Saab 900
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The 900, an automobile from Saab, was released in 1978 for the 1979 model year. It was based on the Saab 99 chassis, but longer. The cW value was 0.34. An even longer "Finlandia" version called the 900 CD was made at the Valmet factory in Finland. The 900 CD is 20 cm (7.9 in) longer than standard, by adding 10 cm (3.9 in) to both front and rear doors, but only the rear seating space is larger. Optional extras for the CD were a leather interior, reading lights, rear blinds, footrests and even a car telephone.
The 900 was produced in 2, 3, 4 and 5 door versions, with a low or high pressure turbocharger, and in a very successful convertible version.
Saab 900 could be ordered with different options. One highly sought-after option is called the Aero. It incorporated (depending on the market) the Aero body skirt, sport-springs and shock absorbers, 175 hp (130 kW) 16-valve turbo engine, usually leather seats, and air conditioning. All these could of course be ordered independently.
The 900 was slightly redesigned in August 1987. The front of the car was restyled, although the metal body parts were not changed. Only the grille, headlights and bumpers were changed. Being a small car factory, Saab kept the basic undercarriage fairly unchanged until the end. Also in 1987, the 900 shared the same wheelbearings and brakes with the Saab 9000 and the hand brake only affected the rear wheels.
The Saab 900 Turbo is James Bond's vehicle of choice in many of the John Gardner Bond novels, beginning with "License Renewed". The 900 was dubbed the "Silver Beast" [1] (http://www.commanderbond.net/Public/Stories/2284-1.shtml), it is Bond's private vehicle, and he had the real-life company Communication Control Systems, Ltd. (CCS) to fit it out.
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Engines
Some 900 versions include:
- GL (later just 900 from 1985 onwards), 100 hp DIN (74 kW) single carburetor
- GLs, 108 hp DIN (79.5 kW) dual carburetor
- GLi (later just 900i from 1985 on), 118 hp DIN (87 kW) with fuel injection
Saab introduced its turbocharger in 1978 in its 99 Turbo with a motor called the B engine (based on the Triumph Slant-4 engine designed for Saab by Triumph). This motor was also used in early 900 turbo models, which in export markets made Saab a household brand.
The B-motor was further designed into the H engine, which was used until 1993. The H engine is very durable and due to fairly standardized engine management system, it can be easily tuned to 200 hp (147 kW), and with further bolt-on modifications to a 250 hp (184 kW) range. Saab used Bosch mechanical K-Jetronic Continuous Fuel Injection in the fuel injected and 8-valve turbocharged versions, and the Bosch LH 2.2 and 2.4 and Lucas Automotive electric fuel injection systems were used in the 16-valve versions.
The turbo variations were:
- 2.0 L B201 Turbo, 8-valve, 145 hp DIN (107 kW)
- 2.0 L B201 with intercooler, 8-valve, 155 hp DIN (114 kW)
- 2.0 L B202 light pressure 16-valve turbo, 141 hp DIN(104 kW)
- 2.0 L B202 full pressure 16-valve turbo, 160 hp DIN (118 kW)
- 2.0 L B204 full pressure 16-valve turbo intercooled, 175 hp DIN (129 kW)
- 2.0 L B204 full pressure 16-valve turbo, special with a red APC controller (see below), 185 hp 136 kW)
- 2.5 L 54° V6, 24-valve, 170 hp DIN (125 kW)
What made a real difference to the competitors especially in the early and mid 1980s was the development and use of Automatic Performance Control (APC). The system enabled to use as much pressure developed by turbo as possible without engine knocking. The system had a sensor (knock-sensor) attached to the motor block and knocking of any kind was present, the APC-system would decrease the charge pressure by opening a wastegate, a bypass to the exhaust. This enabled the use of various octane fuels and also made the use of turbo more safe for the engine. The 900 Aero and Carlsson had special APC controllers in red enclosures which provided more maximum boost.
At first, Saab used a Garrett Systems turbo, which was cooled by air and engine oil. From 1988 Saab began to use Mitsubishi TE-05 turbos, which were water-cooled and due to the more modern design, were able to hold boost pressure better along with better spool-up. Also, the water-cooling made these systems much more durable.
900 Enduro
A special version of the 900 Turbo was assembled by Saab Australia. It was called the 900 Enduro [2] (http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_0019/article.html) and only 12 cars were made. The package consisted of very flared fenders, added instruments (oil pressure, battery voltage and current drain) mounted where the radio usually was, improved suspension and big wheels and tires. To increase performance the wastegate was set at 17 psi (1.2 bar). Water injection came standard.
Convertible
In the mid 1980s, the president of Saab-Scania of America, Robert J. Sinclair, suggested a convertible version to increase sales. The first prototype was built by ASC, American Sunroof Company (now American Specialty Cars).
The Trollhättan design department, headed by Björn Envall, based its version on the 3 door hatchback and the Finnish plant used a sturdier 2 door version, which also looked better and was selected for production. The initial production was not planned to be large but the orders kept coming in and a classic was born.
The new car was shown for the first time on the International Motor show (IAA) in Frankfurt in the autumn of 1983. The first prototype aroused enormous interest and in April 1984, Saab decided to put the car in production at Valmet. The production of the first 900 convertible started during the spring of 1986.
The convertible usually a had 16-valve turbocharged engine, but it was also offered in a 2.1 L normally-aspirated version with fuel injection.
1994
Influenced by General Motors (GM), in 1994 a "New Generation" (NG) 900, based on the Opel Vectra chassis, was introduced. The cabriolet/convertible was made on the 'classic' chassis for an additional year. The cW value was improved to 0.30. Variants included the S and (convertible) SE models - three-door model, five-door model and the convertible. The "top" version called the 900 Viggen was also available - dubbed as "the fastest Saab ever built". There was also a Talladega version, after an endurance test on the Talladega racetrack.
This version of the 900 was equipped with 2.0 L, 2.3 L (naturally aspirated, low or pressure turbo) Saab 16V DOHC engines (B202, B232) and also 2.5 L displacement version of GM's European 54° V6 engine (3.0 L). Engine management was operated by Saab Direct Ignition (SDI) + Automatic Performance Control (APC) + Bosh LH Jetronic or Saab Trionic unit, althrough in 1996 the distributor operated ignition was re-introduced for 2.0 and 2.3 L naturally aspirated engines. The turbocharged variants powering the NG900 (B204) have always used Trionic.
As opposed to the "classic" Saab 900 it has a transversely mounted engine and a normal rear-hinged hood.
1998
Saab made "over 1,500 improvements" to the NG900 in 1998, and rebadged it as a Saab 9-3.
External links
- Saab 900 Bulletin Board (http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/900/)
- Svenska Saab 900-klubben (http://www.900klubben.com/)
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