The following is a press piece from Saab about their active head restraints. Another safety innovation from Saab.

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The highly regarded American medical publication Journal of Trauma devoted a large part of its November 2001 issue to the SAHR, the Saab Active Head Restraint. The magazine has in particular reviewed the inquiry which shows that the device, fitted to the front seats, reduces the risk of severe neck injuries in rear-end collisions by 75 percent. The analysis rests on a comparative study between the Saab 900 and 9000, which have standard neck guards, and the newer models Saab 9-3 and 9-5, which are equipped with the SAHR.

The Journal of Trauma has run a comparative scrutiny of the study, its methods and its results. The conclusion is that the SAHR represents a real breakthrough in the field of protection in the event of rear-end collisions. Even though the earlier Saab models have seats that are ranked among the best on the market, the SAHR reduces the risk of severe neck injuries by a further 75 percent.

“In light of our laboratory tests we expected to see neck injuries declining by around thirty percent. Now that a couple of years have passed, enabling us to carry out a study of the findings from actual service, it has emerged that the reality is better than that”, says Stefan Olsén, development engineer in Saab’s Collision-Safety Department.

The inquiry was conducted on the basis of accident data from the insurance company DIAL. The drivers of the crashed cars answered a questionnaire and were interviewed by telephone. Besides a marked decline in neck injuries, it was found that none of the SAHR-equipped seats had needed to be replaced or repaired after the accidents.

The modus operandi of the SAHR is that the body is pressed into the backrest of the seat, thereby activating a mechanism that causes the head restraint to snap upwards and forwards, arresting the rapid motion of the head that is produced by a collision from behind and minimizing the relative movement between the head and the lower part of the neck. In this way the device also helps to make up for the fact that many people ride around with their neck guards wrongly adjusted.

“When such a prestigious organ as the Journal of Trauma confirms our findings it marks a great success for our work on collision safety. It’s also evidence that our Real-Life Safety philosophy is sound and that we’re doing the right thing when we compare our laboratory trials with what subsequently happens on the roads. Good laboratory tests are all very well, but absolutely the most important thing for us is that our safety systems work properly in real-life accidents”, says Stefan Olsén.

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Innovative Crossover Signals Saab Product Expansion

The Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept, revealed today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, confirms Saab’s plans to enter the growing Crossover segment with a dynamic, driver-focused vehicle inspired by Scandinavian values in design and respect for the environment.

The Concept’s progressive design features are combined with a responsible, fun-to-drive appeal based on BioPower engine technology and a cutting edge all-wheel-drive system. “This concept is a clear statement of what our brand is about,” said Saab Automobile Managing Director, Jan Åke Jonsson. “It is also an important next step in our plans to enter new market segments with distinctive product offerings.”

The design of the Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept reflects a Scandinavian principle of simplicity of form, with clean and uncluttered lines, free of any cladding, mouldings or roof bars, and defining ‘ice-block’ surface and lighting themes. The progressive frontal styling and interior design elements also draw inspiration from Saab’s widely-acclaimed Aero X concept. Innovative load-carrying solutions include a unique ski equipment stowage system, developed in co-operation with mountain sports specialists Salomon.

Optimized for bioethanol (E85) fuel, the four-cylinder, 2.0-liter BioPower turbo engine demonstrates Saab’s commitment to rightsizing by delivering an exceptional level of power efficiency - 300 hp and strong torque of 400 Nm (295 ft.lbs.). Compared with gasoline, driving on E85 produces less CO2 emissions (see separate Powertrain release). Mated to the industry-leading Saab XWD (’cross wheel drive’) system, this advanced powertrain promises to make driving to your destination as enjoyable as the adventure itself.

The Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept has been developed by a team under Anthony Lo, GME’s Director of Advanced Design, in co-operation with designers and engineers from the Saab Brand Center in Sweden. “We focused on incorporating design themes from the Aero X in a Crossover execution, adding functional, lifestyle features to support the activities of customers using this type of vehicle,” he said.

