for the front and rear parts of the ski through the adoption of different reinforcing layers in its construction. A multi-radius design also allows the skier to fully carve on the edge of the skis – irrespective of the length of the turn. It means the skier always has 100 percent control.

Salomon’s Aero ski line will be presented at “ISPO Winter 07”, the international trade fair for sports and fashion. The appearance of Saab’s concept car at the Salomon stand will be visible confirmation that both the Aero X ski and the Saab Aero X concept share the same philosophy.

Saab returned a strong global sales performance last year, achieving growth of 5.4% compared to 2005 and setting best-ever volumes for both worldwide and European sales.

Global sales increased to 133,167 cars, exceeding the previous record set in 2000. And for the second year running, European sales strengthened with an increase of 11.1% establishing a new volume record for 88,859 units for the region ahead of the previous benchmark set in 2005.

Saab 9-3 sales, stimulated by the successful introduction of the 9-3 SportCombi were up 7% globally, while the revised Saab 9-5 range, including the popular Saab 9-5 BioPower model, was also 6% up. Best-ever sales volumes were achieved in Spain, Belgium and Canada.

“These strong results show that interest in the Saab brand has increased substantially,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “Exciting concept cars, such as the Saab Aero X and the Saab 9-3 BioPower Hybrid, were shown last year to indicate the future direction of the brand and, as we enter our 60th anniversary year in 2007, we look forward to building on our strong sales momentum.”