Celebrating 60 years of independent thinking - 2
2007: Saab's 60th anniversary
This is the second instalment in the series of 60 little 'gems' paying tribute to the Swedish carmaker's diamond jubilee. These snippets reflect something of the passion and tradition for innovative, independent thinking that continues to inspire the Saab brand and the development of its products today.
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 1980s, 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.
(To be continued)
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 1980s, 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.
(To be continued)