The driver-focused cockpit in the sporty, four-seater cabin features an Aero X-inspired ‘clear zone’, with a flush-mounted starter button and ‘infotainment’ controls, that sweeps up from the central console to the main display screen. Signature green lighting is used for all instrument illumination, while other subtle references to Saab’s aviation heritage include the ‘altimeter’ speed read-out scale and aircraft-shaped trim on the steering wheel. The panorama glass roof is in harmony with a car designed to deliver the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits.

Saab designers worked with top Saab Salomon ‘Big Mountain’ skiers to devise an innovative storage system for stowing skis and equipment inside the car (see separate Saab Salomon release). The rear cargo deck features a sliding floor with a fold-out aluminum ski-holder, through which up to three pairs of skis and poles can be slotted. Boots are stowed in an underfloor, heated compartment and, for maximum practicality, the entire rear cargo area is covered in a waterproof and scratch resistant rubber ‘skin’.

The compact, aluminum, four cylinder BioPower engine combines the benefits of turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve timing for the first time with high-octane E85 fuel (85% bioethanol/ 15% gasoline).

Driver involvement is taken to a new level by the innovative all-wheel-drive system, Saab XWD. Active management splits torque delivery between both the axles and the rear wheels, via an electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential (eLSD). Overall, Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept is a vivid demonstration of Saab’s commitment to customers with outdoor leisure interests who seek a sporty driving experience that is more in harmony with nature.

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.

Today, modern manufacturing and materials means that almost anyone can transform their Suzuki Swift into a bonafide Batmobile. All it takes is a bit of carbon fibre and a socket set. Some people can take the customisation of a car to rather hideous lengths, too, but we’ll leave those well enough alone for now.

This article is to show off an exquisite conversion of a Saab 96 into cabriolet form.

The basis for this car is a 1971 Saab 96 with a V4 engine, although the bullnose front of an earlier model has been grafted on to it for aesthetic reasons.

The car was built by its original owner in Sweden and has only recently been purchased by its new owner in France.

The story surrounding the acquisition is an interesting one. The new owner merely did an image search on the internet for Saab 96 Convertible and an image of this car appeared. Through the website that the image appeared on, the purchaser ws able to contact the owner and enquire as to whether or not they’d be interested in selling. The answer was “yes” and now the car is taking up its new home just outside Paris.

Many custom creations fail to do justice to the car they’re based on. This is definitely an exception. It’s class and elegant - a credit to the people who put it together.

Many thanks to Golfhunter, who photographed the car and posted the information about it on Flickr and at Trollhattan Saab.

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The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Exploring design themes from Saab’s award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the 9-X BioHybrid also demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation Hybrid system. Projected combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km on E85 fuel are testimony to the promise of this package (see separate release for details).

The interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a ‘low friction’ loading system.

“This car is all about efficiency in design and performance,” says Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

With its ‘turbine’ wheels placed at all four corners, minimal bodywork overhangs and an extended roof line, the proportions of the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid bring a dynamic, new dimension to conventional compact ‘hatchback’ looks.

The smooth ‘fuselage’ bodywork, now without any visible handles or door mirrors, the bold ‘wraparound’ window graphic and deep front grille are all themes inspired by the Aero X coupé concept shown at Geneva two years ago.

The car’s distinctive ‘shooting brake’ silhouette and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001. “You could say we designed this car from back to front, “says Lo. “The shape of the 9X is right for a car of this size, and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space.”

Echoing Saab’s roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag – and fuel consumption – at cruising speeds. Above 70 kph (43 mph), the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

The four-seater cabin introduces an entirely new execution of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design. The central, floor-mounted console, with its angled controls and displays, is now eliminated. Instead, the driver- focused layout incorporates a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, arching across the driver. The embedded 3-D graphics appear to be ‘frozen’ in ice, continuing a Scandinavian design theme first seen in the Aero X.

Reflecting the needs of youthful customers, who expect easy access to multi-media both inside and outside the car, Saab has co-operated with Sony Ericsson in providing seamless in-car connectivity for a range of nomadic devices. The result is a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for display and use. The interface also allows the simultaneous use of multiple devices when passengers are in the car.

