More Power, less Compromise

The new 9-3 Convertible is for people who understand the importance of design. We're not just talking about appearances either. Design innovation has been applied under the bonnet.

 

Inspired by the award-winning Aero X concept car, this is undoubtedly a convertible with you in mind. The cockpit-like driver's environment and perfectly sculpted seats are designed for ease of interaction between the car and the driver. Instruments and controls are positioned in logical groups, and the most frequently-used functions can be operated while your hands are still on the wheel.

 

As the first major motor manufacturer to offer flex-fuel enabled engines across the entire model range, we've made it our business to ensure that using bioethanol fuel actually improves performance. Meaning you can enjoy the pleasure of open-top motoring with a cleaner conscience.

 

Aside from the ground breaking BioPower engine, there is also revolutionary turbo technology at the heart of the high-performance low-emission 1.9 Twin-turbo diesel (TTiD).  This 180 HP engine, which delivers impressive mid-range torque when accelerating makes overtaking effortless. While the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), makes the whole experience powerful, yet graceful.

Bio-fuel Technology

The 9-3 reveals its Scandinavian roots through attention to detail, respect of nature and its elements, and unparalleled performance. You'll turn heads wherever you go.

 

The Saab 9-3 BioPower Convertible can use bioethanol, petrol and a mixture of the two.  Bioethanol is a renewable fuel produced from sustainable biomass. When Bioethanol is mixed with petrol in a ratio of 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol, a potent fuel called bioethanol E85 is created. When bioethanol E85 is used in the new Saab 9-3 BioPower Convertible, it leaves a smaller carbon footprint because its CO2 emissions are partially offset by the CO2 absorbed (via photosynthesis) during the growing of crops used to make bioethanol.  This environmentally friendly fuel can reduce by 50% - 70% the typical emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the greenhouse gases widely believed to contribute to global warming.*

 

The first bioethanol production plant in the UK is now online.  This plant in Wissington, Norfolk is currently using surplus sugar beet to product its fuel.  As the plant is using sugar beet this is not affecting arable land shortages and isn't increasing food prices.  For more information on bioethanol and Saab BioPower visit www.saabbiopower.co.uk

 

* Driving on E85 can reduce overall CO2 emissions by up to 70% on a ‘source-to-wheel' basis, compared with the same engine running on petrol.  ‘Source to wheel' means all CO2 emitted from growing the crops or extracting the crude, producing/refining the fuel, transporting it to market and powering the vehicle. Actual CO2 savings vary depending on biomass from which the ethanol is produced, and on the production process. Up to 17% more horsepower is produced when using E85, but fuel consumption is about 30% higher.


Twin-Turbo Technology

The development of TTiD arose from a classic engineering conundrum – how to produce a small economical diesel engine that can produce the power and responsiveness of a large petrol engine.  To produce an engine that responds immediately to the throttle requires a small turbocharger.  A small turbo can accelerate up to it's working speed of over 200,000 rpm almost immediately, giving a fast throttle response.  However, to produce a high power output requires a much larger turbocharger that takes much longer to reach it's working speed, giving a much slower response to the throttle.

 

With a neat piece of lateral thinking, Saab has sidestepped the normal requirement for compromise.  The new TTiD engine has not one but two turbochargers.  The smaller unit operates at lower engine speeds and responds almost instantaneously, giving immediate acceleration when required.  As the engine speed increases the smaller unit starts to reach it's operating limit.  The engine's computerised control system automatically starts to transition to the larger turbocharger, until above 3,000rpm the larger unit takes over completely.  The shift is invisible to the driver – all you notice is that you can have instant power when you need it.

 

This innovation means that both turbochargers can be sized to operate with optimised efficiency.  That means that the TTiD engine is not only powerful, it is also outstandingly economical.  With an average fuel consumption of 48.7mpg, it is one of the most frugal performance cars on the road today.  This makes for a smaller carbon footprint, with a combined CO2 output of only 154 g/km.  Not only does this mean you can drive with a cleaner conscience, but for company car drivers it also means a lower tax bill.

 

Responsible performance is a phrase Saab uses to describe it's approach to designing safe, environmentally responsible performance cars.  Our turbocharging expertise allows us to deliver impressive performance from small, lightweight turbocharged engines.  For more information on the Saab TTiD range visit www.saab.co.uk.