SAAB Hilight at British International Motor Show

SAAB Concept Family

SAAB Hilights

UK show debut for Saab Concept cars
Saab XWD is given a broader appeal - teamed with 2.0 litre turbo engine
Top-of-the-line Aero 2.8V6 Turbo engine uprated
The new Saab 9-5 Turbo edition
Saab showcases BioPower variants

Concept cars

Saab's much talked about concept cars, will be presented for the first time in the UK at the British International Motorshow. The Saab 9-4X BioPower and the Saab 9-X BioHybrid signal Saab's commitment to expanding its product portfolio. Both concepts share distinctive Scandinavian styling themes and feature further developments in Saabs technological lead in combining turbocharging with Saab BioPower.

Saab's full UK model range will also be on display, including the most recent addition to the line-up, the 9-3 2.0T XWD with 210 hp.

UK première: Saab 9-4X BioPower
Signaling Saab's intention to enter the global Crossover vehicle segment, the Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept is designed to appeal to environmentally aware customers with outdoor leisure interests who seek a vehicle that combines practicality with a sporty driving experience.

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid is an expressive vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. Key themes are progressive design and responsible performance, backed by innovative, 'high-tech' features appealing to younger car buyers typical of the premium compact segment. Main highlights include :

Evolution of Aero X and 9X concepts with extended roofline, clean fuselage body
200 hp, 1.4-liter BioPower engine combined with efficient energy use: rightsizing, turbocharging, bioethanol and hybrid technology
New Saab cockpit focus includes driver's door molding for information displays
Easy, seamless access to in-car wireless connectivity for nomadic devices
Potential for active aerodynamics with moveable rear body panels
Unique 'high friction' cargo carrying with rising floor bars for easy loading

Saab 9-X BioHybrid
An expressive vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid majors on progressive design, efficient performance and 'high-tech' features that typically appeal to youthful buyers.

The Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept announces Saab's imminent entry into the growing Crossover vehicle segment. It is focused on customers with outdoor leisure interests who seek a sporty driving experience together with the enjoyment of responsible performance. Highlights include :

Dynamic looks with Aero X - inspired frontal and interior styling themes
State-of-the-art Saab XWD delivers fun-to-drive, car-like agility
2.0-liter, 300 hp BioPower engine: strong rightsizing performance with a reduced overall CO₂ impact from bioethanol fuel
Innovative ski stowage system developed with Saab/Salomon skiers

Production Cars

Saab XWD is given a broader appeal - teamed with 2.0 litre turbo engine
Saab's widely-acclaimed all-wheel-drive system - Saab XWD - is given a broader appeal in the latest 9-3 Sport Saloon and Sport wagon range by being teamed with classic Saab four-cylinder turbo power, in addition to the current 2.8V6 turbo application.

The Model Year 2009 Saab 9-3 Saloon and SportWagon line-up now features XWD as an option for 210 hp, 2.0-litre turbo Aero models, in addition to the top-of-the-range Aero 280 hp, 2.8V6 turbo engine where XWD is fitted as standard. Featuring new generation, active control to help the driver even better deploy the considerable performance on offer, the innovative XWD system now leverages the benefits of Saab's smaller, 2.0-litre turbo engine. A rear eLSD (electronic limited slip differential) and a XWD-specific sports chassis is standard with all Aero XWD models.

Top-of-the-line Aero 2.8V6 Turbo engine uprated
Now delivering 280 hp/206 kW and 400 Nm of torque on the Saloon and SportWagon, this engine in the 9-3 range is now offered with all-wheel-drive (XWD). A new 'Dynamic Pack' is available which includes a choice of 18" or 19" alloys, ultra-sport chassis (lowered by 10mm), high performance brakes (345mm front discs) ant tyre pressure monitoring system. Front wheel drive is available on the 9-3 convertible which delivers 280hp/206kW and 370Nm of torque.

The new Saab 9-5 Turbo edition
The 9-5 Turbo Edition features a number of added extras as standard. It makes use of Saab's fuel efficient turbocharged engine range, giving drivers the benefits of a larger engine without the usual drawbacks of extra weight, bulk and higher fuel consumption. There are two specifications available - the 9-5 Turbo Edition and the top-of-the range 9-5 Aero Turbo Edition. The 9-5 Turbo Edition includes additional features such as Leather Sport seats, 17" alloys, electric driver's seat and heated front & rear seats. The 9-5 Aero Turbo Edition expands on the theme by adding DVD Satellite Navigation, Bi-xenon headlights, Harman/Kardon audio system, Six-disc CD autochanger and Dual Electric seats to the comprehensive list of equipment.