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the split tailgate drops down The floor, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by ‘high friction’ rubber carpeting, which ‘grips’ items and holds them securely in place. For easy loading and unloading, aluminum bars automatically rise up and down as the tailgate is opened and closed.

The treatment of light is an important part of Scandinavian design and this is evident in the use of variable, white ambient lighting inside the cabin. The level of suffused illumination can be changed in intensity from bright, cold to warm and soft. It’s a personalized feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the pattern of the changing seasons

“This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format,” adds Anthony Lo. “It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme, the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car.”

Saab are one of those brands that has a disproportionate share of the latter. A unique brand that has a unique following. One such Saab enthusiast is Karl-Gustav Svensson, whose story was recently detailed in Saab’s own internal news service, 7 Days.

Following is a translation of that story into English from the original Swedish, with thanks to ctm.

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A Faithful Car Owner Through Thick and Thin

It’s hard to find a more faithful Saab owner than Karl-Gustav Svensson from Eksjö in southern Sweden. Right now, he is looking forward to his 41st new Saab, an Ice Blue BioPower 9-3 SportCombi. To drive a Swedish car is a point of honor for him and he has been an owner of every model since the 1950s.

Despite his 88 years of age, he doesn’t hesitate to go for the new BioPower. We meet at the dealership of Holmgrens Bil in Vetlanda, and KG enthusiastically points at a light blue car in the showroom.

“At last a light blue car, which I never had. I tried most of the colors with predominance on red,” he says. For the occasion he is wearing the Saab tie he got for his eightieth birthday, when he was invited to guided tour of the Trollhättan plant and a visit to the Saab Museum.

Kenneth Kvist, salesman at Holmgrens Bil, is delighted with his customer, to whom he has sold 23 cars since he started his career as a salesman in 1978.

“Of course, lots of Saab owners are loyal to the brand, but if all of them were like KG it would be much easier to be a salesman,” he says. “In fact, other customers line up to buy KG’s cars, because he takes such good care of them. His cars are highly regarded in the used market.”

KG listens to the salesman’s compliments with ill-concealed delight. “If I’d known that, I would have negotiated much harder,” he says in a staged whisper. “Once, I actually threatened Kenneth with a switch to Volvo before we had an agreement.”

KG’s interest in cars had already begun in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until the mid 1950s that he could afford to buy his first Saab. It was a grey Saab 92, model year 1955. Since that time, his devotion has shown in many ways.

All the way through his Saab experience he has kept a log for each of his cars, recording mileage, services, and repairs. Several times he managed to get Saab to change incorrect or incomplete information in the owners manual.

And he has taken meticulous care of his cars.

“When going out to dinner, one should wear a white shirt. That means that both the car and the engine have to be so clean that you can fix things without getting your clothes dirty” he says with a serious face. “Maybe it’s some sort of controlled pedantry I carry with me since my military days at the I12 regiment in Eksjö. Although I like to work with the cars, it’s the pleasure of driving that is the most important thing.”

Only his interest in cycling has competed with his passion for Saabs. For some years, he actually did more milage on his bike than he did in his cars. For that reason, he still has a fit body despite having reached what some might call ‘a respectable age’.

“I have always liked Saab’s driving characteristics and design, and they have often been first with technical innovations. It was a thrilling event when the turbo came, and now I’m pleased with the investments in environmentally friendly cars with the new BioPower. I don’t want to damage the environment, so it feels good to drive an ethanol vehicle.”

Only one time did he change cars twice during the same year. It was when the Talladega model arrived. “It was just irresistible. I just had to go back to the dealer and buy it,” he says, and skims through the pages in his scrapbook to a photo of the red Talladega. The car he traded for the Talladega at the time was a Saab 9000 CSE.

During our conversation, Kenneth Kvist goes back in to his office to check up on that red Talladega. It is still owned by the same person who bought it from KG and it is still doing its mileage around Eksjö.

