Up until now, the Biopower option has only been available on the Saab 9-5 with a 2.0 litre engine.

Saab are using the British Motor Show (July 20-30) to premiere the 2.3 litre version, which will give the purchaser an extra 30 horses and an extra 30 Nm of twist over the 2.0 litre Biopower model.

Fortunately, massive Biopower labelling is not standard.

Saab Launches New High-Performance 2.3t BioPower Engine

* World premiere of 210 bhp 2.3t BioPower Saab 9-5 at British International Motor Show

* Cuts fossil CO2 emissions by up to 70 per cent whilst delivering 14 more maximum power and 11 per cent more torque when running on eco-friendly bioethanol E85 fuel compared to when running on petrol

* To go on sale later in 2006, offered in addition to the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower, already for sale on the UK market

Saab Great Britain is delighted to announce the world premiere of the 210 bhp 2.3t BioPower engine in the new-look Saab 9-5 Saloon and Estate range. This car will be unveiled at the British International Motor Show which will be held in London in July. The addition of another BioPower variant, delivering 14 per cent more power and 11 per cent more torque whilst substantially cutting fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when running on bioethanol E85 fuel, will extend Saab’s leadership of the premium ‘flex-fuel’ segment.

The new Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower model goes on sale in the UK, Ireland and Nordic markets later this year, with other European countries to follow. Available in a choice of Saloon and Estate bodystyles with manual or automatic transmission, it is being offered in addition to the current 2.0t BioPower model which is already established as Sweden’s best selling environmentally-friendly vehicle.

First deliveries of the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower began in the UK in March 2006, the same time as Morrisons supermarket opened the country’s first bioethanol E85 refuelling pump. Morrisons now sells bioethanol E85 at several of its sites in the East and South West of England, retailing the eco-friendly fuel for two pence per litre less than petrol.

Both cars combine the benefits of ‘going green’ through substantially cutting fossil CO2 emissions, with the enjoyment of even sportier driving performance. A further practical advantage of the BioPower formula allows customers to run on petrol and/or bioethanol E85 fuel in any proportions without any adjustment needed by the driver.

Running on bioethanol E85 the new Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower engine delivers maximum power of 210 bhp and 310 Nm of torque, compared to 185 bhp and 280 Nm when using unleaded petrol. In terms of increased performance, the manual saloon accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds, compared to 8.5 seconds when running only on petrol.

Saab’s powerful Trionic engine management system monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on bioethanol E85 and/or petrol in any combination.

Bioethanol E85 has a much higher octane rating (104 RON) than petrol (95 RON), and turbocharging allows the use of a higher boost pressure and more advanced ignition timing – giving more engine power than is possible on petrol without risk of harmful ‘knocking’ or pre-detonation. The only hardware modifications necessary are more durable valves and valve seats and the use of bioethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn, grain, sugar beet and sugar cane. Unlike petrol, its consumption does not significantly raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), which some scientific research suggests is a major contributor to global warming. This is because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere when crops for conversion are grown.

“The launch of a 2.3 turbo model is the logical next step in the roll-out of our highy-successful BioPower concept,” says Jan-Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “It is being offered in response to customer demand for an eco-friendly vehicle that delivers even more performance and is the first in a number of future BioPower initiatives that we have under development.”

Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower performance figures are provisional pending homologation.

Sometimes 72 hours can add up to 1 week.

As mentioned a few days ago, it’s now confirmed that GM are having a 0% finance sale in the United States from June 29 to July 5, which my math skills work out to be 12 hours a day for 6 days (and one day of rest, even for the wicked).

The 0% finance is available for 6-year deals on most GM models. But if you’re planning to pick up a Saab at 0% then the deals only for 5 years.

OK, one year less, but still not a bad arrangement for those that were planning to purchase at this time anyway.

The full report is available at the Detroit Free Press.

Looks like some of you Swede’s might have to wait an extra day to get your new Biopower 9-5′s.

Saab workers at Trollhattan have downed tools over concerns for the future of the facility.

Seems that the coffee has officially been smelled and the realisation made by all concerned that the Saabillac ain’t going to cut it in terms of volume. That’s part of my reading into the situation, anyway.

This from The Local:

Saab workers in Sweden downed tools for several hours on Monday, demanding that parent company General Motors make a decision about the future of its European plants.

Saab has said it is planning a new, small Saab. The company’s CEO Jan-Åke Jonsson told TT that it is still planned for the factory in Trollhättan, near Gothenburg, to build the small car. It is intended for the new model to be phased in when the current models are taken out of production.