Saab BioPower
Saab continues to support E85 as alternative fuel which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 70%. With its BioPower solution, Saab is acknowledged as the European leader in biofuels and recently recorded its 100,000th sale in Sweden alone. Saab BioPower variants are available across the entire range (9-3 and 9-5).

SAAB XWD: Stretching the performance envelope

Saab XWD is an 'intelligent', active all-wheel-drive system that continuously distributes engine drive torque between the front and rear axles, giving optimum handling, stability and grip in all driving conditions - from fast bends to slower corners, in dry or wet weather.

Driving Benefits
To optimise traction at take-off, Saab XWD incorporates an innovative, pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels. Unlike conventional all-wheel-drive systems, this eliminates the need to detect front wheel slip before rear drive is activated. The driver has immediate access to maximum traction for smooth, strong acceleration without the possibility of any initial hesitation. It is all part of a system which Saab believes sets a new benchmark in all-wheel-drive performance.

While offering sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, Saab XWD rewards the enthusiastic driver. When exiting a bend under hard acceleration, 70% of torque can be transferred to the rear wheels to keep the car balanced. However, in highway cruising conditions, when traction or optimum grip is not an issue, only 5% to 10% of engine torque is typically transmitted to the rear axle. This helps provide a measure of greater stability, as well as benefiting fuel economy.

The fine balancing of the drive torque also raises the threshold at which ESP throttle and/or braking interventions may be triggered, providing more scope for closer driving involvement.

The ultimate 'icing on the cake' with Saab XWD is the active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), the first application of an electronically-controlled rear LSD in this segment of the market. The eLSD can transfer up to 50% of maximum rear torque between the rear wheels, to whichever has more grip. Under hard cornering, or when completing a high speed maneuver, such as a lane change, the brief application of more or less torque to either wheel helps the rear of the car more closely follow the direction of the front wheels.

How It Works
The Saab XWD hardware consists of a Power Take-off Unit (PTU) in the front final-drive that transmits engine torque through a prop-shaft to the rear axle via a Torque Transfer Device (TTD). This is located ahead a Rear Drive Module (RDM), with the eLSD alongside. Both the TTD and eLSD are wet, multi-plate clutch units from Haldex.
At take-off from rest, the TTD is initially activated when a gear is selected, thereby engaging the RDM. On the move, torque delivery between the axles is varied by the control of a valve in the TTD, which increases or reduces the hydraulic pressure on the wet clutch plates to progressively engage or disengage rear drive. The degree of 'slip' dictates how much drive is transmitted. The eLSD operates on the same principle to split drive across the axle between the wheels.

The Saab XWD electronic control unit functions in harness with the engine, transmission and ABS/ESP control modules. It receives inputs 100 times every second from more than 20 sensors in the vehicle, including those for the ABS and ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) systems. Data processing includes vehicle speed, wheel rotation speeds, lateral acceleration, throttle setting, yaw rate and the steering angle.

Installation of Saab XWD in the 9-3 range includes the fitment of a different rear sub-frame to carry the RDM, as well as a revised rear suspension geometry with self-leveling and a 50% increase in camber stiffness. Other alterations include re-tuning of springs, dampers and roll-bars in both the front and rear suspensions, as well as reworking of the steering system for good feedback.

The three piece prop-shaft runs through two bearings, with constant velocity joints for smooth running ensuring minimal 'wind-up'. Standard wheelbase and rear track dimensions are unaltered.

Testing
Tuning of the 9-3 chassis and the operating system's software was carried out by development engineers based at Trollhättan, the home of Saab in Sweden. In honing the integration and performance of Saab XWD, the team completed more than one million kilometres of testing in all weather conditions on some of the most challenging roads in Europe, as well as the Nurburgring in Germany and test tracks in Italy and Spain.

"We have been fanatical in optimizing the operation of Saab XWD," says Anders Tysk, head of the development team. "In view of all our work, including comparative testing with other systems, we have no doubt that Saab XWD raises the bar for all-wheel-drive performance."

The successful development of Saab XWD is reflected in the appointment of the Technical Center at Trollhättan as a center of expertise within General Motors for the development of all-wheel-drive systems.

Images Gallery :
Saab 9-4X BioPower