KG never has been disappointed with Saab. Only once did he feel a slight irritation. It was when he had to call a towing truck to the hill country in the eastern province of Småland - two Saturdays in a row.

“The area is known for its hills. The brake discs got overheated and locked up. It was a little embarrassing to see the new car on the tow truck two weeks in a row,” says KG.

Today, he reads all the news and statistics about Saab that he can get his hands on. He is clearly irritated by auto journalists who, according to him, paint a picture of Saab that is too pessimistic.

“It’s a fantastic car, one that has survived 60 years in a tough business. I think it will survive 60 more years, but then someone else will have to step in and contribute to the sales figures,” says KG as he gets in his grey car - one of last year’s models.

The new one is still a few weeks away.

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Images:

KG’s first Saab - a grey Saab 92 from 1955

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Picnic with the Saab 96

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Saab 99 - circa 1972

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Saab 99 - circa 1975

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In the beginning…

Yellow first made an appearance on Saab 95s and 96s in the mid 1960s. This was a time where colour was king and companies weren’t afraid to paint with a bold palette and a strong brush. Saabs from this time featured interiors with bold reds and cool blues, a far cry from the neutral greys that dominated the 1990s.

In the early 1970s Saab reintroduced yellow with a color called Brilliant Yellow, an example of which can be seen below on this Saab 96 V4.

These initial yellow Saabs were standard cars. In future years, a yellow Saab would come to signify something rather more special within the range.

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Saab Sonett

Yellow also featured as a colour for one of Saab’s more different cars - the Sonett.

There’s nothing else quite like the Sonett in Saab’s history. The Sonett name started life with the Saab Sonett Super Sport in the 1950s. Only six were ever made and none of them were yellow. But if you look around Saab’s home city, Trollhattan, during the Saab Festival it’s quite likely that you’ll actually see a yellow Sonett on the streets there. It belongs to a Saab devotee and is a handbuilt replica of the original Sonett.

The Sonett II featured a strong shade of yellow, and the Saab Sonett III featured a color called Mellow Yellow. An example in that colour can be found at the Saab Museum in Trollhattan today. This isn’t that car, but a fine example, all the same.

Photo: Liftarn

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The 900 Turbo S convertible.

In the early 1990s, Saab introduced a new, fully equipped version of it’s very successful 900 Convertible - The 900 Turbo 16S. There was a similarly designated model in the hardtop 900 as well.

The Turbo 16S Convertible got directional alloy 3-slot wheels and seats from the Saab 9000 that even included an option for electric adjustment of the driver’s seat.

For the purposes of this story, however, the Turbo 16S Convertible saw the introduction of a new color for the Saab 900 - Monte Carlo Yellow.

The new color was striking to say the least. In a time where metallic silvers, greys, greens and blues were crowding the streets, the solid, non-metallic Monte Carlo Yellow stood out like a beacon.

Unlike the SPG (or Aero) model that was around at the same time, the Turbo 16S convertible had the dark grey body kit of earlier 900s, rather than a full body-coloured kit. Perhaps it would have been too much if they’d gone the full Monte?

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Saab 900 SVO concept

The SVO (Special Vehicles Operations) concept began life in the mid 1990s with the “next-gen” Saab 900. The end result of the project was the Saab 9-3 Viggen that would follow, but the immediate fruit of SVO’s labour was the SVO concept vehicle - painted in Monte Carlo Yellow.

This vehicle was first shown in 1996 and provided a big leap forward in terms of the performance editions expected from Saab. In essence it was to the NG900 as the Aero or SPG was to the classic 900. The only problem being that it wasn’t in production, and wouldn’t be until 1999 when the Viggen was released.

Whilst the signature colors for the Saab 9-3 Viggen were Lightning Blue and Black in most countries, the US also got versions in Silver, Red, and in Monte Carlo Yellow. The original SVO concept vehicle now resides in the Saab museum, in Trollhattan, and is surprisingly accessible!

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The Monte Carlo

Saab made a limited edition model of the original Saab 9-3 called the Monte Carlo.