Jonsson also hopes that the factory will build the new Opel Astra, which will use the same platform. These models would secure the plants future after 2010. He added that relations with unions were good.

But union representatives expressed concern.

“We are worried that there are secret plans, and that that is the reason that the GM management don’t want to talk with us,” Paul Åkerlund, union spokesman in Trollhättan, told a meeting of 500 employees at the end of Monday morning’s shift.

Åkerlund was flanked by Mari-Ann Krantz, chairwoman of the Sif office workers union and Anders Tiderman of the IF Metall.

“It is very bad that they don’t want to talk with unions,” said Alf Holm, a worker at the factory, after the meeting.

He added that the climate at the company had become worse in the past year. Industrial action in the form of information meetings, strikes and overtime bans have been taking place at GM’s plants across Europe. A meeting will be held next week to decide how far unions have succeeded in persuading management to conduct a dialogue.

Mari-Ann Krantz said that she shared Åkerlund’s fear that GM has a secret agenda.

“Moreover, I do not believe that they are sitting there with a blank sheet of paper,” she said.

“All employees need to adapt – we are living in a changing world. The problem is how long time changes take,” said Anders Tiderman.

There has been some consternation recently over other GM plants, particularly a plant in Portugal (if I remember correctly). It’s a shame this sort of uncertainty has to taint what has been a much better year for GM Europe.

Ah, here I am. Late at night, trying to stay awake another two hours just to wait for the game to start. The Socceroos are playing the Azzuri tonight in the round of 16. The target: win, get a shot at Switzerland or the Ukraine, then on to the main target – England!

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Does anyone in Europe have a copy of the Auto Motor & Sport issue with the “9-5X” on the cover?

Any chance of getting a photo of the cover and emailing it to me?

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

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The Saab 9-3 SportCombi has just won its first award – a design award from a German design group called Red Dot. This is so fresh that it’s not even on Red Dot’s site yet.

Thankfully, Saab Germany have a press release, which I’ll paraphrase and summarise to the best of my ability.

Ruesselsheim – A high honor for the Saab 9-3 sport combi: Red Dot Design Award.

The jury members were convinced of the dynamic proportions of the 9-3 sport combi with the momentumful front portion, the short rear overhang and the wedge-shaped profile. The large, rear lights, like transparent frosted glass ice blocks, attached at the D-pillars bent forward, underline the flow tail organization with the signature hockey stick form, characteristic of Saab.

Not only was the jury of the Red Dot awards impressed by the 9-3 SportCombi, customers are proving it popular too: Already before its introduction on the market in September 2005 were present in Germany over 800 orders – the best result, which ever reached Saab during the introduction on the market of a new model…..

…..The “Red Dot Design Award” involved over 2.000 participants from 41 nations.

in 2002, Saab were at the Frankfurt IAA presenting the Saab 9X – a revolutionary Four in One study, which united Coupé, roadster, combination and Pick Up in one vehicle – with Red Dot Award distinguished. The conception of the Saab 9X was the prelude of the largest product offensive of the Swedish Premium ­marque, which was accompanied by world premieres of further concepts such as 9-3X and 9-3 sport Hatch.

Congratulations Saab!

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I’ve been hanging around Saab forums and Car Clubs long enough to know that for many people, one Saab is simply not enough.

New York Times writer Jeff Sabatini seems to be cut from the same cloth:

Jeff currently owns a Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan and was recently offered a 9-3 SportCombi to test. An offer that has made quite an impression:

A BLACK 2006 Saab 9-3 sedan is parked in my driveway, and it does not belong to General Motors. No, it’s mine, and since I acquired it last December I have enjoyed driving it more than any test vehicle that has since arrived at my house…..

…..Six months in, there is little I don’t like about my Saab. Yet I am still struggling with a terrible case of buyer’s remorse. The cause is a new 9-3 model, the SportCombi.

Try this link to read the full article. If it doesn’t work, you may have to subscribe.

Thanks to James and Michael for the heads-up.

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Even CNN are running a story on the possibility of GM unveiling a plug-in hybrid soon. Autoblog Green ran it late last week and I dealt with it here. CNN spoke to Brian Corbett, a spokesman for GM, who basically told them to “speak to the hand.”

Nothing about Saab in the article at all, by the way.

I wish CNN had gone to GM forearmed with some knowledge about the Saab Biopower hybrid from the Stockholm show. Perhaps his answers would have been a little more interesting.