Celebrating 60 years of independent thinking - 6
2007: Saab's 60th anniversary
This is the sixth 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.
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, 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 km a year on E85 fuel (85% ethanol/15% petrol) will consume 1,060 litres less petrol, 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 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 Saloon - in October 1997.
59. In the United States, a 1989 Saab Turbo has clocked up more than one million miles (1.61million km), equivalent to 40 trips round the world. Owner Peter Gilbert plans retiring the car to a local Wisconsin car 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.
(Concluded)
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, 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 km a year on E85 fuel (85% ethanol/15% petrol) will consume 1,060 litres less petrol, 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 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 Saloon - in October 1997.
59. In the United States, a 1989 Saab Turbo has clocked up more than one million miles (1.61million km), equivalent to 40 trips round the world. Owner Peter Gilbert plans retiring the car to a local Wisconsin car 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.
(Concluded)