Production in the Australian market, for instance, was limited to 50 units and worldwide production stopped at 195 units. The car featured the 2.0HOT engine, woodgrain trim with black leather, and each of the Australian editions wore an individual number on the passenger side dash.

The car was identifiable not only by it’s colour, but also by a small Monte Carlo badge on the rear, below the tail lamps.

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A new convertible - a new colour

The Saab Convertible has become the signature modern Saab, and Lime Yellow was undoubtedly a distinct signature colour to launch it with back in 2004.

It is, admittedly, more Lime that Yellow, but it certainly is distinctive and imagery of this particular car was commonplace in Saab promotional material at the time of it’s launch.

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New for 2008 - Lynx Yellow

The latest Saab to get dressed in yellow is the 2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible. Whilst this shade was widely referred to as Saffron Yellow in the lead up to its release, Saab Sweden called for a change prior to release, and the color was thereby officially named Lynx Yellow.

Well, it will be called Lynx Yellow in most markets, at least. The German market like to specify their colors according to what they think their clients will relate to, and they renamed the colour Inca Yellow, to stir up images of the gold held by the ancient Incas. This isn’t the first color to receive a different name in Germany, where the very deep, dark Nocturne Blue is known officially as Sapphire Blue.

The same whiff pervades the interiors of Catalina flying boats, Lancasters, Douglas DC 3s and just about any old aeroplane. Even old, first generation jetliners have a smell - think Boeing 707 or Comet or Caravelle or VC10.

When it comes to cars however, the smell thing seems less defined.

Yes, classic 1930s race cars reek, so too do 1960s Alfas, Lancias and Morris Minors. But some cars have no smell at all - not even old ones; when did you last scratch and sniff a 1980s Honda or a plastic lined Ford hatchback – you didn’t because they don’t pong.

All of which begs the questions – why do old Saabs have that unique, special, Saab-only smell – and what is it? And is it something to do with aviation?

To answer the questions, I took my mind way back to days of yore, When Saabs were Saabs and Abba were gold.

My first car was bought in 1981 and was a 1968 early model steel bumpered, Saab 99 two door (well it would be for 1968). It had that lovely cockpit style fascia with a top roll coaming that arced back into the door side panels. The clock was off a 96 and there was chrome detailing on the seatbelt buckles and some very fungal vinyl in the cabin.

Above all, there was the smell: The car had this really strong pong - and it smelt just like my grandad’s Auster light aircraft – a sort of vintage eau d’ armpit mixed with stale canvas, cigar, oak, horsehair, alloy and an air of classic French polished woodwork.

The Saab smelled.

It was not an off putting odour, but it was a definite pong. My mate had a 96 V4 – a white one, and we both suddenly realised that both cars smelt the same.

We could not work it out so we just put up with it.

I sold the Saab for a fat profit and (somewhat idiotically) bought a Citroen GS. The Citroen was brilliantly designed, had a flat four engine, strong hull, and like all Robert Opren designs, caught the light beautifully. Needless to say it disintegrated in front of my eyes, but when it worked, it was truly a spaceship of a car.

Years later we had a dog poo brown 1976 Saab 99 and that also had a smell. And even more years after that I owned my classic 900 five door GLI in blue with blue trim. And you guessed it, that smelt too.

But along came a NG 9-3 and an early 9-5 – and the smell was gone.

I have always wanted to know why my Saabs smelt and what the smell was. On visits to Sweden, no one at Saab knew what the smell was, but they all knew that Saabs had a smell - “Oh yes, definitely Saabs smell,” they would say in lovely sing song Svenksa speak- but “No, we do not know what the smell is.”

Tak, mate!

So what was that smell?

The answer, I believe, partly lies in a mix of low tech glues that were used to stick trim in all cars and aircraft up until the late 1970s. From the 1920s to 1970s, seats and trim were put together in the same way- stuffed, padded, tied, strung, and stuck. And the interiors of cars and aircraft were made of alloy, tinplate and mild steel – even dashboards were metal – albeit covered in lovely rubbery vinyl (kinky stuff I know).

And then there were veneers of wood, of fake wood, and more spreads of the marmalade of glues that were car (and aircraft) interiors before slush moulded, toxic lumps of dashboards and trims, were bunged into post 1980 cars and began their leach of nasty chemcial compounds into your car and your body.

The glues used in old cars and old Saabs would have been animal based – and let us hope they were organically fed! - and interiors had bare metal, plastic vinyls, chrome, carpets and seats that may well have contained horsehair and fibre glass in a combined heady mix, topped off by the whiff of ancient Bakelite (younger readers will have to look Bakelite up…).

Even the last Saab to smell –the 900 Classic with its moulded trims, new dashboard and that headlining monster, combined some of the old world craft of interior trim artisanship.

Throw in the effects of damp and, the fact that even the late model 900 Classics had wooden panels in the back end of the cabin - plywood for something’s sake – and the smells created a list of ingredients just like a 1950s Saab! The plywood has got be the secret ingredient in the fragrance.

I reckon the mix of the above, all brought together as only the Swedes can, is the reason why Saabs smell.

Newer Saabs have none of this - it’s all moulded micro pores and polycarbonates – with no bare metal to stroke and nothing organic to smoke.. Which is why they do not smell like Saabs.

So there you have it, my theory on why old classic machines, and notably old classic Saabs, smell. It is a wonderful, nostalgic mix of animal, metal, mineral, all blended and smeared together to create an aura like no other.

All we need now is a Saab aftershave of the same smell - one that can be dripped from a dispenser into the air vents, and then we can all go back in time.

There is only one problem. Volvos from 1960 to 1970 and 1980, were built in the same country using the same techniques- but they did not smell!

Called to odure, as they say…

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This article was originally published at Trollhattan Saab.

My enduring thanks to Lance. Enjoy.

Despite this ambition, the financial cost of being ‘green’ doesn’t make it easy, as over a third of independent minded Brits (39%) are not prepared to pay any extra for green products or services. A large proportion (41%) believe that green goods could be more widely available with a further 79% looking for greater government incentivisation* to help change behaviour. Brits also admit to harbouring ‘guilty non-green sins’ which, coupled with a general lack of knowledge about the greatest pollutants, demonstrates that as a nation there is still a way to go before we are ‘Green Britain’.

Joe Oliver from Saab comments: “As the only volume car manufacturer to offer an environmental engine choice across our entire range of cars, we commissioned the ‘ECO-nomics’ report to explore Britons’ attitude to green motoring and other broader environmental issues such as recycling. The report seeks to gauge how well-informed Brits are on green matters and to understand the motivations and barriers to leading a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.”

ECO-motive

The majority of Brits (60%) are choosing to be greener out of concern for future generations, but a more fickle 10% are motivated by social image and the desire to look good in front of peers, whilst only 6% are opting to be more environmentally-friendly as a result of government action.

Who Controls the Green Purse Strings?

The Saab ‘ECO-nomics’ report finds that women are the eco-warriors of the household with 65%** doing the decision-making and encouraging partners and family members to opt for environmentally-friendly goods and services. The 35-44 year olds are leading the ‘green’ charge (62%) and interestingly, the younger generation also has a say in influencing and driving their parents’ purchasing habits - children in Northern Ireland have the most sway (15%), versus in Wales (0%), where children don’t appear to have the same influence.

Britons’ Top 5 Non-Green Guilty Sins

Saab’s ‘ECO-nomics’ report reveals that despite good intentions, Brits harbour ‘guilty non-green sins’ – the top five are:

1. Being wasteful about energy consumption in the home - 30% of Brits admit they should keep a closer watch!
2. Using transport when walking is an option (29%)
3. Cleaning with non-environmentally-friendly products (28%)
4. Boiling a kettle full of water when making just one cuppa (27%)
5. 20% of Brits own up to never recycling

To counteract their ‘guilty non-green sins’, 81% of respondents have already decided on a green resolution for 2008. 48% vow to recycle more, 41% to keep an eye on energy usage in the home and 36% to switch to low energy light bulbs. With 89% of Brits who made a ‘green’ 2007 resolution still sticking to it, the outcome looks bright and green.

Barriers to Being Green
Brits want to be greener, but 79% feel the government should do more in terms of making greener fuels readily available to all, 78% are convinced that there should be tax breaks for greener cars and that environmentally-friendly fuels should be taxed considerably lower than fossil fuels (79%). Other key findings include:

# 57% of people feel the need to drive to the shops when they know their shopping will be too heavy
# 39% feel they can’t rely on public transport
# 29% of Brits refuse to pay through the nose for environmentally-friendly products
# 16% don’t believe that green products or services match the quality and performance of their existing non-green brands.

39% of respondents who own a car cite their lack of knowledge about green cars as the main barrier to buying one and 23% are also uncertain of where to buy a green car; 51% are concerned about cost and 48% fuel availability. The Saab BioPower is only £600 more than Saab’s standard petrol model and its flex-fuel technology means it can run on bioethanol E85 fuel or petrol. Only 3% of respondents presently own an environmentally-friendly car.

Green Knowledge Gaps

Saab’s ‘ECO-nomics’ report also highlights confusion among Britons about which the greatest pollutants actually are and how one’s carbon footprint can be reduced. The majority of the nation believes that industrial energy is the greatest pollutant (53%), followed by flights (16%) and cars (16%). Recent research shows that UK domestic -air travel accounts for approximately 5.6% of CO2 emissions from the UK[1] and is in fact thought to be more damaging than other sources of emission (possibly by a factor of two) because it is emitted at altitude. Air travel is also considered to be the fastest growing of all contributions to global warming.

Similarly, there is a lack of knowledge about what comprises one’s carbon footprint; worryingly 15% of respondents wrongly believe buying fair trade products would make a positive difference - the South West region (21%) most commonly believes this myth. 5% cited ‘staying at home’ as an improvement to one’s carbon footprint.

Given this lack of knowledge, over a third (36%) of respondents don’t know anything about Biofuel technology or the technology of hybrid cars (37%), whereas 85% understand the technology and benefits of loft insulation and solar panels (64%). This demonstrates that consumers are unaware that biofuel cars such as the Saab BioPower, which runs on bioethanol E85, can reduce fossil fuel emissions by up to 70%.

Joe Oliver continues: “Thinking of future generations is a valid and very worthy motivation, but the research clearly shows that although British consumers would like to be more environmentally-friendly there is still an educational job to be done. Brits are also calling for the government to act to make green products and services cheaper and more widely available.”

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About Saab:
Saab was founded in Sweden in 1937 as Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company), revealing the prototype for its first aircraft-inspired passenger car in 1947. Now, 60 years later, Saab is still recognised as the premium car manufacturer for independent-minded drivers. Saab is GM’s European premium brand, reflecting a unique Scandinavian design ethic, fused with a strong aircraft-engineering heritage.

About Saab BioPower:
# Saab is the only car manufacturer in the UK that offers BioPower across the whole range including an environmentally-friendly convertible option - the ultimate solution for those seeking a premium car with sporty performance whilst at the same time being kind to the environment

# Saab’s innovative BioPower technology mixes 15% petrol with 85% of renewable and sustainable energy source, bioethanol, which is made from a wide variety of agricultural sources including wheat, sugar cane and sugar beet. The resultant potent yet eco-friendly fuel is called bioethanol E85

# Unlike petrol and diesel, the consumption of bioethanol E85 does not significantly raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the greenhouse gas that according to some scientific research contributes to global warming. This is because the emissions that are released from the combustion of bioethanol whilst driving are cancelled out by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere, through the natural photosynthesis process, when the crops for bioethanol are grown. This results in an overall potential reduction of up to 70% in fossil CO2 emissions

# Performance isn’t compromised, as the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower engine offers a significant 20% increase in brake horsepower and 16% more torque than the equivalent 2.0t petrol model

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All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,026 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th - 30th October 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Visit: www.saabbiopower.co.uk for more information about Biofuels and the Saab BioPower